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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
    Troy's Avatar
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    Planning for Next Year...Tour of Scotland

    Hi folks, this Covid pandemic has got us into a bit of a rut, stuck in Thailand last year for 3-months (very good 3 months and not complaining) followed by being stuck in Germany since June 2020. No Christmas, no New Year and no Easter. We had the break in Croatia at the end of May, a fantastic week, but just a week. It's been all work and no play for most of the year.

    Anyway, work has offered an extension to my contract (again) and the post brexit terms have been removed making it attractive enough to stay a couple more years. The Jag is 14 years old, just passed its HU/MOT for another 2 years but isn't really transport I'd want to use for any very long journeys. It needs replacing.

    The wife has been talking about a touring holiday of Scotland. She wants it to be a camping holiday and would be really happy if it was a roof top tent. We have a good tent as a backup in case I don't manage to decide on one but the idea is a camping holiday, touring the wilds of Scotland.

    So I need a new car and possibly a roof rack and tent and the car needs some off road ability to be able to go off the beaten track but nothing extreme. I also need a route and all of it has to be done in reasonable comfort.

    My first thought was to hire a camper van but this was frowned upon as it was not within the rules of camping that the loved one has been dreaming.

    Picking a car has been a difficult start. Mrs Troy has been dreaming of a Landrover Defender Sport; a mini version of the Defender with a mini engine and no "sport" features that I can see. As I am in Germany, I have given her the sensible, economical options of Audi A3/A5, VW Tourag, Merc GLB and etc., but she has referred to them all as 'boring', lacking style and too expensive.

    I have reached a compromise with a Landrover Discovey Td6 HSE, low mileage and we are off to see two of them next week, one is 2018 and the other 2017 *HSE Luxury). They certainly meet the power and ability for me and the luxury for her. Unfortunately, she spotted a 2018 Range Rover Sport for just a few dollars more...so we'll need to see that as well. (how do I put her off the Range Rover?)

    The Discovery Sport is the cheapest option and is certainly capable so I haven't ruled it out yet.

    Next the tent...anyone tried a roof top tent; soft or hard top? They all look okay and the hard tops would suit the wilds of Scotland, although they are bit on the expensive side. Scotland allows for camping off-piste so the idea appeals more and the idea is to take it back to Thailand to mount atop the Pajero Sport.

    The basic route is...

    Dover -> Lake District
    Lake District -> Loch Lomond
    Loch Lomond poodle around for a couple of days around Glen Coe, Ben Nevis area
    Glen Coe (or similar) -> Loch ness / Inverness area
    Inverness -> John O' Groats
    John O'Groats -> Aberdeen
    Aberdeen -> Edinburgh
    Edinburgh -> York
    York -> Dover

    Whole holiday to cover 14-17ish day period including trip to/from Munich

    Any ideas on car and tent would be good but expect it to be a Discovery (because I love them)

    Anyone got pros and cons of roof tent (apart from the obvious cost) and more importantly, soft or hard top?

    Help with camping sites on the route would be good as would places to see. We are going up the West side and down the East...


    I'll keep you posted with the build up....

    Holiday will be sometime between late September this year (too optimistic), May/June 2022 and September 2022.

    Step one getting the car....

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
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    Have an ex-sister in law, who went on a bi-cycle tent trip to Scotland.

    She told me. that it rained for the whole two weeks. she was there.

    She claims, that it is the best holiday, she ever had.

    Most be an amazing place.




    She is german

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
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    ^ I guess she'd been stuck in Germany for too long as well...

    I'd prefer a hotel room but wife's wish is my command. Camping in the rain is will almost certainly be whichever month we go.

  4. #4
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    Go before the end of May or after mid September to avoid the midges. Camping with midges best avoided.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    (how do I put her off the Range Rover?)
    Planning for Next Year...Tour of Scotland-landrover-jpg

  6. #6
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    Dover -> Lake District
    Lake District -> Loch Lomond
    Loch Lomond poodle around for a couple of days around Glen Coe, Ben Nevis area
    Glen Coe (or similar) -> Loch ness / Inverness area
    Inverness -> John O' Groats
    John O'Groats -> Aberdeen
    Aberdeen -> Edinburgh
    Edinburgh -> York
    York -> Dover
    Have you been before, Troy?

    You seem to aiming for the tourist magnets.

