Scotland Trip 21st-23rd March 2008 Actual
Southampton-Falkirk–West Highlands–Winsford-Southampton
From Southampton to Falkirk, around the West highlands, back down through the lake district, stopping at Winsford, Cheshire, and finally Southampton. That was the idea, it was also to see and explore the possibility of further trips to Scotland.
20th-21st Southampton - Falkirk
Left on Thursday night at around 21:00 to make some time; M27/M3/A34/M40/M42/M6 Toll/M6/M74/M80, all motorway or A roads, well I needed to get there first, and then hopefully explore. The weather was bad most of the night, rain with some strong gusting winds. I stopped 3 times for 1-1.5hrs each time to get some sleep, rest and refresh. Finally, arrived in partly cloudy, but pleasant Falkirk at around midday, spent a lot of time with a relative, catching-up etc.
460 miles
22nd West Highlands
Slept very well, had a fine breakfast, and studied maps. My Uncle has spent many years in this area and wanted to show me the at least some of Scotland, so we left Falkirk in his Volvo for a tour, that way I’d see more than if I was driving, and headed off into the West Highlands.
Picking up the A84 towards Callander and on to Lochearnhead, before turning onto the A85, passing the inspiring Ben More (1174m) and onto Crainlarich before heading South onto A82 and down the side of Loch Lomond to Tarbet, and onto the A83, pausing through Cairndow, Clahan before stopping at Inveraray for lunch. A beautiful place alongside Loch Fyne and already full of tourists, headed North after lunch, on the A819 and left onto the A85 around the top end of Loch Awe, through Lochawe which is overlooked by Ben Cruachan (1126m) and onto to Connel.
It's all very picturesque along here, very pretty through the villages, and snow covered Bens which are generally over the 1000m mark. Turning right onto the A828 around Loch Creran and up alongside Loch Linnhe, before turning onto the A82 and heading towards Ballachulish, and Glen Coe. Glen Coe is extremely beautiful with snow-capped mountains either side of a deep gorge. Already teaming with tourists, and a lot of walkers, a stunning place to visit, though in Summer, I'd personally give it a miss.
Carrying on towards Loch Tulla and Beinn Dorain, a very pretty stretch on road. I have to say at this point, most of the roads are in very good condition, mind you, at 1.20 per litre for diesel, they ought to be!
Picking the A85 up again, back pass Ben More, before turning onto the A827 towards Killin, Morenish and Lawers, in the shadow of Ben Lawers (1214m) and overlooking the beautiful Loch Tay towards Kenmore and Aberfeldy, where we headed South onto the A826 towards Milton, then onto the A822 and Amulree and Gilmerton and onto lovely Crieff, through Muthill and Braco, before jumping onto the A9 back to Falkirk. A great eye-opener, and taster, of at least some of this beautiful Country, plenty of spots for stopping/camping/rest, and some amazing sights.
280 miles
23rd Falkirk – Winsford - Southampton
Left Falkirk at about 10:45, made a couple of stops on the way down, and finally pulled into Winsford (260 miles) at around 16:00, stopped for nearly 2hrs, and hit the road again.
The whole area aroung the lake district was covered in snow and so picturesque, I will definately return. The weather was sunny, and relatively clear all the way back.
480 miles
A couple of long hard drives, up and down, to and from Scotland, hard on the old girl, but very glad I did it!
940 miles - and apart from the engine and water temperature getting hot, and cruising at around 60 mph for very long periods on the roads, she made it back. Now booked in for a full service.
The major downside of travelling in UK is the price of Diesel, outrageous! The further north, the more expensive, in the West Highlands I saw, 1.20p per litre, 1.20 a litre!!! Absolute, rip off. Ended paying 210.00 in fuel alone, working out to about 23mpg, not that bad for an old heavily laden Landrover.
UPDATE: 3rd of May; Shouldn't have moaned about the price of diesel, it's 1.20p a litre down south now, and heading for 1.30p+ a litre!
