Well it seems that casual quips and mutterings are angling for another of these odysseys

I'm a bit tied up for the next week or so but in the trusty hands of Dante Giacosa there is to be found a MAP and a PENCIL ....

That would be great Simon. I wont be as excited next time & I wont put you through the ordeal of sharing a room.....

Ultra-north this time onto pastures new sounds good to me

Aye Simon, Kylesku bridge & beyond on the A894, stunning scenery again. If anyone saw the last episode of Top Gear that bit of road was filmed by a drone when they were driving a Mustang.

Note to Jim......start practising with drone camera.......

Alright then.

"Roll up, roll up..!"

Conceptual planning starts here.

I'm thinking of a first night at Ullapool. (Where Rosso & I nearly ended up after our wrong turn on Day 1 of the West Coast Tour!).

It's not far from where we started this year.

And then upwards, 'along a bit' and then back down. If that makes sense?

When, how far, how long for and who- is up to YOU!

Discuss...

Yep Jim with you on that Ullapool for first stop.

Achmelvich beach campsite we camped at many years ago. Would love to visit again.

Would we go as far sat John o groats?

Ullapool isn't much further than Poolewe so count me in as ok with that.

Personally I'd be angling for 3 overnight stays.....

Hey Rosso, I think I might be aware of Achmelvich- although I've never stayed there. Is that the one 'in the village', but round the corner towards the sea, so to speak?
I've always fancied that!

We can go as far, or for as long for, as everyone is comfortable with.

Have you been to John O'Groats before yourselves, Rosso..?

Aye great area. Ullapool for starters is a good shout. Just up the road you have lochinver & all the mountains, sulliven for example. Old man of stoer sea stack, then you've got kylesku bridge & beyond, the hotel is meant to very good indeed. I'm only suggesting..... Soo much to choose from.

Achmelvich is the beach with the campsite just by the side and then you have the wee village of Lochinver. Beautiful beach it is too. I took Pauline camping there one of first camping trips some years ago.

Nope. I'd love to put John O'Groats on the list if everyone was happy with that as stop. What about you Jim have you been?

SORRY for the delay there...!

That's sounds great - we could get more of a camping ethic on the go this time- if the weather gets bad- we can always sleep in the cars!

I have been to John O'Groats actually- I was there only a couple of years ago. As a place itself- it seems to be a photo opportunity, rather than a location as such.
The most Northerly part of the mainland is actually nearby and called Dunnett Head. There's a great light house there and not much else and this is a lovely spot.

Thurso is quite nice too
There might be a good curry house there!

We have a gig in Thurso at the end of October.....

That'll be terrific

What's the venue?

Thurso West Church, which is apparently warm and has a quality Steinway



Hmm, might send a flier to Dianne

HELLO, yes, Dunnet Head is definitely a beautiful place and the most northerly point of the mainland Uk. There is a lovely walk along the cliffs and you can see Orkney, the No 1 place to visit for cruise ships and folk who love archaeology, amazing scenery, rare birds, good food,drink,music and tiffin.

JOG has had a major facelift, not been there since. It used to be pretty grim, but I'm sure it's better now.

Mey is a good stop, in between JOG and Dunnet. Queen mum had her castle there and the grounds and gardens are lovely. Will have to check when it's open.

Definitely on for the tour, not sure about camping, sleeping in the coupe ???????????

Hey Simon, do send me a flier.

If you have a sunroof...




I'll forward your "enquiries" address to Susanne the concert organiser Dianne and she can send you details

Well, look at that, enough to change my mind about camping, ......... Not

Couple of good pointers there, Dianne- thanks for that.

Time to get the big map out again and get the felt tip pens at the ready...

Have been watching some of the 2016 dash cam footage this evening. Great memories. Do hope the 2017 tour goes every bit as well for you all. Any update on plans?

hello Bernard,

as it happens, I have been talking about this a lot recently.

