My Scottish roadtrip - nice pics...

[Dr Firefly]

Hey guys, thought you might want to see what actually happened to the car after it got repaired as talked about in this thread:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Well I decided the most sensible thing to do would be to cross my fingers and take it on the 1100 mile roadtrip I'd been planning round Scotland!

Here are some photos, in case you're interested. This might end up needing to be moved to the photo gallery mods, I wasn't sure where to put it - lets see how many photos I can be arsed to put up!

Here's my birthday cake, just before we set off, made by my lovely girlfriend...makes me wonder if I do spend to much time talking about the car... my main present was a set of angel eyes



Just going over 145k....



Going North on the M1



Scotch Corner....



Past Glasgow now, countryside beginning to look nicer, roads getting more interesting and twisty - some beautiful and challenging roads to drive on in Scotland...



Got to the ferry terminal at Mulaig, trying to get over to Skye - closed! So we decided to set up camp in the pouring rain, but it brightened up a bit and we hung our clothes out to dry. I was very proud of the car - did 570 miles in one run without missing a beat - obviously had to fill up with fuel once near Glasgow.





Next day got over to Skye. Absolutely stunning - so nice to drive through after all the traffic down in the Midlands - would go 5min at a time without seeing a car. And round every corner there was another amazing mountain or river or coastlline.




Setting up camp the second night...



Couldn't sleep at 4am, so went outside and took a few photos...



A moment of romance as we had hot chocolate and watched the sunrise...



Liked this one of the single-track road we were travelling down to a beach on...



Big mountain... nice car...





Back on the mainland now, at Eileen Donan Castle (probably spelt wrong, sorry any Scottish readers!). It looks nice from the outside, but to be honest it's a bit boring inside...



My car gets a well-deserved hug.



Driving along this amazing mountainous road, saw this bend and Alix forced me to stop so she could build a cairn... I cheered up when I realised it would be yet another good zone photo moment - see I was thinking of you guys all the way round!





On the way to the next campsite, stopped by another beach. Like another world up there, think I'll be moving up to Scotland one day...



Back at the campsite, nice sunlight, thought I'd get some more photos of the old faithful E30...





And finally, going over 146k on the way home... just to prove that these cars can still be used like modern cars if they're well looked after! Thought you guys might like to see one being used on roads that were almost like they were designed for it



And as this thread below says, couldn't have done it at all if it the zone didn't exist! Group hug...

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[Rosc0PColtrane]

That last photo is amazing, very dramatic. It looks like an inspiring trip. Keep the content coming.

I really have to visit Scotland.

Damnint, you added more!!! I meant the pic with the mountian horizon and the rays of sun coming through some dramatic clouds.

[hammoj28]

2nd last photo is ace! Think im gonna have to go on a wee road trip to skye.lol.

And just realised your number plate ses Feck! Thats ace!

[Andy325i]

Awesome

Andy

[nickso]

And just realised your number plate ses Feck! Thats ace!

lol thats the first thing i noticed too ted.

nice scenery

[Dr Firefly]

The Feck numberplate is what made me buy this car for £200 on Ebay at 2:00 in the morning while drunk - clinched the deal! We've all been there I suppose.... though I was worried when I woke up in the morning and had to get a train straight down to London to collect a car I'd never seen! Was in bad nick back then too...

[hammoj28]

Hehe, its ace. Looks in good nick now though.

[tezk]

Thats a seriously stunning picture!

So what route did you take? Took the kids on a run to John O'Groats from St Andrews one day a hile ago. Certainly came across some fantastic scenery!

[snoops]

[320Touring]

Nice work sir!

Should have told us you were coming- can always get some e30's together.

That Castle was built in the 19th century

Skye is AMAZING! excellent roads.