    Perhaps that's what you like - fair enough, if so.

    The mistake I made was spending a whole week in Edinburgh. 'Birmingham with a Castle' was my sister's input, and two or three days would have been enough.

    I'd be aiming for Skye (and Plockton etc.) and/or Arran. Highly recommended. Not by any means 'off the tourist map' of course, but not overrun. We drove through the Glen Coe area on the way south and it was heaving with holidaymakers.

    Now 50+ and I wouldn't be camping in Scotland.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    That's a fair call, I visited Loch Ness and it really wasn't particularly special or different. There's probably a hundred more interesting, more picturesque and most importantly quieter Loch's to visit.

  8. #8
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    Having lived in Scotland for quite a number of years and visited places both good and bad, my recommendation would be:

    Head north to Glasgow on M74.
    Bear right to Stirling then Perth.
    Take the A9 North to Aberfeldy, left to Kenmore/Loch Tay. Camping in that area.
    Back on the A9 North to Pitlochry.
    From Pitlochry to Bridge of Cally, continuing to Glen Shee onto Braemar/Balmoral. Head north to Tomintoul.
    Continue to Dufftown then Elgin (you're right in Whisky country here).
    From Elgin along the Moray Firth to Inverness.
    From Inverness go north west to Ullapool.
    South to Plockton.
    South again along the coast as far as Kyle of Lochalsh and the bridge to the Isle of Skye.
    On Skye, north to Sligachan then left to Glen Brittle (camping site).
    Return to the mainland and head south to Fort William.
    South to Glen Coe and east to Bridge of Orchy then west to Oban.
    From Oban down to Loch Lomand and back to Glasgow.

    Timing wise, I would go for June, though from experience you can get really crap weather during any of the summer months.

  9. #9
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    Is it just you and the Mrs, or kids too?

    If you’re not going 15th July to 16th July, it’s winter.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk diggler View Post
    If you’re not going 15th July to 16th July, it’s winter.


  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Have you been before, Troy?

    You seem to aiming for the tourist magnets.
    I used to work up on the Moray Firth years ago and also in Perth and Edinburgh. I have never been up the West coast and never thought about lots of people, so thanks for that. I use to go Glasgow->Perth->Inverness and I wanted to avoid that route unless there are some really good places to visit along the way.

    I have also never been north of Inverness, so any ideas in that area would be good.

    Thanks PAG, I'll take a look at your suggestions...

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    I used to work up on the Moray Firth years ago and also in Perth and Edinburgh. I have never been up the West coast and never thought about lots of people, so thanks for that. I use to go Glasgow->Perth->Inverness and I wanted to avoid that route unless there are some really good places to visit along the way.

    I have also never been north of Inverness, so any ideas in that area would be good.

    Thanks PAG, I'll take a look at your suggestions...
    The very far north of Scotland is quite barren and uninteresting, and other than being able to say that you've been there, John O'Groats is a waste of a journey.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat
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    ^ That's probably the reason why I never went. I can happily cut that part out.

    On the West coast, there is a tidal whirlpool somewhere around the island of Jura (i'll have to look it up). Does anyone know if this can be heard/seen from the mainland.

  14. #14
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Sounds like a damn fine plan Troy, looking forward to the trip report.

    Any plans for scaling Ben Nevis?

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat
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    ^ It had crossed my mind, as long as the trail isn't too crowded, we might walk up to the cloud base. It may take a bit to convince Mrs Troy to hike up to the top unless it is one of the odd days that you can see the peak.

    Talking of walking, I've had a strange feeling in both feet lately; the foot pads behind the toes feel like they're swollen when I walk in bare feet but when I check they seem okay, except perhaps for a lack of the usual padding. Anyway, I'm using alcohol and foot cream to try and sort them out. I have a feeling it is due to walking in worn out walking shoes with very thin soles. The wife bought a new pair of walking shoes a couple of months ago but they don't breathe and my feet start to swell after only an hour walking...rather go around bare foot than wear those things.

    Step 1 is taking shape...we found a Land Rover Discovery last week and hope to take possession of it next week. Managed to put the wife off the Sport version and the Range Rovers and aimed straight for what I consider the best combination for on and off road. No roof rails fitted so I'll have to get some Thule cross bars or similar to fit, although that can wait for next year. To start with, we will be using our ground tent and check out various bits of kit we have already. At least the car is big enough for us to sleep comfortably if all goes wrong...and I just know there will be days when it will all go horribly wrong. Strong winds and huge thunderstorms are bound to come rolling in as soon as I set up camp...