However, the unavailability of another key-planning member, who shall remain nameless, but who drives a yellow car with a black roof, has prevented any evolution of the core concept.

However, as Simon has just driven right up the A9 to Thurso, I expect when I see him next week, enthusiasm will be to-notch for planning...!

watch this space...

Oi can you hear me?!

I heard that

Indeed we should get on the case just as soon as I've hauled myself and Mrs Ed back up the cliff-face onto the mainland .....key-planning eh? - saw what you did there

I'm going to be really contentious here.

It happens that FCSS 10th anniversary event is down in the diary for 17th June, which has the potential to coincide with another North of Scotland Tour if last year's dates are anything to go by.

Would anyone consider postponing our Scottish-based meet to the following year in order to attend what is looking like the biggest UK event to happen for a long time, with scores of coupes and folk even coming from abroad?

We can break the journey on the way there and back anywhere to enjoy great drives/scenery, e.g. Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen or Cat and Fiddle near Macclesfield.......

I'm thinking it makes sense!

Edit: the downside of this of course is that it's less likely to appeal to the northern-most of coupe-owners .....Dianne, jimboy...

Well after 12 hours and 60 views I'm getting the impression that this idea is going down like the proverbial ton of.......

Give 'em time, Simon; it's probably those nosey southern types that have been looking so far.

I'd be interested in the Scotland tour, dependant on dates

The FCSS event will be brilliant. Gutted I'll be at work for that one.
Any reason not to do a Scottish run later in the year? Fleeting possibility I could join in myself if it happens a week or two into September.

I'd be interested as well since I'm originally from as north as north can go on the mainland. Just need to get my act together and get the LE on the road. Only been garaged for the last 13 years.

I'd be up for both-

I think we should maybe offset the Northern Tour to make it possible to do both and allow everyone who wants to attend, to attend...

Ok then, let's leave this thread as titled and anyone who's interested in the FCSS event can declare their own interest

I expressed interest in the FCSS thread already, but realistically I'd be Coopless if I were to go. I was waiting to see how many Scottish Coopsters would be going. I would certainly split costs if someone was brave enough to have me as a passenger...

Again I was waiting to see how the Scottish tour would pan out. Personally I feel this could go ahead as well, obviously at a later date. Just my thoughts....

Simon if the dates don't clash with the Anniversary, club AGM or Le Mans I'd be up for a Scotland tour, it's been in my wish list for years.

Hi everyone, yes the FCSS a bit too far for me and can't take extra time off from my business. However, happy to go ahead with N Scotland tour, it would be good to get dates agreed asap as I can try to get cover for the business or not take bookings that week.
September sounds good.



Happy Xmas and New Year to all. X

All the best to both of you Dianne

(had a visit from a certain E deG last week )

Right.

We need to engage with this.

If the FCSS anniversary event is the 17th of June, let's assume we can't do two events in a month

Can people state their preferences for either May or July for the Northern Tour-

And also how long they can imagine being away for?

(whenabouts is the Club AGM and Le Mans..?)

I'm certainly up for this. I'm pretty much easy on dates, although my Coop may well be out of action due to refurbishment. Same three day spec as last time sounds good to me. Up further North/West & beyond....

Just to add, I had a wee chinwag with Simon & Barney during the Christmas meet & made it very clear that camping at my stage of life was totally out of the question... Me & a tent just wouldn't work I'm afraid.

I'm away first two weeks of July....

Okay, so the 2nd half of July, starting to take shape?

I need to get a wallplanner so I can mark up all the dates we can't do.

I'm sorry- I'm a bit out of the loop on other events - can someone quote me the AGM & Le Mans..?

Checking our diary but don't see any problems with July for us.

Thanks for taking the planning on again. good to be thinking about the summer with Storm Barbara bearing down on the North.

Hey Brian-

That's terrific to hear.

And from you too, Dianne! Do you think you could make the second half of July yourselves..?

Four days, three nights...

