First ever trip to Scotland...............
Discussion
Wow,
Just returned from a weekend in Scotland, basically Friday morning myself and Scottish Nursey friend
asked our retrospective managers for the afternoon off - and as our wishes were granted she headed over to Bracknell from Basingstoke and we took my company car (armed with fuel card naturally) and headed North.
Heading into what was familiar to me (the arse that is the M6 on a Friday afternoon) it felt odd driving up when normally I'm still at work but this was a good feeling all the same. As you go North of Manchester things really start to pick up all be it still motorway.
We enter Scotland for the first time in my life and she says we can either A74(M) to Edinburgh and Balerno or we can go A702 through Biggar - bit windy she points out - sounds fun after 6 hours of motorway.
What a GREAT decision, even in the dark the road was simply fantastic - superb in terms of speed, corners & all things joyful in the world!!
Two nights out in Edinburgh and a tour of all the local attractions made me realise what a fab place it is too.
Coming back today along those roads was even better - straight lining, you can see for miles in places (and metres in others / blind summits etc) the sheer Lack of Traffic was an absolute pleasure - I was reading on the Roads section here people going on about what's good but there didn't seem to be too much mention of 'Scotland' and I felt the need to express just how exciting those roads and the place as a whole is !!
Mind you still not sure about the local 'wee' brews and being exposed to Keltic dancing however it is spelt for a couple of hours on Saturday night - well it's an experience I won't forget lol !!
Well worth a trip up - shame to return so soon to land of caravan towers and rover 214's!
What you waiting for - go now!!
>>> Edited by chris_freebie on Sunday 30th January 21:28
Just returned from a weekend in Scotland, basically Friday morning myself and Scottish Nursey friend
asked our retrospective managers for the afternoon off - and as our wishes were granted she headed over to Bracknell from Basingstoke and we took my company car (armed with fuel card naturally) and headed North. Heading into what was familiar to me (the arse that is the M6 on a Friday afternoon) it felt odd driving up when normally I'm still at work but this was a good feeling all the same. As you go North of Manchester things really start to pick up all be it still motorway.
We enter Scotland for the first time in my life and she says we can either A74(M) to Edinburgh and Balerno or we can go A702 through Biggar - bit windy she points out - sounds fun after 6 hours of motorway.
What a GREAT decision, even in the dark the road was simply fantastic - superb in terms of speed, corners & all things joyful in the world!!
Two nights out in Edinburgh and a tour of all the local attractions made me realise what a fab place it is too.
Coming back today along those roads was even better - straight lining, you can see for miles in places (and metres in others / blind summits etc) the sheer Lack of Traffic was an absolute pleasure - I was reading on the Roads section here people going on about what's good but there didn't seem to be too much mention of 'Scotland' and I felt the need to express just how exciting those roads and the place as a whole is !!
Mind you still not sure about the local 'wee' brews
and being exposed to Keltic dancing however it is spelt for a couple of hours on Saturday night - well it's an experience I won't forget lol !! Well worth a trip up - shame to return so soon to land of caravan towers and rover 214's!
What you waiting for - go now!!
>>> Edited by chris_freebie on Sunday 30th January 21:28
chris_freebie said:
Coming back today along those roads was even better - straight lining, you can see for miles in places (and metres in others / blind summits etc) the sheer Lack of Traffic was an absolute pleasure - I was reading on the Roads section here people going on about what's good but there didn't seem to be too much mention of 'Scotland' and I felt the need to express just how exciting those roads and the place as a whole is !!
Welcome to the better life
Seriously thought, if you ever come back, go up the west coast to the north, personally I think those are the best roads in the country and possibly even the world.
the whole of the city centre is "old edinburgh" - much of it dates back to the 1600s or before.
What you are referring to is Mary Kings Close - a small street that was sealed up in the 1700s because of the plague, and left exactly as it was, until the top bits of the buildings were flattened and the new City Chambers built on top - the old buildings effectively forming part of the foundations.
Most of it is exactly as it was sealed - very spooky. You can book tours on the high street at little booths.
