To Croatia and back
Discussion
This started a few years ago with me owning an M2 Competition. I loved the car and my lad loved it even more more than I did. It was pretty much brand new when I bought it from a main dealer and I gave £44k for it. Try buying a 250 mile M car for that money now. You'll be lucky to get a 320i. I had it for just under 3 years and got out of it as used car prices peaked in and around Covid. I lost a surprisingly small amount of money on it, considering it was just coming up to big bill time. New tyres, main service, new brakes etc. I'd scratched the itch and felt like i'd won. In fact I think it only had two oil changes on it in my ownership and that was it.
Proud to own this. by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
A couple more of the M2 Comp by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Prior to the M2 I'd had a 435d (which I loved), a 330d touring and a 530d, so i'd been around BMWs for a good while. Dick Lovett in Hungerford had looked after my cars and also me so when looking for a replacement I was keen to stay with these guys, if possible.
I'd been looking at Minis for a while. The plan, with my lad getting towards his teens was to get something we could do road trips in. I'd read and watched other peoples trip reports and videos for ages and wanted to get involved. I looked at a couple but they didn't really fit the bill. Then the one I bought came up and I nipped over for a look. It was almost exactly what I wanted, but didn't have SatNav, which was almost a deal breaker. However I drove it, decided to ignore the omission and pulled the trigger. The deal was done and I move out of BMW and over the road to Mini.
I was looking to retire early from work, so the downgrade in expenses, while keeping something fun, which had to be a manual and also able to be tinkered with, was my criteria. I intended to keep it for a long time, so to keep it fresh for me, i'd modify it every now and then, just to keep my interest alive.
This is what it looked like when it arrived.
F56 LCI2 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
F56 LCI2 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
It looking like it was on stilts was not something I was going to be able to handle for long. So on went H&R lowering springs dropping it 35mm. And that was the start .....
A few more pictures of my F56 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
I've not gone mad with it since then, just tinkered. GPF back exhaust, tuned to about 250bhp, a couple of styling bits and a few other bits and pieces. Then I started using it.
Wales first.
As an avid photographer I took it to the Elan Valley for a look see for a couple of days. Loved it around there so much, I went back. A few times.
F56 Mini by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Proud to own this. by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrA couple more of the M2 Comp by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrPrior to the M2 I'd had a 435d (which I loved), a 330d touring and a 530d, so i'd been around BMWs for a good while. Dick Lovett in Hungerford had looked after my cars and also me so when looking for a replacement I was keen to stay with these guys, if possible.
I'd been looking at Minis for a while. The plan, with my lad getting towards his teens was to get something we could do road trips in. I'd read and watched other peoples trip reports and videos for ages and wanted to get involved. I looked at a couple but they didn't really fit the bill. Then the one I bought came up and I nipped over for a look. It was almost exactly what I wanted, but didn't have SatNav, which was almost a deal breaker. However I drove it, decided to ignore the omission and pulled the trigger. The deal was done and I move out of BMW and over the road to Mini.
I was looking to retire early from work, so the downgrade in expenses, while keeping something fun, which had to be a manual and also able to be tinkered with, was my criteria. I intended to keep it for a long time, so to keep it fresh for me, i'd modify it every now and then, just to keep my interest alive.
This is what it looked like when it arrived.
F56 LCI2 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrF56 LCI2 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrIt looking like it was on stilts was not something I was going to be able to handle for long. So on went H&R lowering springs dropping it 35mm. And that was the start .....
A few more pictures of my F56 Mini Cooper S by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrI've not gone mad with it since then, just tinkered. GPF back exhaust, tuned to about 250bhp, a couple of styling bits and a few other bits and pieces. Then I started using it.
Wales first.
As an avid photographer I took it to the Elan Valley for a look see for a couple of days. Loved it around there so much, I went back. A few times.
F56 Mini by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
F56 mini by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrAnd if I'm going to do Wales, I'd better take my lad to Scotland to do the NC500. So a couple of days before Christmas off we went. Meeting my wife and daughter at the bottom of Loch Ness (not literally) after, to spend a week enjoying the area.
Scotland was amazing.
Scotland 2023 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Scotland 2023 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Scotland 2023 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrThe scenery pretty decent too
Scotland Christmas 2023 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Scotland Christmas 2023 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrFrom there we got adventurous. I'd been enjoying some of the latest Joe Achillies trip videos (on his borrowed motorbike at the time) and thought that's what we need to do next. So I stole a lot of his route. Added some of our own and went down through the alps to Annecy, Monaco and back.
Mount Semnoz by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Annecy in France by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
AK and I went to France - and Italy by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Mini in the Alps by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Monte Carlo Casino by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Reims F1 circuit by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrA fabulous trip and the one I knew meant we'd be doing similar again and again. My lad loved it and as we all know, we only get so many years where are kids are happy to be with us, so grab every moment and enjoy it while you can.