Southampton-Falkirk–West Highlands–Winsford-Southampton
From Southampton to Falkirk, around the West highlands, back down through the lake district, stopping at Winsford, Cheshire, and finally Southampton. That was the idea, it was also to see and explore the possibility of further trips to Scotland.
20th-21st Southampton - Falkirk
Left on Thursday night at around 21:00 to make some time; M27/M3/A34/M40/M42/M6 Toll/M6/M74/M80, all motorway or A roads, well I needed to get there first, and then hopefully explore. The weather was bad most of the night, rain with some strong gusting winds. I stopped 3 times for 1-1.5hrs each time to get some sleep, rest and refresh. Finally, arrived in partly cloudy, but pleasant Falkirk at around midday, spent a lot of time with a relative, catching-up etc.
460 miles
22nd West Highlands
Slept very well, had a fine breakfast, and studied maps. My Uncle has spent many years in this area and wanted to show me the at least some of Scotland, so we left Falkirk in his Volvo for a tour, that way I’d see more than if I was driving, and headed off into the West Highlands.
Picking up the A84 towards Callander and on to Lochearnhead, before turning onto the A85, passing the inspiring Ben More (1174m) and onto Crainlarich before heading South onto A82 and down the side of Loch Lomond to Tarbet, and onto the A83, pausing through Cairndow, Clahan before stopping at Inveraray for lunch. A beautiful place alongside Loch Fyne and already full of tourists, headed North after lunch, on the A819 and left onto the A85 around the top end of Loch Awe, through Lochawe which is overlooked by Ben Cruachan (1126m) and onto to Connel.
It's all very picturesque along here, very pretty through the villages, and snow covered Bens which are generally over the 1000m mark. Turning right onto the A828 around Loch Creran and up alongside Loch Linnhe, before turning onto the A82 and heading towards Ballachulish, and Glen Coe. Glen Coe is extremely beautiful with snow-capped mountains either side of a deep gorge. Already teaming with tourists, and a lot of walkers, a stunning place to visit, though in Summer, I'd personally give it a miss.
Carrying on towards Loch Tulla and Beinn Dorain, a very pretty stretch on road. I have to say at this point, most of the roads are in very good condition, mind you, at 1.20 per litre for diesel, they ought to be!
Picking the A85 up again, back pass Ben More, before turning onto the A827 towards Killin, Morenish and Lawers, in the shadow of Ben Lawers (1214m) and overlooking the beautiful Loch Tay towards Kenmore and Aberfeldy, where we headed South onto the A826 towards Milton, then onto the A822 and Amulree and Gilmerton and onto lovely Crieff, through Muthill and Braco, before jumping onto the A9 back to Falkirk. A great eye-opener, and taster, of at least some of this beautiful Country, plenty of spots for stopping/camping/rest, and some amazing sights.
280 miles
23rd Falkirk – Winsford - Southampton
Left Falkirk at about 10:45, made a couple of stops on the way down, and finally pulled into Winsford (260 miles) at around 16:00, stopped for nearly 2hrs, and hit the road again.
The whole area aroung the lake district was covered in snow and so picturesque, I will definately return. The weather was sunny, and relatively clear all the way back.
480 miles
A couple of long hard drives, up and down, to and from Scotland, hard on the old girl, but very glad I did it!
940 miles - and apart from the engine and water temperature getting hot, and cruising at around 60 mph for very long periods on the roads, she made it back. Now booked in for a full service.
The major downside of travelling in UK is the price of Diesel, outrageous! The further north, the more expensive, in the West Highlands I saw, 1.20p per litre, 1.20 a litre!!! Absolute, rip off. Ended paying 210.00 in fuel alone, working out to about 23mpg, not that bad for an old heavily laden Landrover.
UPDATE: 3rd of May; Shouldn't have moaned about the price of diesel, it's 1.20p a litre down south now, and heading for 1.30p+ a litre!