I definitely want to be there in July. Hopefully I can get someone to cover the business, if you firm up the dates with everyone else in mind, I'll work something out.

Happy New Year everyone
.

Happy New Year yourselves!

Hello everyone...

Well, after months of conjecture and general laziness, we have a concept.

And a change of date.

Can everyone make a date across the second or third weekend in August now? We are looking conceptually at going across the weekends of the 12th & 13th or the 19th & 20th.

We are looking at an anti-clockwise tour of the North, starting with an initial meet again, probably in Inverness.

We are looking at a first night somewhere like Helmsdale.
Then, probably missing out the top right hand corner of the country to take the opportunity to head inland and North to the coast again.

A second night somewhere like Unapool.

And a third night probably in Ullapool.

Road atlases out! Thoughts please...?

Perhaps something like this

Route


An alternative is to cut east at Garve and head for the A9 if the other is considered over-long. (I was only trying to include the A890 along Strathcarron )

The A890, do you say..?

The "route of dreams..."??!

Yes it's almost as if it was all over in a flash

Well...

(At the speeds YOU drive...)

Oops!

Now how is that possible with a stretched speedo cable!

We've got to have a look at that haven't we..?

(Another thread starting here- sorry)

Back to the 'Tour...

Roll up, roll up!

Think we will probably come down on the Aberdeen boat and try and join up with you in or around Pitlochry. This will avoid going over the route three times!!!!

Have you any suggestions for overnight stops? At this stage just locations, not hotels.? Happy just to go with the flow on details, it's the journey as they say.

It's only skeletal so far and dependent upon people's thirst for mileage...for example the route suggested above clocks up around 670 miles for the likes of Brian and Pauline coming from the Central Belt.

But to try and answer your Q then maybe 1st night around Helmsdale, 2nd around Tongue or even Unapool, 3rd night tba (not the Aultguish Inn near Garve for example as it's £500 a night for a double room )

Price could be a factor here as it's smack bang in holiday time.....would everything be slightly cheaper say in September?

Hmm.....is there even a reason for doing the circuit clockwise instead?

I'm all ears...

Good grief Simon! £500 a night for the Aultguish Inn! I used to stop off there years ago on fishing trips (a long story for another time ) It's certainly not that grand.

Do you know, if nothing else comes out of this

My life is richer for these emoticons alone!


Well done Jim...!

Enter positive thinking opponent............

Hi guys, ive recently bought a Coupe that is my next project but i also own an Alfa 155 and we did Scotland in October 2016 and it was truly Epic!!! Superb quiet roads, no speed cameras if you stay off the main routes (like the A9) and was the best driving roads tbh i think ive ever driven

We started Stirling on the sat - out to Fort William then back into Aviemore for an overnight which was a great place to stay - i spent a year in Oz backpacking and it felt like there - and we all drank lots of Whisky! Next day we headed further north before going south to finish in Perth - another epicly good day - So good were doing it again next October but heading to Skye!

Heres some photos of what we did and the scenery - mines the black 155 (we had a little 155 wedding too)





The next day - unfortunately we lost a couple of cars during the saturday



Oh and heres a video i made - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Y4mDypEWI

Hey Sebasteeno!

That looks AMAZING!

Lucky you having that 155 -what a peach (I have always, and still continue to want one) and what a great trip you guys had!

Wow- I can't believe we missed that, or at least some form or crossover meet & greet on your journey. We will have to meet up when you return in October.

Great pictures... Terrific to get that 75 & 166 out as well. Did you get much support from the Alfa Club in Scotland..?

2nd thoughts

I've just seen a bit of your video and thought it was speeded up-

Then I realised it wasn't!

Maybe we won't meet you in October, after all!!

Hey sebasteeno, great pictures & story. I'm only 20 mins from Loch Ness & an hour or so from the West coast, aye some great driving roads up here.. You must do the pass to Applecross then come back & tell us what you thought. If you're up here again give me a shout, I'm 8 miles North of Inverness.