Last year we went through the Pyrenees, across to the Alps, then back to the UK. I documented that trip here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Being the bad dad I am and not wanting to arrive in Calais at 10pm after our 8.20pm tunnel crossing I elected to take my lad out of school 2 hours early and hopefully get ahead of schedule slightly. School had taken him away from lessons for sport related stuff, so I thought it was my turn. That's the trouble with being good at stuff. Even if you don't want to be a runner, preferring football and golf, you get press ganged into running for the school in district events. Still, it made me feel less guilty about taking him out. Now i've seen what the queues were like at Dover on the Friday of Half term, i'm glad I did. Madness.
The mini was our chosen steed. Well it was either that or our electric Audi which would need to stop for charge every 20 mins or so. Far from the ideal car to bang in big miles across Europe I knew it would be great when we got to the more interesting stuff. And having done a couple of other similar trips in it in the past I knew it's weak point and worked around them in advance. Comfort was the biggest issue. After a few hours I would get a numb leg. So our good friends at Amazon were pressed into service. Providing a couple of cough, memory foam seat pads for £15. These were about an inch thick and fitted perfectly onto the minis seats. They were also bloody comfy on our test run.
So I picked the lad up from school at 1pm, car fully loaded. Home, get changed and on our way. Oh and having had poor weather for the previous week, the sun came out. Beautiful.
A quick and easy 140 mile drive to the tunnel. The M25 played ball, no issues. And when we arrived the tunnel was quiet and we were brought forward be an hour or so.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
There were a few others around and about obviously off away on their own adventures
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
The mini was our chosen steed. Well it was either that or our electric Audi which would need to stop for charge every 20 mins or so. Far from the ideal car to bang in big miles across Europe I knew it would be great when we got to the more interesting stuff. And having done a couple of other similar trips in it in the past I knew it's weak point and worked around them in advance. Comfort was the biggest issue. After a few hours I would get a numb leg. So our good friends at Amazon were pressed into service. Providing a couple of cough, memory foam seat pads for £15. These were about an inch thick and fitted perfectly onto the minis seats. They were also bloody comfy on our test run.
So I picked the lad up from school at 1pm, car fully loaded. Home, get changed and on our way. Oh and having had poor weather for the previous week, the sun came out. Beautiful.
A quick and easy 140 mile drive to the tunnel. The M25 played ball, no issues. And when we arrived the tunnel was quiet and we were brought forward be an hour or so.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrThere were a few others around and about obviously off away on their own adventures
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrGoing on Thursday evening meant our first stop was going to be close to Calais. When I was planning most check ins seemed to close by 10pm and initially this was going to be tight for us, So I booked us a room at the local Ibis. Best described as a ferry cabin hallway and room. Being the first of the trip it only needed to provide a bed as we'd be away early in the morning. We thought we'd try the food in the restaurant, but it had run out of Pizza, beef and pretty much everything else. So a lowly portion of chips it was. Don't tell his mum that was all he got....Oh and the bullet hole curtains were interesting too.
I wouldn't recommend it, but it was probably the cheapest hotel on the trip at around £70. Everything booked using bookings.com
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
I wouldn't recommend it, but it was probably the cheapest hotel on the trip at around £70. Everything booked using bookings.com
Croatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia road trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrEdited by Northloop on Saturday 6th June 15:52
Up and away at 6.30am after a pretty dreadful nights sleep. My lad loves coming away with me as he gets a good lie in. NOT. I was just happy to be away from Calais and on the open road. Rather than using the toll roads through France we had elected to nip into Belgium, then Luxembourg which we'd not been to before before our final destination for the day in Germany. Some 500 odd miles so a long slog. But before leaving Germany we had to make a fuel stop and most importantly a baked goods breakfast. Even service station pastries are 100% better than anything you get in the UK, at about half the price and twice the size too.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
The days travel was pretty uneventful. Belgium roads were as usual. Indicators were used just after a move had been completed, rather than before. Luxembourg was just another country ticket off our list and driven straight through.
Finally we arrived weiry at our destination for the day a couple of miles out of Baden-Baden at the head of the 500 - supposedly the best driving road in the Black Forest. The mini had done it's bit and as always was frugal.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
In comparison to the Calais offering, this hotel was lovely. A gorgeous location, with it's own vineyard, wine making in a pretty little town. However I can't stand the stuff, so wasted on me. However, it had the best shower known to man. Turn all the taps on and be blasted from every direction until the skin starts peel off. Highly recommended.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrThe days travel was pretty uneventful. Belgium roads were as usual. Indicators were used just after a move had been completed, rather than before. Luxembourg was just another country ticket off our list and driven straight through.