What you are referring to is Mary Kings Close - a small street that was sealed up in the 1700s because of the plague, and left exactly as it was, until the top bits of the buildings were flattened and the new City Chambers built on top - the old buildings effectively forming part of the foundations.
Most of it is exactly as it was sealed - very spooky. You can book tours on the high street at little booths.
kenny320 said:
I can say, as someone living on the West coast of Scotland, a stone's throw from a cracker of a road, that I'm a lucky bar steward. The twists and turns up here with some cracking bits of straight make for serious white knuckle rollercoaster driving, but what fun it is
Hitting 1xx+ in a Chimeara on some of these roads is truly unforgettable
Even in me 'wee' bmw you just feel so alive, hard on the brakes before the summits or the odd pothole that if you hit you think you may actually die (or at least the car will sulk about) and into the bend, straighten, more power,,,, YESSSS that felt like hitting the apex around a track - in a cerb oh my that would be an experience and a half.
Her family have a couple of flats in the area and a main house in Belarno and thanks to the Scottish Saturday everyone cleans their car on Saturdays theme got a free pressure wash with plenty of lovely wax and so got some photos of the car which I'm quite proud of.
We went to this resevior place and from the top of these great hills you climb up you can just see for ever !
mxdi said:
We are off to edinburgh soon, any tips for things to do? So far its to be a bus tour, castle and we have heard about 'old edinburgh' which is underground (?) anyone know owt about that?
Well found some interesting night clubs lol....
I can reccomend NOT agreeing to go out with her and her Dad to a strange kilt wearing dance evening where by you have to dance with lots of bearded ladies - and a few hotties
Actually I lie - it was quite good fun - fortunately we had to head off to her younger sisters mates party at a night club near by around 10:30 pm - easy escape !
chris_freebie said:
We are off to edinburgh soon, any tips for things to do? So far its to be a bus tour, castle and we have heard about 'old edinburgh' which is underground (?) anyone know owt about that?
Well found some interesting night clubs lol....
I can reccomend NOT agreeing to go out with her and her Dad to a strange kilt wearing dance evening where by you have to dance with lots of bearded ladies - and a few hotties
Actually I lie - it was quite good fun - fortunately we had to head off to her younger sisters mates party at a night club near by around 10:30 pm - easy escape !
Chris, the true essence of Scotland is to be found in the Highlands and the Western Isles; they are utterly stunning and almost deserted in the winter.
But be careful, there are lots of cameras here too when you would least expect them.
chris_freebie said:
We are off to edinburgh soon, any tips for things to do? So far its to be a bus tour, castle and we have heard about 'old edinburgh' which is underground (?) anyone know owt about that?
Well found some interesting night clubs lol....
I can reccomend NOT agreeing to go out with her and her Dad to a strange kilt wearing dance evening where by you have to dance with lots of bearded ladies - and a few hotties
Actually I lie - it was quite good fun - fortunately we had to head off to her younger sisters mates party at a night club near by around 10:30 pm - easy escape !
Chris, the true essence of Scotland is to be found in the Highlands and the Western Isles; they are utterly stunning and almost deserted in the winter.
But be careful, there are lots of cameras here too when you would least expect them.
Been twice to stay in a cottage near Selkirk on the grounds of an estate owned by the company my missus works for. It really is God's country. Stunning scenery around the lochs, fantastic roads (even in a turbo diesel Santa Fe!), and, in our experience, very friendly locals.
Borders towns such as Selkirk, Peebles, Kelso and Hawick well worth a visit. Edinburgh is so clean compared to cities down here. Totally agree with the 'no traffic' comment. Every 10 minutes or so you find yourself saying "Ooh, a car..."
Love the place, looking to go to the eastern side around Berwick this year. Anyone else been there?
>> Edited by Trackside on Sunday 30th January 22:07
Borders towns such as Selkirk, Peebles, Kelso and Hawick well worth a visit. Edinburgh is so clean compared to cities down here. Totally agree with the 'no traffic' comment. Every 10 minutes or so you find yourself saying "Ooh, a car..."
Love the place, looking to go to the eastern side around Berwick this year. Anyone else been there?
