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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360  
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HA, they work well!
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7th May 2012 8:34pm |
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| cinstone Member Since: 29 Nov 2010 Location: Stourbridge Posts: 375  
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Right, the outline route is more or less finished, just got to make note of the penultimate section. The route does not include travelling to any, or many attractions. These will be added as and when we decide what we are doing for the day when we are up there, although we have a couple of ideas already. Note: Locations in bold are where we are staying.
Day One: West Mid's to Coniston, Lake District. Day Two: Coniston, Penrith, Kielder Forest, Galashiels, Forth Bridge to Bridge of Allan. Day Three: Bridge of Allan, Dundee, Arbroath, Capatain Scott & Dr.Watson Cairn to Braemar. Day Four & Five: Aberdeenshire. Day Six: Braemar, Loch Ness, Inverness, Cromarty Ferry, Dornoch to Spittal. Day Seven: Touring north east Highlands. Day Eight: Spittal, Bettyhill, Scourie, Lochinver to Ullapool. Day Nine: In & around Ullapool. Day Ten: Ullapool, Gairloch, Kyle of Lochalsh, Isle of Skye, Ferry to Mallaig, Fort William to Oban. Day Eleven: In & around Oban. Day Twelve: Oban to Dumfries (route yet to be planned). Day Thirteen: Dumfries to West Mid's. Thanks to all those on here who gave ideas for the trip. We've not really gone for the islands as it's just too impractical to fit them in whilst doing all the above. Skye only got in in the end as it's a useful way to get down to Mallaig and a nice break from driving. That said, originally we were planning to do a 100 mile tour of Skye, but cut it down as it would have meant a 350 odd mile run that day. Up to day ten we are looking at 1050.7 miles. It would have been more but her in doors didn't fancy some days where 300+ miles would have been likely, so the route has been trimmed here and there. Even so, the grand total is likely to be quite a bit more than 1500 miles. Chris. http://shropshirelandrovers.freeforums.org 2015 Defender 90 XS SW & Helen, 1964 IIa. Previously 2012 Defender 90 XS SW & 2008 90 XS SW. Previous LR's: Michael, my 2008 Defender 90 XS SW. Machinas oportet intrare non capsicum annuum faveo |
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13th Jun 2012 2:53am |
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| Maxxed_Ross Member Since: 06 Jun 2012 Location: Bathgate / North Sea Posts: 340  
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Looks like a fantastic route to me. I've done some of those roads myself and you're in for a treat.
Only suggestion I would make is to miss out the Forth Bridge and use the Kincardine Bridge instead. The roads around the Forth Bridge are currently being upgraded and it's a total nightmare just now... mile upon mile of road works and 40mph average speed cameras! If you really want to see the Forth Bridges (worth seeing if you haven't before) then I would suggest this route instead: Come out of Edinburgh on the A90 Queensferry road Follow that until it meets the M9 just before the bridge Come off at the next junction and take the last exit off the roundabout - A8000 There's a Shell petrol station on the right hand side as you exit the roundabout, come off on the first left turning and drive past the station. That road leads you to a carpark above both bridges (toilets and a snack van if required) View bridges, take loads of pictures 
Exit the car park the same way you came in and head back to the main road. Turn right at the main road back towards the roundabout. Take the 2nd exit - A904 Follow that road until you come to a T junction, turn left towards Linlithgow Next town you come to is Linlithgow, it has quite a smart castle that used to be a Royal summer home Exit in the same direction you were heading - towards Falkirk At the big roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the M9 Follow that until the junction for the Kincardine Bridge Keep going on that road until you hit another big roundabout Take the 2nd exit over the left of the two bridges once over that and up the hill it will bring you to a roundabout on the road you would have originally been on if you had gone over the Forth Bridge Hope that is of some help  |
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13th Jun 2012 5:35am |
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| Maxxed_Ross Member Since: 06 Jun 2012 Location: Bathgate / North Sea Posts: 340
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oh and for day 12 you have to come back the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond, it's a fantastic road
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13th Jun 2012 5:38am |
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| Maxxed_Ross Member Since: 06 Jun 2012 Location: Bathgate / North Sea Posts: 340
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and the A76 through Crumnock and Thornhill - that's a great driving road too
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13th Jun 2012 5:40am |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360
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Great posts Chris and Ross.
We are giving Scotland a swerve until Autumn due to the Mrs G's fear of being bitten  |
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13th Jun 2012 8:33am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2664 
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Your Day 10 looks fantastic!
As you drive from Gairloch to Kyle of Lochalsh, it's worth a 10-min diversion to PLOCKTON. 