Finally we arrived weiry at our destination for the day a couple of miles out of Baden-Baden at the head of the 500 - supposedly the best driving road in the Black Forest. The mini had done it's bit and as always was frugal.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrIn comparison to the Calais offering, this hotel was lovely. A gorgeous location, with it's own vineyard, wine making in a pretty little town. However I can't stand the stuff, so wasted on me. However, it had the best shower known to man. Turn all the taps on and be blasted from every direction until the skin starts peel off. Highly recommended.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrThe hotel didn't however have a restaurant, so off we went to Baden - Baden. A town famous for its thermal springs. Also one difficult to find a parking space in and with very expensive shops. Still we found a burger and chips a walk through town and back to the car in an hour or so. Not one i'd rush back to, but it served a purpose.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
I eventually found this space next to a long since abandoned Z4
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Back at the hotel we went for a walk in 30 degree heat to the top of the hill behind to look down over the vineyard and to check the view out.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
We have one of these on order, so it was good to see one out in the wild.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Random image time
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
After our trek up the hill we walked through the village and back to the only place open and serving drinks which was dead opposite our hotel. Sat down with the locals congregating there and spent 5 mins perusing the menu and deciding which of many beer options I was going to have. When the owner finally came over and took our order he hit us with the fatal words 'cash only'. Normally when we go away I take a lump of cash and end up struggling to get rid of it at the end of the trip. This time I had taken none, thinking everyone took card payment. Nope. So back to the room we went to drink the warm cans I had hidden under the floor in the boot of the mini. Lesson learnt? Probably not.
We did however have a brilliant nights sleep and were again up early in the morning to drive some nice roads while they were still quiet. Pattern emerging?
Hotel details £112 for the night
https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/schloss-neuweier....
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrI eventually found this space next to a long since abandoned Z4
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrBack at the hotel we went for a walk in 30 degree heat to the top of the hill behind to look down over the vineyard and to check the view out.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrWe have one of these on order, so it was good to see one out in the wild.
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrRandom image time
Croatia Trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrAfter our trek up the hill we walked through the village and back to the only place open and serving drinks which was dead opposite our hotel. Sat down with the locals congregating there and spent 5 mins perusing the menu and deciding which of many beer options I was going to have. When the owner finally came over and took our order he hit us with the fatal words 'cash only'. Normally when we go away I take a lump of cash and end up struggling to get rid of it at the end of the trip. This time I had taken none, thinking everyone took card payment. Nope. So back to the room we went to drink the warm cans I had hidden under the floor in the boot of the mini. Lesson learnt? Probably not.
We did however have a brilliant nights sleep and were again up early in the morning to drive some nice roads while they were still quiet. Pattern emerging?
Hotel details £112 for the night
https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/schloss-neuweier....
Edited by Northloop on Saturday 6th June 16:44
Leaving the hotel in the morning we drove through the village centre and as is the case everywhere in Europe, there was a bakery, open and serving. Several local cars outside so you know it's a good one. Order the pastries of choice, get them bagged up, go to use your Monzo card only to be told, nope, we only take EU cards. Perfect. What's the damage? Just under 5 euros for 4 pastries. Hold on a minute. Rush to the car and recover the 5 euro note in the passport bag that my lad brought back from skiing in February. Life saver. Drive to the start of the 500, find a bench and consume breakfast.
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
At this time on a Saturday morning the 500 was dead quiet. It is a lovely road and the surface is like all roads in Germany. Perfect. However, I wouldn't say that in the main it has great views and it's a little too open. So to be really enjoying it, you'd be breaking the speed limit pretty badly. I'm more inclined towards the tighter stuff where the car can be on its toes without being in silly speed territory. That's not to say we didn't enjoy it though, because we did.
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrAt this time on a Saturday morning the 500 was dead quiet. It is a lovely road and the surface is like all roads in Germany. Perfect. However, I wouldn't say that in the main it has great views and it's a little too open. So to be really enjoying it, you'd be breaking the speed limit pretty badly. I'm more inclined towards the tighter stuff where the car can be on its toes without being in silly speed territory. That's not to say we didn't enjoy it though, because we did.
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrCroatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrBack at home I'd plotted our route exactly as we wanted to take it. Sometimes on quicker roads, other on specific back roads that looked interesting. This particular section we were going to scout along Lake Constance, but making sure we stayed on the German side. We had Vignettes to drive in Austria and Slovenia, but not the more expensive one for Switzerland. As we drove along the lake so traffic increased, with Saturday afternoon camper vans being numerous. However, we'd made good time, so we could chill, go with the flow and make progress when traffic allowed
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Our target was Innsbruck which we rolled into just after lunch. Fortunately the hotel room was ready, so we dumped the bags and went out to explore.
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
Hotel room £122
https://www.booking.com/hotel/at/heimgartl-innsbru...
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrOur target was Innsbruck which we rolled into just after lunch. Fortunately the hotel room was ready, so we dumped the bags and went out to explore.
Croatia trip 2026 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrHotel room £122
https://www.booking.com/hotel/at/heimgartl-innsbru...
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