Our ten day Scottish adventure

[Rubce]

Hi All

We have just returned from a ten day family holiday in Scotland. The chosen form of transport was our Stag and during the holiday it covered 1,478 miles. The car behaved itself impeccably apart from a sidelight bulb blowing and the seal on the tonneau cover leaking. I think the seal was simply overwhelmed by the sheer power of some of the Scottish showers!

After deciding to go in our Stag we planned a route so as to make the 500 mile journey each way from Cheshire part of the holiday. We departed Thursday lunchtime and travelled up the M6 to Lancaster and then via Hornby, Kirby Lonsdale, Kirby Stephen, Appleby and then back onto the M6 at Penrith. We spent the first night in a B&B on the A7 between Carlisle and Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Friday was spent looking around Hawick and then driving up through Selkirk, Peebles, across to Glasgow, other the Erskine Bridge, up the side of Loch Lomond to our next B&B at Crianlarich. Saturday we passed through Glen Coe to Fort William, then Mallaig for the ferry over to Skye and up the island to Broadford. Our plan was then to take the small turntable ferry from Kylerhea to Glenelg where our cottage was located. However, the high winds meant that the small ferry was not running and so we continued round via the Skye bridge and down the A87 past Eilean Donan Castle to Shiel Bridge and then over the Man Ratagan pass. After 530 miles we had reached our destination for the week.

Photos:-
1: boarding the Mallaig to Armadale ferry
2: at sea on the Mallaig ferry
3: welcome to Glenelg!
4: the driver for the week. ME!

[Rubce]

Whilst up in the West Highlands we took the opportunity to visit to Loch Ness. The scenery around the Five Sisters through Glen Shiel on the A87 was stunning. After Loch Ness we continued onto Inverness and then popped over the suspension bridge onto the Black Isle and headed for Chanonry Point. Our aim was to see the dolphins which frequent the area in the arrows between the point and Fort George. We were lucky and saw three feeding 20 yards or so off the beach.

Another day we popped over to Skye on the Glenelg - Kylerhea ferry. It is the last turntable ferry operating in the UK. http://www.skyeferry.co.uk/

After driving down to the south end of Skye we boobed back over to Mallaig as foot passengers upon which we went out on a whale watching trip. A superb experience seeing porpoises and gannets etc but on no minky whales on this occasion.

Photos:-

5: Moray Firth
6: Toby fishing for bait whilst on our whale watching trip
7: Glenelg Ferry
8: Glenelg Ferry - waiting to board
9: Glenelg Ferry crossing the Sound of Sleet

[Rubce]

Our cottage at Glenelg over looked the Sound of Sleat and Skye. It was at the end of a long muddy track and a few minutes walk from the beach. The wildlife around the cottage was varied. Each night we put an egg and peanut butter sandwich on one of the window sills for a Pine Martin. We were surprised at how large an animal it was

Photos:-
10: the cottage
11: the cottage
12: at the end of the rainbow there lives a Stag!
13: gateman in action!
14: our nightly visitor

[Rubce]

Access to Glenelg village by road involves a stiff climb regardless of whether you approach from the east of the west. From the east you leave the A87 at Shiel Bridge and then drive up and over Man Raratagan with its amazing views over Loch Dulch and the Glen Shiel. The road from the west involves the Glen Arroch and the descent to Kylerhea and the ferry.

Whilst in the Glenelg area we had the privilege of seeing a Sea Eagle fishing. What a magnificent bird and enormous with a wing span of 8 feet making it the largest type living in the UK

Photos:-
15: View of Loch Dulch from Man Raratagan
16: View of the Five Sisters from Man Raratagan
17: the road leading up from the ferry and the Sound of Sleat through Glen Arroch
18: rush hour in Glenelg

[Rubce]

We visited Plockton on two days to sample the excellent seafood on offer at the various restaurants. Highly recommended.

Our return journey involved a stay over in Edinburgh on the Saturday night and a visit to the zoo on the Sunday before the long hike back down to Cheshire. As we drove over the Forth Road Bridge we had a good view of progress on the second road bridge which is being constructed and a glimpse of the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier in Rosyth dockyard.

We had an excellent journey from Edinburgh to Crewe with the 245 miles being done in 4.5 hours which included two rest breaks. So all in a good holiday with plenty to see and do. Whilst the weather was horrible on two days we were generally lucky with plenty of sunshine with just the occasion heavy downpour. The windy weather kept the infamous midges at bay and we had the roof down on two days. We were surprised at how few classic cars were out and about and a Spitfire in Glen Shiel was the sole Triumph that we saw.

Photos:-
19: Plockton
20: Eileen Donan Castle floodlight
21: Forth Road Bridge
22: Forth Bridge

Regards

Bruce

[jagorstag]

Some lovely holiday snaps there, Bruce! I'm glad the Stag didn't let you down.

Cheers,
Joakim

[jamcarr2]

Lovely Bruce ,and now we know whats really at the end of a rainbow
John

[Another Peter]

What a marvellous adventure.

It is holidays like that which Toby will remember most.

[DJT]

Great stuff. Good to get it done before President Salmond puts the border posts in place......

[jamcarr2]

Great stuff. Good to get it done before President Salmond puts the border posts in place......

we went up earlier in the year for that very reason.....

[Highland Stag]

Welcome to my playground Bruce. Glad you enjoyed your trip. There is something special about using your classic in such stunning locations. I have attached a few local photos

Chanonry Point from the water
Dolphin at Chanonry...playing with my boat
Piloting a light aircraft down Loch Ness on a perfect day 4 weeks ago
West coast road and scenery
No speed limits!

HS

[E-LAD]

Hi Bruce!

glad you made it there & back without any hiccups with the stag- just proves what great cars we drive!! Some amazing scenery in your pics!
Dale

[Marco Polo]

Looks like a fantastic family holiday Bruce,
My wife and I are hoping to do an Aussie version of your travels with a driving holiday of Tasmania next February, we are going to ship the car down to a friends place near Melbourne and we will fly down and meet the car.

It will save us 4 days driving and approx 3000 kms on the car! We will then load the Stag on the ferry over to Tassie and spend around 2 weeks exploring followed by a return ferry crossing and a quick 4 day dash back up the east coast to home.
Really looking forward to it!
regards,
Raoul