  16. #16
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Don't scrimp on footwear Troy.

    I've made that mistake in the past to my cost.

    Without your feet in tip top condition your stuffed.
    Also if you plan on some serious walking then start on the supplements now.

    Glucosamine Sulphate, cod liver oil etc.

  17. #17
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    dirk diggler's Avatar
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    Calm doon min, it's only 4 hours to the top. 10 miles there and back.

  18. #18
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk diggler View Post
    Calm doon min, it's only 4 hours to the top. 10 miles there and back.
    Indeed, it's a gradual walk in the park just don't forget ones umbrella

    The easiest of the three peaks, so they say.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe 90 View Post
    Don't scrimp on footwear Troy.

    I've made that mistake in the past to my cost.

    Without your feet in tip top condition your stuffed.
    Also if you plan on some serious walking then start on the supplements now.

    Glucosamine Sulphate, cod liver oil etc.
    Quote Originally Posted by dirk diggler View Post
    Calm doon min, it's only 4 hours to the top. 10 miles there and back.

    Boy scouts can never be too prepared!

  20. #20
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    dirk diggler's Avatar
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    You can cycle up it.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    But supplements!



  22. #22
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    Ice pick and crampons.

    And make sure you wear a Nevica jacked with a Recco pad, in case of an avalanche.

  23. #23
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    You may jest but there have been some nasty accidents on Ben Nevis this year...

    Google has made changes to its mapping service after fears that walkers may mistakenly attempt a "potentially fatal" route up Ben Nevis.

    The firm insisted its walking directions on Google Maps did not direct people to dangerous routes.

    However, its driving directions took people to a car park where a dotted line showing distance to the summit could be misinterpreted by users.

    In future the maps will direct drivers to a visitor centre instead.

    Google Maps Ben Nevis route 'potentially fatal'
    Scottish mountaineering charities have urged hill-walkers not to use Google Maps to guide them up the mountains after a series of incidents where routes downloaded off the internet have resulted in "injury or worse".

    The John Muir Trust, which looks after the summit of Ben Nevis, said it had raised a specific concern about the directions to the car park closest to the UK's highest mountain.

    The route from this car park was "highly dangerous, even for experienced climbers", they warned.

    And the trust said that a dotted line leading from the car park to the summit could lead walkers into danger.

    Google maps
    IMAGE SOURCE,GOOGLE
    Image caption,
    A mountaineering group said the dotted line on a Ben Nevis map crossed rocky, pathless terrain

    Mountaineering groups said the dotted line crossed "potentially fatal" steep, rocky and pathless terrain, while a suggested walking route for a different mountain, An Teallach, would lead people over a cliff.

    A spokeswoman for Google said it had investigated and found the Ben Nevis concerns related to the service's driving directions, rather than walking directions which it insisted did not lead people to dangerous routes.

    "Our driving directions currently route people to the Nevis Gorge trailhead parking lot - the lot closest to the summit - which has prominent signs indicating that the trail is highly dangerous and for advanced hikers only," the spokeswoman said.

    "To help both novice and experienced hikers more easily find trails that suit their level of expertise, we're now updating our driving routes to take people directly to the visitor centre, where they'll be able to speak with staff about the best trail to take."

    Google is now reviewing other routes in the area, and said it welcomed feedback from mountaineering groups or organisations such as the John Muir Trust.

    Local organisations are encouraged to provide geographic information about roads and routes through Google's Geo Data Upload tool and users via the "Report a problem" tool.

    Mountaineering Scotland and John Muir Trust recommend climbers cross-check information on a map or consult a local guide.
    Shalom

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheRealKW View Post
    But supplements!
    Only supplements I'll be taking is a decent breakfast and mug of tea before I start off. I might take some oatmeal biscuits and a flask of whisky as emergency rations for when I take a breather on the way up.

    It's been a long time since I did the other two peaks...

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    No roof rails fitted
    Planning for Next Year...Tour of Scotland-e05528523c6ed60574b25d9ff0e43842-jpg
    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    Strong winds and huge thunderstorms are bound to come rolling in as soon as I set up camp.
    OK

    Forget this one then

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