Also, when you get off the ferry at Mallaig, you'll pass through MORAR and ARISAIG - both stunning (the white sands of Morar are famous). MORAR:
Enjoy! Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) Last edited by MartinK on 13th Jun 2012 8:47am. Edited 1 time in total |
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13th Jun 2012 8:35am |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360
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Looks great Martin.
Seriously, who needs package holidays!!! It's why I've never been on one |
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13th Jun 2012 8:39am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2664
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Oh...and whilst at Lochinver, the walk to Sandwood Bay is worthwhile (supposed to be one of the best beaches in Britain!)
You may be able to tell I love the West Coast of Scotland! Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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13th Jun 2012 8:53am |
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| roamingman Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: nearly thier Posts: 152
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Hi when you are in Aberdeenshire (day 4-5) Anywhere near Banff, we could meet up for a cuppa, next to Banff is McDuff just over bridge, there is a good Aqurium, also around Aberdeenshire there are a few Castles and Distileries. If you are into bird watching (flying type) not far from us is a RSBP reserve.
regards kevin Live Life Ti'l You Die Teddys are out thier http://teddybearspicnic.webs.com http://130sasha.co.uk/ |
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13th Jun 2012 9:56am |
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| Odin Member Since: 29 Apr 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 237 
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Good route. We've just returned from a week in Skye and I'd advise reducing your time in Aberdeenshire and extending it in the north west area. The scenery is better over there and the roads can be slow driving (much of the area has single track roads) so don't assume you'll easily make good mileage.
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13th Jun 2012 8:39pm |
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| cinstone Member Since: 29 Nov 2010 Location: Stourbridge Posts: 375
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Thanks all for the tips, advice and thoughts. Now where to start with the replies.
Maxxed_Ross: Cheers for the info'. Just like climbing a mountain we are driving across the Forth Bridge just because it's there. We've done the "Proper" one, i.e. the railway bridge a few years back now. Thanks for the info' on the alternative options though. Will print it off and add it to the rest of the info' in the lever arch file. The A82 I've done before. Didn't like it much cuz' I was on a T595 Daytona and there was too many coaches in the way  . Crumnock (ish) we'll be doing, but I'll update you all on this section in a bit.
MartinK: Cheers. Again, info' will be added to the file. roamingman: I don't know where we are going exactly and on what days, so I'll have to leave it for the moment. If and when I get more of an idea when and where we will be over those couple of days I'll let you know. Banff was on the cards as we've been to the one in Canada and want to see the first one .
Odin: My girlfriend wants to spend a decent amount of time in and around Braemar, so that's why we've penciled in the couple of days in that area. Understand the lack of progress we will make on some roads. Day eleven will be in and around Oban and day twelve will be Oban to Dumfries. The route for day twelve is only roughly sketched out, but is likely to be the following (the idea being not to use any motorway until we really have to on the last day);- Oban (A816) to A83 at Lochgilphead, Arrochar (A814) to Dumbarton. A726, Paisley, A727, Strathaven, A71, B743, A70, Crumnock, Dumfires. We are staying in the Dumfries area as our usual place we stay in at Coniston is fully booked on the way back. I'll tot up the total milage when the rest of the route is a little more settled. Cheers all. Chris. http://shropshirelandrovers.freeforums.org 2015 Defender 90 XS SW & Helen, 1964 IIa. Previously 2012 Defender 90 XS SW & 2008 90 XS SW. Previous LR's: Michael, my 2008 Defender 90 XS SW. Machinas oportet intrare non capsicum annuum faveo Last edited by cinstone on 13th Jun 2012 11:12pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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13th Jun 2012 11:00pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360
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All you peeps who've posted stuff on this thread...
Thank you 
I sat with a map and hi-lighted all the places, beaches, roads etc ready for a trip up there. I'm sure there are lurkers here too, who have had info from threads like this, so, thanks for your efforts and time invested in typing stuff like this out  |
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13th Jun 2012 11:05pm |
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| cinstone Member Since: 29 Nov 2010 Location: Stourbridge Posts: 375
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No prob's.
With us we had a few places we wanted to go to, then posting about it on here, Shropshire Land Rovers and the LRS3C forums amongst others we've penciled many of the ideas in. Some have stayed, some have been removed, but really we should have gone over three weeks. I was going to get all the O.S explorer maps for the trip but decided that my map fetish wasn't that great when I'd totalled up 60 odd maps with only two thirds of the route planned! Next year it's island hopping along the west coast in my IIa. Chris. http://shropshirelandrovers.freeforums.org 2015 Defender 90 XS SW & Helen, 1964 IIa. Previously 2012 Defender 90 XS SW & 2008 90 XS SW. Previous LR's: Michael, my 2008 Defender 90 XS SW. Machinas oportet intrare non capsicum annuum faveo Last edited by cinstone on 13th Jun 2012 11:17pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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13th Jun 2012 11:14pm |
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