>> Edited by Trackside on Sunday 30th January 22:07
chris_freebie said:
I can say, as someone living on the West coast of Scotland, a stone's throw from a cracker of a road, that I'm a lucky bar steward. The twists and turns up here with some cracking bits of straight make for serious white knuckle rollercoaster driving, but what fun it is
Hitting 1xx+ in a Chimeara on some of these roads is truly unforgettable
Even in me 'wee' bmw you just feel so alive, hard on the brakes before the summits or the odd pothole that if you hit you think you may actually die (or at least the car will sulk about) and into the bend, straighten, more power,,,, YESSSS that felt like hitting the apex around a track - in a cerb oh my that would be an experience and a half.
Her family have a couple of flats in the area and a main house in Belarno and thanks to the Scottish Saturday everyone cleans their car on Saturdays theme got a free pressure wash with plenty of lovely wax and so got some photos of the car which I'm quite proud of.
We went to this resevior place and from the top of these great hills you climb up you can just see for ever !
What kind of 'wee' bmw do you have Chris? Mine is a 15 year old 320i and it's perfect for the roads up here. What's more the Chimaera can be a bit 'twitchy' on some of the rougher roads...
Scotland is Britain's biggest racetrack
kenny320 said:
chris_freebie said:
kenny320 said:
I can say, as someone living on the West coast of Scotland, a stone's throw from a cracker of a road, that I'm a lucky bar steward. The twists and turns up here with some cracking bits of straight make for serious white knuckle rollercoaster driving, but what fun it is
Hitting 1xx+ in a Chimeara on some of these roads is truly unforgettable
Even in me 'wee' bmw you just feel so alive, hard on the brakes before the summits or the odd pothole that if you hit you think you may actually die (or at least the car will sulk about) and into the bend, straighten, more power,,,, YESSSS that felt like hitting the apex around a track - in a cerb oh my that would be an experience and a half.
Her family have a couple of flats in the area and a main house in Belarno and thanks to the Scottish Saturday everyone cleans their car on Saturdays theme got a free pressure wash with plenty of lovely wax and so got some photos of the car which I'm quite proud of.
We went to this resevior place and from the top of these great hills you climb up you can just see for ever !
What kind of 'wee' bmw do you have Chris? Mine is a 15 year old 320i and it's perfect for the roads up here. What's more the Chimaera can be a bit 'twitchy' on some of the rougher roads...
Scotland is Britain's biggest racetrack
320d Compact, and I have to say it has never run so well, the blast up the Motorway just prepped it - plus had the tyres changed on Thursday night for some P-Zero's
and that was much better than the factory Continentals.... Twitchy you say hehe
In our Le Mans convoy we have a Cerbra that (BAD 541T) number plate that tends to do that - it's more fun if you ask Steve hehe - those roads + a Tvr.... *drifts off into dream world* >> Edited by chris_freebie on Sunday 30th January 22:15
kenny320 said:
Sounds ideal Chris. Should have plenty of torque low down then I hope. I have to rev the nuts of the beemer to get it going quickly.
Having said that, revving it is fun thanks to the minimalist filter and 325 exhaust. What a noise!!!
Next time you're up let me know
I do have some better pics than this one, just going through them all but I liked this one !
One thing though - they do like to Salt their roads.
The Saturday car cleaning made the car the cleanest it's been since new !! (see above!)
However - I normally tut to myself when I see a car on the motorway that is so dirty you can't read the number plate etc.
Sunday morning car still pretty much spotless stopped after about 2.5 hours for a walk, visit to the loo and something to drink etc and looked at the back of it and I had to scrape the salt off which made the plate almost unreadable !! Have to let these people off in the future I had no idea it could build up THAT quickly!!
>> Edited by chris_freebie on Sunday 30th January 22:37
The Saturday car cleaning made the car the cleanest it's been since new !! (see above!)
However - I normally tut to myself when I see a car on the motorway that is so dirty you can't read the number plate etc.
Sunday morning car still pretty much spotless stopped after about 2.5 hours for a walk, visit to the loo and something to drink etc and looked at the back of it and I had to scrape the salt off which made the plate almost unreadable !! Have to let these people off in the future I had no idea it could build up THAT quickly!!
>> Edited by chris_freebie on Sunday 30th January 22:37
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