Happy trails....Jim...

Lol - we was motoring

As for the trip - this was something we organised through the alfa155.org forum - our next trip is the weekend of October 21st-22nd starting in Stirling again then out to Skye.

Last trip we had 5 155s plus the 75,166 and Fiat 500 who are 155 owners or have been

So, if I get hold of a 146 in time (my other Alfa 'want') I could join you??

Of course mate

Full details on our FB page see here - https://www.facebook.com/events/374107236255107/

(gr-8!)

ANYWAY.

back to the tour. Does anyone have any questions?

Are we looking at a change of route from West to East..?

Dates?

right,

despite a crushing feeling that this isn't going to happen (at least with anyone other than myself!), I think I have established behind the scenes that we have genuinely about six Coupe's worth of interest, possibly seven.

It has been mooted that September might be the better month for a few people.

Can anyone confirm or deny this, for themselves..?

Hmmm...my daughter is getting married at the beginning of October but that may not necessarily impinge on a September meet.

Only thing is term is well and truly underway by Sept.

I'm up for this, but the Coupé will still be a fair bit away from running order. Would an Alfa GTV be okay to tag along?

Hey Jimbob!

'Course it would- that would be great!

Any preference on dates (/months) yourself..?

I'm on holiday from 11th to 24th September, so that would be the ideal time for myself, but I'm easy. Whatever everyone else decides on is fine with me.

After speaking with Pauline we both would be happier with a weekend in August but if September is more suitable time for more coupes then we are happy to go with September.

As far as the route goes... the earlier proposed route by Simon is good but maybe with one detour to John 'o' Groats.

Are we thinking same as last year starting on Thursday and ending Sunday?

I'm only replying to this if you come clean about the Italian tour you've got lined up Brian

What the one in 2024? Or the one in May?

Ah wait a minute Italian Tour or Italian toy?

I can't do early August.

He meant 'toy'!

This Italian toy

Oh very nice! Signature already applied I see


Edit: oh wait, it's an Abarth

Saw the above - and heard it in the flesh last night

The outcome of a mini-meet held courtesy of DG last night was a probable date for this event and an cunningly-arranged Skype conversation with Dianne and Paul from Sydney


Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th July as a core period, similar to last year


George has kindly offered to scout round for accommodation.


Projected itinerary

Day 1, up East Coast - 1st major rendezvous at House of Bruar coffee stop, drive to Lybster, north of Helmsdale. Option for those that want to take a jaunt to John o' Groats.

Day 2 along North Coast westwards, then south - drive to Unapool area (if o/night accommodation allows) along the north coast via Strathy, Tongue, Durness and Kinlochbervie

Day 3 down West Coast - drive to Invergarry area via Ullapool, Achnasheen and Dornie

Day 4 - return home/extend trip for those that want.



Example mileages and times involved:

Motherwell- Forth Road Bridge.....37M.......0h.50m
FRB- Lybster................................234...........4.40
Lybster- Strathy..............................42...........1.00
Strathy- Durness.............................51...........1.30
Durness- Unapool...........................35...........0.52
Unapool- Achnasheen....................78............1.40
Achnasheen- Dornie.......................35...........0.50
Dornie- Invergarry..........................41...........0.53
Invergarry- Ft. William..................24............0.35
Ft. William- Edinburgh................132............3.15
Ft. William- Motherwell..............129............3.05



Names..

1.Edinburgh
2.dante giacosa +1
3.George +1
4.Paulie3 +1
5.Rosso +1
6.driley +1
7.Bill+Robina
8.jimboy


Question marks over

Countrycruising
MCMike
Skeandubh
jimbob13


We need to commit quickly or accommodation will sell out.


Edit: Sorry Jim, just needed confirmation....I too will need to have mine back!

Of course I'm in

Hopefully I'll have my Coop back by then.....

You can tentatively put me down. Depends on work really. As I'm originally from Caithness, and my other half from Sutherland, I've driven a lot of the roads you plan to use.

