Touring: Ayrshire

[st4]

The weekend weather was excellent so on Saturday I decided after doing some errands etc I'd nip out for a mini tour.

The idea was to head to the North Ayrshire coast and shoot a sunset at Portencross, near West Kilbride.

Firstly I stopped at the Perch in Port Glasgow, admired my C class estate and the views of the Clyde


_DSC0791 by [e-mail], on Flickr


You English people might say that this isn't good weather, but if there is blue in the Sky, then it is


_DSC0790 by [e-mail], on Flickr

From here you follow the road round through Greenock and Gourock and take the A78 down to Inverkip. Inverkip has a very interesting Marina and restaurants and would make a good way day out. I've never been. I am glad I have.

Some of the boat names are really good. I wonder if we should give names like this to cars


_DSC0806 (1) by [e-mail], on Flickr


_DSC0800 (1) by [e-mail], on Flickr

LOL

A bit later on, you can see the weather really improving and the waters getting nice and still


_DSC0820 by [e-mail], on Flickr

And also the sun gets lower, and that was the direction I was headed in.


_DSC0823 by [e-mail], on Flickr

The A78 runs along the coast to Largs and from Kip to Largs is a really nice drive, nice tight bends, and the sport chassis of the 204 means this can be really savoured and enjoyed. 3rd gear being the best tool for the job and all in all you can also relish the views to Cumbrae, Arran and Millport.

Eventually I got to Portencross to be greeted by Buckfast swilling oiks.


_DSC0834 by [e-mail], on Flickr

Luckily they cleared off in time for sunset.


_DSC0843 by [e-mail], on Flickr

Portencross is a really nice spot, and the smell of the sea air, and relative quite away from it all is very restfull once people began to clear off. I could easily take a tent here and spend the night just off the shore. Theres something very restful about the sea and the salty smell. Albiet, its not the best for a Mercedes


_DSC0861 by [e-mail], on Flickr

One thing I did wrong on this tour, I stopped at Wymess Bay which is ok but drove past Nardinis Icecream parlour in Largs. Next time, I will pop into Nardinis, the icecream is ace.

Here is Wymess bay station at night


_DSC0867 by [e-mail], on Flickr

And inside it too


_DSC0873 by [e-mail], on Flickr

All in all a good drive. I averaged 46mpg which is pretty good going and above the book figure but didn't drive the car hard.

The best bit, there is a tour done the next day and another thread to follow...

[NJS25]

Quality photos as usual. That gets me in the mood for our Scottish trip planned for the end of the month. Only Borders this time around, but we're back up to the top again next Easter.

Always a pleasure to look into these threads.

Regards, Neil

[ecain63]

I've got a 1500 mile trip planned from Bournemouth to Inverness via Loch lomond, Rannoch and Invermoriston and and back south again via Braemar, Perth and Stirling straights either next Friday/Saturday/Sunday or the following weekend. C63 trip, but don't tell the wallet.

Edited by ecain63 on Wednesday 2nd October 19:31

[st4]

ecain63 said:

I've got a 1500 mile trip planned from Bournemouth to Inverness via Loch lomond, Rannoch and Invermoriston and and back south again via Braemar, Perth and Stirling straights either next Friday/Saturday/Sunday or the following weekend. C63 trip, but don't tell the wallet.

Edited by ecain63 on Wednesday 2nd October 19:31

Its good to see a C63 getting a proper run.

You've picked a quality lap BTW, up the A82. I'd add in a few detours given the calibre of the car you are taking.

1. Head round to Kinlochleven from Glencoe
2. Ensure going back by Braemar you head over Tomintoul, I think you'll do this anyway.
3. If you have time, head to Skye too

[ecain63]

Skye would be excellent but I think maybe a couple of hundred quid too far for one weekend.

I grew up in Balloch and visit family there fairly regularly. Ive driven most of the roads but never in a decent car, the last time in a rather crap Peugeot estate hire car. My dad and brother will join me on the trip so it should be an enjoyable family day out. Oh, I do plan on cracking the Gairloch humps at some point along the way. You been over them yet?

Love your tour reviews btw.

[Bradders901]

OP great photos, thanks for sharing

[st4]

ecain63 said:

Skye would be excellent but I think maybe a couple of hundred quid too far for one weekend.

I grew up in Balloch and visit family there fairly regularly. Ive driven most of the roads but never in a decent car, the last time in a rather crap Peugeot estate hire car. My dad and brother will join me on the trip so it should be an enjoyable family day out. Oh, I do plan on cracking the Gairloch humps at some point along the way. You been over them yet?

Love your tour reviews btw.

Cheers, I've toured most of the country. At Balloch you can also aim for Aberfoyle and the Dukes pass over to Kilmahog and in a 63 that would be a riot that road but killer on the fuel. But you buy a car like that to drive, not worry about the petrol.

If you are into the scenery (like me) a belter is to head to Rowardennen and the pub at the end of the road is ok too.

The run to Gairloch takes you over via Poolewe and if take that run, you must aim up for Ullapool. Watch that road, its bumpy and in a stiffly suspended car could be adveturous.

I had a great time following a friend in a CLS55 along there a year plus back.

[r129sl]

st4 said:

ecain63 said:

Skye would be excellent but I think maybe a couple of hundred quid too far for one weekend.

I grew up in Balloch and visit family there fairly regularly. Ive driven most of the roads but never in a decent car, the last time in a rather crap Peugeot estate hire car. My dad and brother will join me on the trip so it should be an enjoyable family day out. Oh, I do plan on cracking the Gairloch humps at some point along the way. You been over them yet?

Love your tour reviews btw.

Cheers, I've toured most of the country. At Balloch you can also aim for Aberfoyle and the Dukes pass over to Kilmahog and in a 63 that would be a riot that road but killer on the fuel. But you buy a car like that to drive, not worry about the petrol.

If you are into the scenery (like me) a belter is to head to Rowardennen and the pub at the end of the road is ok too.

The run to Gairloch takes you over via Poolewe and if take that run, you must aim up for Ullapool. Watch that road, its bumpy and in a stiffly suspended car could be adveturous.

I had a great time following a friend in a CLS55 along there a year plus back.

The A835 from Inverness to Ullapool is simply fantastic after Garve. The A832 from Garve to Achnasheen then down Glen Docherty then along Loch Maree likewise is a superb road and would be fabulous in a C63. You can link them up via Poolewe but it is a hard slog. Skye is grossly overrated in my experience.

A835 just north of Garve:

Edited by r129sl on Friday 4th October 21:01

[st4]

r129sl said:

The A835 from Inverness to Ullapool is simply fantastic after Garve. The A832 from Garve to Achnasheen then down Glen Docherty then along Loch Maree likewise is a superb road and would be fabulous in a C63. You can link them up via Poolewe but it is a hard slog. Skye is grossly overrated in my experience.

A835 just north of Garve:

Edited by r129sl on Friday 4th October 21:01

I'd agree, the run past Garve to Ullapool is a peach, and taking the road up to Durness is also a blast.

Its a good loop the Poolewe run and its got some nice turns from Poolewe to Albea, then heading up past Grunard and little Loch Broom and the views are to die for.

But heading up North from Ullapool is highly advisable.

[r129sl]

st4 said:

But heading up North from Ullapool is highly advisable.

I agree. We had a run up to the Kylesku Bridge the other day. These are the best roads I have ever driven (maybe with the exception of the A397 Ronda-Marbella road):

[st4]

I love that run upto Kylesku, great scenery too