Glad the car performed well

[Dr Firefly]

Went up the M1 from Nottingham, then A1 to Scotch Corner, then across the A66 in pouring rain - had an interesting incident where a caravan pulled out ahead of me from a layby at 5mph, with me a few hundred yards behind it at 85mph, and too much traffic in the outside lane to change lanes. I've never done a proper emergency stop from 85mph in torrential rain before, and I don't want to do it again! First time I've used the horn in anger too - I just don't understand why the guy was going so slow - literally had to change down to 2nd to match his speed before overtaking him! Anyway, then up the M6, then M74, through centre of Glasgow. It's actually quite a nice city in the centre, always had this image of it being really run-down. Up to Fort William on the A82, through Glen Coe, and across to Mulaig from there. Amazing route - we should have an E30zone long weekend up from London sometime and collect as many people as possible on the way. Would love a convoy of 20 E30s going through Scotland. Everyone always seems to go the opposite way to the Nurburgring etc, maybe we should go north for a change...

[hammoj28]

I think that idea sounds good. Reckon we could add another 26 or more E30's to that from Scotland.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Went up the M1 from Nottingham, then A1 to Scotch Corner, then across the A66 in pouring rain - had an interesting incident where a caravan pulled out ahead of me from a layby at 5mph, with me a few hundred yards behind it at 85mph, and too much traffic in the outside lane to change lanes. I've never done a proper emergency stop from 85mph in torrential rain before, and I don't want to do it again! First time I've used the horn in anger too - I just don't understand why the guy was going so slow - literally had to change down to 2nd to match his speed before overtaking him! Anyway, then up the M6, then M74, through centre of Glasgow. It's actually quite a nice city in the centre, always had this image of it being really run-down. Up to Fort William on the A82, through Glen Coe, and across to Mulaig from there. Amazing route - we should have an E30zone long weekend up from London sometime and collect as many people as possible on the way. Would love a convoy of 20 E30s going through Scotland. Everyone always seems to go the opposite way to the Nurburgring etc, maybe we should go north for a change...

If you organise a zone long weekend to Scotland, I'd be very interested!!

[Brianmoooore]

Lovely set of pics! Actually brought a tear to my eye, bringing back memories of camping trips with my girlfriend (now wife!) from looong ago.
146,000 miles is peanuts for a BMW engine! I'm off on a 3,000 - 4,000 mile European trip (caravan in tow) next week with an E30 with close to 300,000 on it!
Consider a trip down the west side of France. Even more empty roads, empty beaches, all with free carparks, towns and villages all with free parking, a bit less rain and somewhat higher temperatures than Scotland, good food, etc., etc.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Reminds me a little of BC Canada

[grantfk10]

. Amazing route - we should have an E30zone long weekend up from London sometime and collect as many people as possible on the way. Would love a convoy of 20 E30s going through Scotland. Everyone always seems to go the opposite way to the Nurburgring etc, maybe we should go north for a change...

Sounds like a cool idea, although we've already got about 26 E30s meeting up at Callender Classic weekend later this month

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Nice photos by the way

[daimlerman]

Good to see you enjoyed your trip,Scotland is a lovely country,I always enjoyed the trips up there with the truck(I was supposed to be working).I agree with Brian as regards France,you just have to remember that the swines drive on the wrong side of the road...My favorite memory of France is about ten years back,hurrying along a Route Nationale in an E28,er indoors in the front passenger seat,half turned to natter to her mum and our 8 year old lad in the back,when a juvinile voice pipes up'daddy's doing over a 100...again'....spoilsport!

[Alyman]

I love that road, me and the girl went up to Skye etc in February last year - took a picture of the same mountain that you did, except it was a bit colder when we were there!

your pic:



my pic:

[theweekendhaslanded]

Top pics dude! Did a trip myself a few years ago, lovely place. Always wanted to do a trip on my motorbike too, camping of course, but since I work virtually everyday and struggle to take time off I'm buggered really. I need a Monday to Friday job, ASAP!!