Just out of interest the google map route does not show going to Lybster but turning towards Melvich at Helmsdale and traveling up Strathhalladale. I'm sure your aware but a lot of these roads are single track with passing places, where you will meet tourists who drive very slow, and locals who drive very fast (they think they own these roads).

Sounds like a good craic though.

Better make it me +1. I think there might be a fight over the +1 spot though.

Blimey I thought Jim was going to disappear in to the darkness for good after id handed the keys over.

I've passed all the rout details to Bill & Robina. Just have to get them setup on the forum now.

Good, you'll be able to point out all the "off-the-beaten-track" points of interest




Yes it does continue north of Helmsdale towards Lybster but you're right it mistakenly heads inland just short of it


Itinery with slight amendment

Names..

1.Edinburgh
2.dante giacosa +1
3.George +1
4.Paulie3 +1
5.Rosso +1
6.driley +1
7.Bill+Robina
8.jimboy
9.skeandubh +1

Hey Skeandubh,

It would be great to have you & yours on board with local knowledge.

With regard to tentative interest; we are currently attempting to sew up accommodation, which by this point on last year's trip- had been in the bag for a few months already...

If you unable to say positively that we will see you, at this point, it might be more difficult to secure overnight stops as time goes on.

However: Perhaps you might have local connections you could draw upon in order to still attend? And if so- that is great as well!

(At the risk of putting my neck out, I shall say-)
We are probably looking to reconvene on a group meeting the week after next to discuss accommodation and take steps to book it.

Regarding accommodation I can fit in with you guys, but I also have the option to stay with locals I know on the trip up north and across the west, but not so much down the west coast.

Not sure if you plan any touristy type stop-offs but I have put some links below to some nice to see places. Obviously there are lots more so I can add if required.

Smoo Cave

Dunrobin Castle

Inverewe Tropical Gardens

Above are just some options. There are lots more to see.

Cheers, Les

That's terrific- thanks for that info, Les...

I'm hoping to get in the Whaligoe Steps near Lybster too, myself...

Not heard much back regarding accommodation.....
@skeandubh, you might be taking up on your contact use !

If you let me know the areas you were planning to stop overnight then I can look into possible accommodation options. Can't promise anything though as July Is usually fairly busy with tourists.

Can't believe they used to carry fish up those steps from the boats. Imagine that in Scottish bad weather. We've got it easy.

Cheers, might take you up on that Les, let me get back to you

Yes, it's sobering (those steps)

However, relative to the risks endured to even catch the fish, it must have 'inconvenient' rather than life threatening...


Plus the wifi was rubbish in those days too, apparently...

Updated list of names..

1.Edinburgh
2.dante giacosa +1
3.Paulie3 +1
4.Rosso +1
5.driley +1
6.Bill+Robina
7.jimboy
8.skeandubh +1

Ok, first night's accommodation for Thursday 27th July reserved at Royal Hotel Thurso.

Not quite our original intended location but at this moment everywhere has booked up fast and it's the Glasgow Fair so we did pretty well to get everyone in the same place.

Doubles are £80 B&B, 6 reserved
Singles (2 reserved) are £50 B&B, 2 reserved

Friday's should be done tomorrow, most likely in Ullapool.

Well done Ed,

Thanks for taking this on...

2nd night's accommodation now sorted in Ullapool, more details later

Ooooooh, great fish & chips in Ullapool.

I'd forgotten about that- yeah: right enough, Jimboy!

Ullapool accommodations divvied up between Eilean Donan and Broomvale Guesthouses, again pretty reasonable rates incl breakfast, the most important of noshes

Terrific work-

Thankyou for looking into this...

Yep I 2nd that terrific and the guesthouses are practically next door to each other.

Yes but how far away are they from the pub?

I'm google mapping it as we speak

You don't need to get there that fast....

It's OK I know my way around Ullapool Simon