The Highlands & V8's
 

Just got back from 1,840 miles round Scotland over 5 days in the Vantage Roadster
Average 16.2 mpg :sssh: and am partially deaf now :LOL:
We decided to call it a reccy trip to suss out where we might want to spend more time.
Much of the route was inspired by Blurter, "Best Bike Roads" and this thread

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=797255

We chose mid September to miss the tourist & midgy season, hoping the weather would hold. Its notorious difficult to forecast and we were lucky enough to only have one after noon of sustained rain. We did have a fair few shower and I got quite good at picking the moment to put the MUCH MUCH slower roof up before we got soaked.
I even managed a roadster sun tan :LOL:

The Vantage was superb and having the roadster made such a difference.
Maximum scenery and sound :drive:
One unexpected benefit to the Aston was other peoples road manners.
No one held us up, most moved over with an appreciative wave, in single track roads we got right of way - thank you - very refreshing!

Petrol stations were not an issue as the Vantage is quite happy to guzzle the "cheaper" stuff. Though not that cheap on 80 litres at £1.29/litre!

We stuck to B&B's for a more personal touch and better parking for the car.
That really paid off with some great places.

Right here come the pictures and notes for each day ;)

More pictures and higher resolutions here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25369163@N08/...57624981543598/

Have a look through them after you have clicked this sound track ;)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw2o_Go4QWI [/media]

DAY 1 - 386 miles

Cheshire to Aberfeldy
Mainly Motorway up to Moffat.
Then cross country to Edinburgh (nice prelude to what was to come!)
Then up to the Trossachs and West as far as Loch Lomond and the Inversnaid Hotel and its water fall.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/...8d01a67c38.jpg

For me a much more tranquil part of Loch Lomond ;)

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Loved Dukes Pass in the Trossachs some good hairpins.
Coming out of the Trossach on our "zigzag" to Aberfeldy

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Passed these bizzare sheep - a cross with Highland cattle I believe ;)

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Then we started in to the hills and single track roads

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/...e0b69b708e.jpg


Finally got to the B&B Fernbank in Aberfeldy where we are staying for two nights.
A great first day and fantastic sign for the next four days

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/...379a74802b.jpg

DAY 2 - 245 Miles

This was a bit of a "rest" day off to see Dunkeld and Forres (used to live in both) as well as finding some twisties in the process.

Heading into the Cairngorms

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Corgarff Fort and heading towards the ski "resorts"

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/...c74c5d848f.jpg
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Over to my favourite beach at Findhorn as we ran out of road

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Sharing it with just a few curious seals :LOL:

Then I made a mistake and headed back to Aberfeldy down the main A9. Too much traffic and torrential rain :(
This was the worst part of the 5 days thankfully!

Nice pics chap, glad you both enjoyed it, but what a good awful choice of soundtrack. :D

Shame we couldn't join you :( There's always next time :thumbup:

DAY 3 - ~420 miles

This was the day I was most looking forward to, it was orginally 511 miles but we started to run out of light and time so missed a few bits out to return to them the next day.

A quick blast up the A9 (in better weather conditions!) to Inverness

Over the Moray Firth

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Cromarty Firth as we head North

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Oh - the look of concentration and a display of Kay's photographic skills ;)

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My new favourite A road the A836 (thanks to the Jocks for suggesting this one!)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/...5ce60b4bb6.jpg

Closely followed by the A838
This place is awesome - the Kyle of Tongue

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Not too many pics of the NW coast as we were too busy diving into passing places and creeping over blind summits to a new and amazing view!

Did manage Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt as used by Aston in the DBS promo pics

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/...4805198b6c.jpg


Decided to leave out the West coast from Ullapool to Skye
Finally got on to Skye as the sun went down over the Cuillins

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/...a7bcef4b56.jpg

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A wooly jumper and leather gloves, you've changed man!!! :D

What next a panchant for cuban cigars? :LOL:

:LOL: neither of us were a fan but I had it on the ipod and it was just sooooo apt!
There will be another trip ;)
Hope Kelly got on OK?

Went in wednesday, kicked her out yesterday, she's doing brill - thanks for the get well card bud :thumbup:

Now, back to your automotive pornography...

The Aston showes its genes as a coupe when the roof comes down :(
Rain all over you & the console from the top of the screen if it gets wet, a near vacuum in the cabin due to the poor air flow and not a hope in reading any of the digital readouts :rolleyes:

Part of the sacrifice I guess!

I could live with the odd bit of dampness :D