[tezk]

I'd love to join a zone tour of Scotland. Followed a similar route (jct 28 of M1 to just south of Glasgow) to pick up the car and bring her back south..

Would have to be next year as I've used my holiday allowance for this year

[georgen]

Superb photo's fella. The scenery and roads of Scotland still take my breath away yet, and I've lived here all my life. Makes me very proud to be ( 3/4's ) Scottish !! Your number plate rules too BTW

[666JSB]

Reminds me a little of BC Canada

Quite right. I'm on Vancouver Island and although we are in mid summer now with temperatures approaching 30C we still have patches of snow on the top of some mountains. Another big bonus here is the traffic volume - apart from the peaks when we get tourists like now, the roads are generally nice & clear for most of the time.

It's a lovely place to be.

[Dr Firefly]

I love that road, me and the girl went up to Skye etc in February last year - took a picture of the same mountain that you did, except it was a bit colder when we were there!

your pic:



my pic:

Well I think you got a better photo! Must have been an amazing drive if everything was covered with snow, bet Glen Coe looked amazing!

[Dr Firefly]

. Amazing route - we should have an E30zone long weekend up from London sometime and collect as many people as possible on the way. Would love a convoy of 20 E30s going through Scotland. Everyone always seems to go the opposite way to the Nurburgring etc, maybe we should go north for a change...

Sounds like a cool idea, although we've already got about 26 E30s meeting up at Callender Classic weekend later this month

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Nice photos by the way

That sounds good, bit too late for me to get involved this year, but perhaps could try and get a convoy up in time for it next year. Liked the idea of everyone making the long trek up to Scotland - had visions of people seeing a constant stream of E30s passing them in the fastlane of the M74 for half an hour... maybe a little optimistic

[Dr Firefly]

Lovely set of pics! Actually brought a tear to my eye, bringing back memories of camping trips with my girlfriend (now wife!) from looong ago.
146,000 miles is peanuts for a BMW engine! I'm off on a 3,000 - 4,000 mile European trip (caravan in tow) next week with an E30 with close to 300,000 on it!
Consider a trip down the west side of France. Even more empty roads, empty beaches, all with free carparks, towns and villages all with free parking, a bit less rain and somewhat higher temperatures than Scotland, good food, etc., etc.

The good food sounds tempting - always been up for a European roadtrip, just never had the time. It is a lovely car to go camping in. I know you've got loads of E30s Brian (7 tourings is it?) but I love just having the one and getting really attached to it - makes the trips so much better. Named the car ages ago, both say thanks to it after a long journey - sounding a bit sad now And it seems just to carry on going - even when it had so many problems when I first got it from poor maintenance, it never actually broke down and stopped me physically getting somewhere. Always feel very smug as I go past new cars on the hard shoulder Can't recommend the Scottish roads highly enough though, so empty and twisty and fun. Probably not as much fun round corners with a caravan in tow though...

Get some photos up of your trip anyway, lets see what these French roads are like...

[Sanchez]

You'll reconise this picture then. I parked in the same place but facing the other way,(not in my E30 though so no pics of the car.)

[andrewe30m3]

Great write up, sounds like you had a good time.

Very true, the E30 can be used like much more modern machinery if looked after.

I've done 2 trips to Le Mans and back in an E30 - first one in a 88 325i SE with 160k on the clock (prop centre donut died on the way back ) and then in my 91 325i convertible with 90k on the clock (went beatifully).

Its got to be said on both occassions, the trips were over 1000 miles and the cars got driven hard, both in convoy with much newer and faster machinery and really they never missed a beat... in actual fact the guys liked to travel in my car because on the N138 I would wag the tail on each exit... just because you can in an e30!

I miss those days lol.

Still, the 330i soaks up the miles well too!

