Highlands

[mikey k]

Lancs Dave said:

Got back from my trip last night

This was Monday in Cairngorms

That was unluck Dave!
Glad to see you still hanging out with the S2000's and hes got his roof down!

[Blown2CV]

JohnnyAMG said:

coppice said:

The perfect car is something smaller - like my Seven . It loves the Highlands but moans and strops when it rains . so yes, Mercs have their place ...

Agree, once you are in the highlands but the Merc does well getting from London to the highlands and back and keeping SWMBO happy.

yea exactly that. I think the finer points come down to personal preference but whilst a light, chuckable sports car would be amazing for parts of the journey, there are bits where it would be tougher

[Pulse]

Blown2CV said:

JohnnyAMG said:

coppice said:

The perfect car is something smaller - like my Seven . It loves the Highlands but moans and strops when it rains . so yes, Mercs have their place ...

Agree, once you are in the highlands but the Merc does well getting from London to the highlands and back and keeping SWMBO happy.

yea exactly that. I think the finer points come down to personal preference but whilst a light, chuckable sports car would be amazing for parts of the journey, there are bits where it would be tougher

I posted my thoughts on this above, but I'd agree on getting to/from the Highlands! My little A1 was comfortable on the way there and back, and managed to be enjoyable up there as well. I'd not want to hit the tighter roads in it, mind you.

[Who me ?]

Pulse, I've had the Skoda version Tdi for yonks, and at one time we had a monthly trip from CV10 territory to PH33, and then on to Inverness (Dad was in long time care) and even on the back roads to Inverness, or on the A82 ( and on the B8008, where I learnt to cut my teeth on single track , mad roads ) , I had no problems. No special tyres- just normal ones, but I never had problems.

[Craikeybaby]

I found both my mk3.5 MX-5 was spot of for a drive to and around the highlands, it is refined enough for the long motorway slog and chuckable on the highland roads. My MR2 Roadster was brilliant in the highlands, but space was a bit tight for a weeks luggage.

[Red Devil]

Lancs Dave said:

Got back from my trip last night

This was Monday in Cairngorms

We keep missing each other.

Had lunch in La Taverna in Aviemore that same day. It started just as we arrived. Car looked even more blanketed than your third pic by the time we emerged!

The weather can best be described as 'changeable'. The only thing missing was a thunderstorm...

[robbo 2006]

Just back yesterday after a superb run in the GT. 1600 mile round trip since Thursday from Chalfont(South Bucks)-Balfron-Fort Augustus to meet my uncle(he has a Toyota GT86)-Kyle of Lochalsh-Talisker-Flodygarry-Uig via Quirang-Applecross-Strathcarron-Torridon-Lecht-Inverurie-Glenshee-A93 to Lenzie-Chalfont. The V6 was just sublime and covered ground with ease. It does like a wee drink of oil. Averaged 28.3 mpg over the trip which isn't too bad. Only mishap was a lump in front nearside tyre which meant a cross schlep to kwikfit in Dyce to swap the Nexens for a new set of Michelin Cross Climates. Nice and grippy Highly recommend doing the trip up!

[ian2144]

robbo 2006 said:

Just back yesterday after a superb run in the GT. 1600 mile round trip since Thursday from Chalfont(South Bucks)-Balfron-Fort Augustus to meet my uncle(he has a Toyota GT86)-Kyle of Lochalsh-Talisker-Flodygarry-Uig via Quirang-Applecross-Strathcarron-Torridon-Lecht-Inverurie-Glenshee-A93 to Lenzie-Chalfont. The V6 was just sublime and covered ground with ease. It does like a wee drink of oil. Averaged 28.3 mpg over the trip which isn't too bad. Only mishap was a lump in front nearside tyre which meant a cross schlep to kwikfit in Dyce to swap the Nexens for a new set of Michelin Cross Climates. Nice and grippy Highly recommend doing the trip up!

A good synopsis Iain, that trip has just reinforced my thoughts, that the GT86 is the best car by far for the Applecross run. Great weekend.

[samuri]

Ditto: just returned from a quick blast up to the highlands AGAIN. Saw the weather forecast on Monday teatime and showed a full week of sun up north so grabbed the wife and bags and were near Glasgow for an overnight. Next morning for a change we island hopped and enjoyed Mull etc. but the draw was too much and by the next day we were in Lochcarron for the night ready for the Applecross next morning; not many campervans to spoil the run . It was then back over to Skye for the ferry to Mallaig , down to Balloch for the night then back home. A brilliant few days with the best weather possible. Scotland is so addictive, the roads and scenery. . And NO, it wasn't me who left the doughnuts on top of the pass. on

[Blown2CV]

how do you low ground clearance vehicled boys manage to make your way around the more remote parts of the country then? Gravel single tracks, ferry ramps etc... i'd be panicking constantly!

