I'm going for the roads, driving, camaraderie and scenery Simon!
I'm perfectly happy with my girlfriend thanks !

Yes, sorry, that's lost on me too?

"g/f" places??

lunch stop has to be the Mill at Blair Atholl or maybe that place a house Of Bruar, I think. Both have car parks.

There's not much after that doesn't require 'leaving' the route a bit...

Hey Barney- can't believe you don't rate that route back to Fort William! I think it's ace, after you get over the sticky 'one priority lane round corners under bridges' bit near Arisaig...
Did you say you knew folk who had a B&B there? Are you able to make a recommendation ?

Although we may need MattB to confirm this, if he was coming from the North East, he would appear either at Aviemore or Inverness- there's no link across further south.

(I like the Robert Powell version...)

P.S. It's official - from this day forth, I shall be known as 'member #1447'.. Got my card last night!

'Great Food'???

Glutton Friendly

Sorry I much prefer driving the A82 stretch just south of Fort William.
For accommodation near Arisaig take a look at cnoc-na-faire.co.uk.
This is a stunning place to stay, immaculate and tasteful inside and out. However, not many rooms and they no longer serve dinner in the evening. Breakfast is excellent! Alcohol is available self-service as they run an honesty bar in the lounge.
Have also stayed at the Arisaig Hotel which has much greater capacity. Room furnishings are a bit old and tired but it's OK for one night. Food is decent enough and no complaints about the bar! Not sure if they're keen on one night bookings though, would be worth asking.

The Arisaig Hotel recently (2 or 3 years ago) changed hands to be run locally.
Not sure they'll have changed the furnishings though, since... I like the pier and the boats that you can walk out to there....

You might have to draw lots for who you'd bunk up with Bern as there's only one twin room, the other 5 are doubles

just have to go for top & tail orientation...

I have a large enough bottom to warrant a double for myself. Besides, still hoping Rachel Nichols will show up!

We still need to get confirmation or comments from Rosso, MattB and Driley on the proposed route.

I'm with you Bern - I think the road is better south of Fort William.

Yeh pretty happy with the route as its got some of my favourite places in it and Applecross which we have on our to do list anyways.

Sanna is sadly missing but that is a bit of a trek... although we could be easily persuaded if anyone wanted to take a detour on the Sunday.

As far as accomadation is concerned are we trying to all stay at the same hotel or just seeing if we can all find accomadation nearby?

Hey Rosso, regarding Sanna- I think I may be heading north again on the Sunday, instead of coming back, so there might be a tour on top of a tour there!

I will either be staying with my brother who has just built a new house last summer and moved to Glenuig. I haven't seen it our him for 3 years. Or more likely I will be staying at Glenfinnan House Hotel. Sofi and the boys will be coming up by train to Glenfinnan on Friday night or Saturday morning and staying there. The Convoy can all fit in the Glenfinnan House Hotel and I have rooms on hold for all of the Coupe convoy if you want to join us. I need to confirm if I want anymore rooms within the next 10 days so let me know folks.

I was thinking of organising a bit fishing(from boat) on the Loch and/or Clay pidgeon shooting while there if anybody is interested? That goes whether you stay at the Hotel or not.

Funny, I mentioned this option to Mrs Ed yesterday and it met with a better reaction than other options

Hi everyone, I can do three nights and as the most northerly coop that will also involve one night stay and two ferries each way getting to meet all you southerners. I will meet you in the Inverness area or thereabouts.

I think the suggestions for routes all have their attractions and will go with the flow. Scotland is beautiful and as has been said some of the driving is fantastic. Convoy or not to convoy? Convoy on just one or two short routes and then go it alone on the longer journeys seems a good compromise. I really want to do one convoy just because it will look and feel so cool.

I have to say though I draw the line at camping, not for me.

Local info
All accommodation will have to be booked in advance, there is little or no chance of finding anything as you go. Most restaurants finish serving very early 8 or 9 pm. Scottish drink drive laws are stricter than England

On that happy note, look forward to hearing more plans as they get firmed up.

My geography!!! , is Inverness the further north you are planning. If so, I'll drive further south and meet up earlier.

Fantastic

We'll be coming up the A9 and meeting at Beauly for lunch then going on to Poolewe/Gairloch.

Come up the A82 & turn off at Drumnadrochit back road to Beauly. The A9 is not at it's best, road works, delays & the rest...

You might even see Nessie...

We'll see how the roadworks are next year then, Jim- fair point....

Personally- I'm happy to continue North to Inverness to meet Dianne (and. MattB?) and go over from there...

Yep as said if we're picking up Matt B it would be better coming up his side of the country

Jim, the A9 upgrade & all it's speed restrictions are on for the next foreseeable years...Trust me you would all be chewing your steering wheels with frustration....

yes, it's true, Jim..

I'm just trying to meet up with those coming South and West, at a convenient point in the country, just before Beauly- it's certainly not the fastest route anymore, but as my 'location' might suggest;



<<<

i'm always happy to do it!

Drove it 5 weeks ago, and oddly enough, with the average speed cameras, not only do you not overtake anything, but nothing overtakes you! it's very relaxing. You end up by yourself the whole way up!
You can get the 'choons' on, and gaze at the hills (and the speedo)..!

1. dante giocosa
2. Lego
3. Barney
4. Rosso
5. Edinburgh
6. jimboy
7. MattB
8. driley
9. Space reserved for jimbob13

Yeah, I'm not fussed about driving to meet you really - it's going to be a bit of an event so lets go with the best route. I'll not be in a coupe anyway.........

Right fellow Coopsters. Been a few years since I ventured West. Wife & son away, I thought I'd take the hack for a spin over the pass to Applecross.

I had forgotten how extreme some of the corners/bends are. In all honesty not impossible to take the Coop over, but it must be in good health & if lowered too much I fear you may do some damage. 1st gear several times.....

Weather was not great, so not much photos. Hopefully I'll get my son in law to post these up.

Well done, Jim

PM sent...

I did Applecross in my 16, years ago... it's interesting, but not impossible!

Slightly off topic but looking through my camera photos, there are some from Skye last year when the wife & I spent two weeks there, last summer after her Auntie died. I did the whole Island & one day in extreme heat climbed up to the Old man of Stor, amazing views, took me an hour & a quarter with many rests getting nearer to the old man himself.

The last few hundred yards took me 20mins because of the wee rock fragments. I mention this as this is another must for the "bucket list" Many more places on Skye perhaps for the future.....