NW Scotland - Highlands & Cape Wrath in a Motorhome
Discussion
My wife and I bought Spuffingtons Hymer 640 Starline and was introduced to this thread during the sales process.
We planned to do this trip for some time using this thread as a guide along with the Channal 4 program Walking Through Time , with the delicious Dr Torri Herridge where she explores the NW coast and we also used the excellent Lonely Planet book of Scotland.
We managed to get 21 days off work and spent 4 days traveling to Inverness from Bournemouth, we decided to go anti clockwise from Thurso and along the top, taking in Dounreay, Melvich, Strathie,Bettyhill,Tougue,Durness,Scourie,Kylasku and spending two nights at Clatcholl.
We also took in Sandwood Bay which took a 9 mile walk there and back in bright sunshine and torrential downpours in the space of 15 minutes.
We eventually ended up in the Cairngorm mountains and Braemar, and from Braemar we drove down to Bournemouth in one hit.(12 hours)
We used campsites each night, and bought fuel as often as possible using village facilities and bought our provisions from village shops with the aim of putting back into the community we were visiting.
Before the trip I had the van serviced and had new brake pads and disks fitted and I carried out a number of jobs that Spuffington highlighted could be done all of which benefited us.
I have owned 4 or 5 motorhomes on and off over a 25 year period and was pleasantly surprised at the competence of the van, and how long and far we could travel and still feel fresh.I didn't go above 100kmh, and at this speed the van was quiet and refined, on account of filling the engine bay with decent sound insulation.
Many times we would encounter 20% assents and desents and Harry, given the correct gear to start with, would accelerate up the hills in a very rude fashion, The engine was powerful and the gearing was spot on.
Viewing the scenery through 10' high definition widescreen hymer-tv was truly fantastic, Spuffingtions post can explain the beauty of the Highland better than I can, around every corner was breathtaking epic display of nature which will not be forgotten.
Will I do it again- Yes
Thanks for the post and pictures Mr D.G. and I hope all is better and well with you.
We planned to do this trip for some time using this thread as a guide along with the Channal 4 program Walking Through Time , with the delicious Dr Torri Herridge where she explores the NW coast and we also used the excellent Lonely Planet book of Scotland.
We managed to get 21 days off work and spent 4 days traveling to Inverness from Bournemouth, we decided to go anti clockwise from Thurso and along the top, taking in Dounreay, Melvich, Strathie,Bettyhill,Tougue,Durness,Scourie,Kylasku and spending two nights at Clatcholl.
We also took in Sandwood Bay which took a 9 mile walk there and back in bright sunshine and torrential downpours in the space of 15 minutes.
We eventually ended up in the Cairngorm mountains and Braemar, and from Braemar we drove down to Bournemouth in one hit.(12 hours)
We used campsites each night, and bought fuel as often as possible using village facilities and bought our provisions from village shops with the aim of putting back into the community we were visiting.
Before the trip I had the van serviced and had new brake pads and disks fitted and I carried out a number of jobs that Spuffington highlighted could be done all of which benefited us.
I have owned 4 or 5 motorhomes on and off over a 25 year period and was pleasantly surprised at the competence of the van, and how long and far we could travel and still feel fresh.I didn't go above 100kmh, and at this speed the van was quiet and refined, on account of filling the engine bay with decent sound insulation.
Many times we would encounter 20% assents and desents and Harry, given the correct gear to start with, would accelerate up the hills in a very rude fashion, The engine was powerful and the gearing was spot on.
Viewing the scenery through 10' high definition widescreen hymer-tv was truly fantastic, Spuffingtions post can explain the beauty of the Highland better than I can, around every corner was breathtaking epic display of nature which will not be forgotten.
Will I do it again- Yes
Thanks for the post and pictures Mr D.G. and I hope all is better and well with you.
Edited by Harry hymer on Thursday 18th October 12:42
Mr W.D. - what a lovely surprise! 
Great to hear that you managed the trip we spoke about when you collected him, as well as the fact he proved the consummate companion (once again!). I had another re-read of the thread as a result of you posting and brought back not only many wonderful memories but also reminded me of how far I’ve come personally since that trip. It was an important step for me personally but having got that behind me, I’d love to go back and view it through different eyes and also with my girlfriend and daughter.
One of things I remember from that trip, and that you mentioned, was just how well Harry drove. In spite of the challenges he faced, he really did cope so well with the gradients and twisties and I also left every drive feeling pretty fresh. The Concorde is wonderful and has been treating me well (aside from some quite big expenditure) but I’m not sure she’d cope quite so well with some of the tighter stuff that I managed in Harry and given the additional weight on the same drivetrain as Harry, she’s pretty heavy on brakes & fuel.
So very pleased you’re enjoying him and thanks again for posting. All the best – hope you continue to have great adventures together.
All the best,
Spuff
Great to hear that you managed the trip we spoke about when you collected him, as well as the fact he proved the consummate companion (once again!). I had another re-read of the thread as a result of you posting and brought back not only many wonderful memories but also reminded me of how far I’ve come personally since that trip. It was an important step for me personally but having got that behind me, I’d love to go back and view it through different eyes and also with my girlfriend and daughter.
One of things I remember from that trip, and that you mentioned, was just how well Harry drove. In spite of the challenges he faced, he really did cope so well with the gradients and twisties and I also left every drive feeling pretty fresh. The Concorde is wonderful and has been treating me well (aside from some quite big expenditure) but I’m not sure she’d cope quite so well with some of the tighter stuff that I managed in Harry and given the additional weight on the same drivetrain as Harry, she’s pretty heavy on brakes & fuel.
So very pleased you’re enjoying him and thanks again for posting. All the best – hope you continue to have great adventures together.
All the best,
Spuff
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