[GetCarter]

Blown2CV said:

how do you low ground clearance vehicled boys manage to make your way around the more remote parts of the country then? Gravel single tracks, ferry ramps etc... i'd be panicking constantly!

I've had the lowest Caterhams, Porsches, Aston and R8 and have never had a problem.

Longer fronted cars like Lambos need to take hairpins the 'wide way', and if entering a ferry, need to have a word with the staff and they'll put low cars on first or last with boards if needed (it's tide dependent).

[Yipper]

Yipper said:

Cairngorm ski resort, near Lecht, has closed this afternoon, due to heavy snow at all levels.

From 2ft of snow to sunbathing in a week or so. Welcome to Scotland...

[pb450]

Waking up in Scotch Corner this morning after the slog up here from Kent. The North beckons and the sun is shining. Bring it on!

[f1ten]

Literally 1 month before I'm back up this time with a crew of 8 cars and officially doing the nc500. I'm giving my Euro friends a tour of my lovely country. Not entirely sure what car to take except bending. Towards the m135i BMW except being a child I will feel outclassed by the other cars so might have to rethink. I share the thoughts from above though mr2/ boxster are the right size for the northern single track stuff. I had a rented Audi TT at crimbo up there and it was the right size for fast progress on the tight stuff.

[Red Devil]

pb450 said:

Waking up in Scotch Corner this morning after the slog up here from Kent.

How come you only got that far?

pb450 said:

The North beckons and the sun is shining. Bring it on!

Back in April we took this route to our overnight stop. All A & B roads until J10 of the M74.
Here's what the old A74 (now downgraded) is like - https://goo.gl/maps/4L9mgUWNwq42
We had it all to ourselves pretty much the whole way and it's far more fun than the motorway.

We didn't have the best of weather in the Highlands though. Hope you fare better.

f1ten said:

I share the thoughts from above though mr2/ boxster are the right size for the northern single track stuff.

+ a Series 2 Lotus Elise and a supercharged VX220.

[rongagin]

Personally I think you need to follow the coastal route as much as possible. It does mean some pretty tight single track roads and some scary blind single track bends and crests, but the joy of rounding a bend to see surprise after surprise. Be it a beautiful beach with clear waters or another loch and mountain view is worth it.
Doing the NC500 isn't about blasting around the route in a couple of days.
Not based on anyone's comments just an observation

[mikey k]

rongagin said:

Personally I think you need to follow the coastal route as much as possible. It does mean some pretty tight single track roads and some scary blind single track bends and crests, but the joy of rounding a bend to see surprise after surprise. Be it a beautiful beach with clear waters or another loch and mountain view is worth it.
Doing the NC500 isn't about blasting around the route in a couple of days.
Not based on anyone's comments just an observation

I'm going to disagree
I've been going up to Scotland once a year on a driving holiday for well over 10 years.
The NC500 is simply a recent marketing statergy
There are some far better roads/scenery off the suggested route
For example

Jocks 2011 511 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Jocks 2011 624 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

DSC01208 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

This is my go to site for local scenery and places to visit
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/uscategories...

[johnwilliams77]

mikey k said:

I'm going to disagree
I've been going up to Scotland once a year on a driving holiday for well over 10 years.
The NC500 is simply a recent marketing statergy
There are some far better roads/scenery off the suggested route
For example

Jocks 2011 511 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Jocks 2011 624 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

DSC01208 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

This is my go to site for local scenery and places to visit
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/uscategories...

This
Glenshee, lecht, grantown. Ignore Inverness>Thurso
Don't tell everyone

[GetCarter]

mikey k said:

I'm going to disagree
I've been going up to Scotland once a year on a driving holiday for well over 10 years.
The NC500 is simply a recent marketing statergy
There are some far better roads/scenery off the suggested route
For example
...pics

Also:

























and of course...





...which they continue to use, even though I've told them it's not on the route.

Hey... they paid me for it so I'm not complaining!

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 11th May 13:30

[mikey k]

Steve did you ever find out any more about THE cottage coming up for sale?
We are up last week of May (in the evoque ) would be good to meet up and talk Highland houses!