[casper8r]

Heh, I just returned from Scotland yesterday and I thought of doing a little "poem of e30 and all things Scottish", you beat me to it. Great pictures, I can only add that I loved Edinburgh / drove 320+ miles before reaching reserve on the tank of petrol (in a 320i touring at about 70 mph) / loved the B roads there / noticed a curious lack of pre-mid-90's cars on the roads / had a laugh at 'da yoof' in their pimped rides on streets of Stirling / fell in love with haggis and seriously considered moving to Scotland!

If you're ever in Edinburgh, I highly recommend Monster Mash cafe - great food and they also sell Newcastle Brown and none of that Stella wrongness...
[edit] I'm wrong, they do have Stella, at least it's not the only one they have unlike some other places[/edit]

Yes yes, I'm getting my coat now.

[Sandy]

Great pics young shaver, reminds me how lucky I am to live up north, where was the campsite on the beach?

[garyp_E30_325i]

Looks like a good trip was had!

Good photos too.

It's 'Eilean Donan' BTW

You're more than welcome to join us at the Callander Classic Car Show next year - as Grant said we've got 26 E30's (and three 5's) this year, if it goes down well and people want it I'll arrange it again next year!

[tailoutcharlie]

nice pics and rite up. you've inspired me to do the same thing in fact ill be ringing the girlfriend later see if shes up for it


bit of a way for me starting 25 miles from lands end

[Dr Firefly]

[quote="tailoutcharlie"]nice pics and rite up. you've inspired me to do the same thing in fact ill be ringing the girlfriend later see if shes up for it


bit of a way for me starting 25 miles from lands end [/quote

the little bit I left out was that the car got louder and louder on the journey down to Leeds (my dad's house) and I got in the pit and had a look up - exhaust fcuked! Original plan was to drive straight down to Cornwall as I had friends renting a cottage out down there, so I had to borrow my dad's E46 330d for that half of the trip. At least it kept 1000 miles off my car anyway! The E46 was a lovely relaxing drive too - set off home from Falmouth at 3:00am, and was back home in Nottingham by 7:30 (now that was a fast journey!). But the E30 was a hell of a lot more fun! Was surprised that there wasn't actually that much difference in fuel costs between the two cars either - my car cost about £35 per 270 miles (fuel gauge not working, so set trip meter and refill every 270miles), whereas the E46 cost £60-70 per 500 miles. Was driving it much faster though...

But anyway, Skye to Cornwall via Leeds is a hell of a journey - did it in three days in the end due to the delays with the exhaust etc. It was the original exhaust though - do they normally last 18years?

Do the trip! It's so much more fun driving places - you get a real sense of where you've been - don't get it in planes or even trains to the same extent. And it's fun going with the girlfriend, though I'm sure BBQs and beers with mates would be good too. Will try and combine the two next year

[Dr Firefly]

Great pics young shaver, reminds me how lucky I am to live up north, where was the campsite on the beach?

Camusdarach was the name of the campsite - here's a link:

http://www.road-to-the-isles.org.uk/cam ... psite.html

We were so lucky to drop on it by chance - it was absolutely beautiful, with amazing sunset and a private beach (it was used in the film Local Hero if you remember it - had a Dire Straits soundtrack, sounding like my dad here).

[BadDave]

Should have told us you were coming- can always get some e30's together.

Quite a few would be up for that

Cue Graham being 1st on the list

You're more than welcome to join us at the Callander Classic Car Show next year - as Grant said we've got 26 E30's (and three 5's) this year, if it goes down well and people want it I'll arrange it again next year!

Sounds like a plan
You volunteering again Gary??

We should have an E30zone long weekend up from London sometime and collect as many people as possible on the way. Would love a convoy of 20 E30s going through Scotland.

Maybe we should go north for a change...

Why not combine the 2 and have the convoy through Englandshire and meet up with us Scots/Highlanders at Callander next year.

Looks like we're gonna have one of the biggest stands there anyway.
Could always make it bigger to incorporate the Southern contingent.

One big weekend party/BBQ etc etc

[grantfk10]

One big weekend party/BBQ etc etc