Jaguar F Type R blast - best roads near Edinburgh?
Discussion
Hi all, as a 45th birthday present to myself(!) I've rented a Jaguar F Type R from Avis Prestige in Edinburgh for a weekend in March. I've previously rented a Caterham near Inverness and driven around the Cairngorms and done a bunch, but not all, of the NC500 in my Jeep, but I don't know the roads around Edinburgh at all (I live in Surrey!). I have the car for two days and intend to maximise the driving time with my 12 year old son in the passenger seat. Grateful if anyone has any route suggestions, with the focus on B-road driving fun and really putting the car through its paces.
Huge thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Huge thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Hi Jeepster, Congratulations on your upcoming birthday!
I live around these parts so i might be able to help.
Head out from Edinburgh on the A702, keep going till you reach Carronbridge and then turn left down to Thornhill, have a spot of lunch then retrace your route back to Elvanfoot where you turn South and then pick up the A701 back to Edinburgh.
On the way out you'll think you're back in Surrey, if you get the weather, as there are lots of quaint towns etc. It reminds me of the A272 (I used to live in Crawley and regularly blasted about the South Downs and down to Goodwood). Lots of well sighted bends and long straights for getting past less enthusiastic drivers.
Between Elvanfoot and Carronbridge is epic, you'll be looking forward to the return leg as soon as you finish it.
Enjoy and if you can get some pictures! On that note, pop out to South Queensferry (30 ish minutes from central Edinburgh) to get some dramatic pictures with the bridges in the background, then cross the bridge and follow the coast back to Kincardine bridge then back to Edinburgh, not epic but nice and chilled.
I live around these parts so i might be able to help.
Head out from Edinburgh on the A702, keep going till you reach Carronbridge and then turn left down to Thornhill, have a spot of lunch then retrace your route back to Elvanfoot where you turn South and then pick up the A701 back to Edinburgh.
On the way out you'll think you're back in Surrey, if you get the weather, as there are lots of quaint towns etc. It reminds me of the A272 (I used to live in Crawley and regularly blasted about the South Downs and down to Goodwood). Lots of well sighted bends and long straights for getting past less enthusiastic drivers.
Between Elvanfoot and Carronbridge is epic, you'll be looking forward to the return leg as soon as you finish it.
Enjoy and if you can get some pictures! On that note, pop out to South Queensferry (30 ish minutes from central Edinburgh) to get some dramatic pictures with the bridges in the background, then cross the bridge and follow the coast back to Kincardine bridge then back to Edinburgh, not epic but nice and chilled.
I like the suggestion above best but if the weather's to be better north than south of Edinburgh then a fall back could be head up to Perth then take a right onto the A93, up through Braemar and on to Tomintoul.
Not a route to tackle if there's bad weather but in decent-ish weather, some cracking views. A few of the roads have occasional crusty parts now i think due to the popularity but nothing too severe.
Not a route to tackle if there's bad weather but in decent-ish weather, some cracking views. A few of the roads have occasional crusty parts now i think due to the popularity but nothing too severe.
Depends how many miles you are thinking, but the below routes take some beating as day trips from Edinburgh, depending whether North or South is preferred.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Moffat/E...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Killin/E...
A run out to Duns via Gifford on the B6355 is another favourite of mine.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Moffat/E...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Killin/E...
A run out to Duns via Gifford on the B6355 is another favourite of mine.
Stu_g87 said:
Depends how many miles you are thinking, but the below routes take some beating as day trips from Edinburgh, depending whether North or South is preferred.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Moffat/E...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Killin/E...
A run out to Duns via Gifford on the B6355 is another favourite of mine.
You should substitute the 904 in for some of the 2nd route. Especially for the the s after the turn off for the M9. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Moffat/E...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edinburgh/Killin/E...
A run out to Duns via Gifford on the B6355 is another favourite of mine.
Jeepster1941 said:
Awesome, thanks to you both for these great suggestions. Exactly the sort of guidance I need!
pete_esp I regularly head from near Guildford to Goodwood - great roads all around there, although a different kind of fun in my Jeep Rubicon than I'm hoping to have in the rented Jag!
. pete_esp I regularly head from near Guildford to Goodwood - great roads all around there, although a different kind of fun in my Jeep Rubicon than I'm hoping to have in the rented Jag!
I used to do it in a 1.6 Astra then in a 2.4 Alfa 159. Good times! I did enjoy living down there.
Also, at the end of the A904 you’ll find the Champeny Steak house. Book well in advance and take out a modest remortgage for the wine list alone 😂 great restaurant though. Definitely worth the experience. He’ll I’ll even pop up and buy you a dram.
M9 to Stirling. Hang a left to Aberfoyle and hit the Duke’s Pass. Then onwards to Callendar and up to Lochearnhead. Pass through Crieff, left at Gilmerton and through the Sma Glen. Turn off at Amulree and hit Kenmore on the bonkers single track high road. If by this point your brakes are not on fire you’re not trying hard enough. Chill to House of Bruar and have lunch. Then down the A9 and back to Crieff at the Dunkeld turn off before finding familiar territory in the Sma Glen. For amusement keep going to Comrie and find the Duke’s pass in reverse when you get to Kilmahog. What a great day out!
These are all brilliant suggestions, thanks so much. I think I'll do a north of Edinburgh day and a south of Edinburgh day. I'll try to cover all the great roads that have been mentioned, so far as time allows. I particularly like the idea of visiting Devil's Beef Tub! And maybe combining that with a trip to Champany steak restaurant - seems appropriate.
Hopefully the weather will be good for the runs, although when I did the Cairngorms in the Caterham is was lashing it down all day and I still had fun. So long as I stayed over 50mph the rain sailed over the top! Did feel thankful to have escaped in one piece at the end of the day though!
Nice RS6 shot by the way.
Hopefully the weather will be good for the runs, although when I did the Cairngorms in the Caterham is was lashing it down all day and I still had fun. So long as I stayed over 50mph the rain sailed over the top! Did feel thankful to have escaped in one piece at the end of the day though!
Nice RS6 shot by the way.
pete_esp said:
Hi Jeepster, Congratulations on your upcoming birthday!
I live around these parts so i might be able to help.
Head out from Edinburgh on the A702, keep going till you reach Carronbridge and then turn left down to Thornhill, have a spot of lunch then retrace your route back to Elvanfoot where you turn South and then pick up the A701 back to Edinburgh.
On the way out you'll think you're back in Surrey, if you get the weather, as there are lots of quaint towns etc. It reminds me of the A272 (I used to live in Crawley and regularly blasted about the South Downs and down to Goodwood). Lots of well sighted bends and long straights for getting past less enthusiastic drivers.
Between Elvanfoot and Carronbridge is epic, you'll be looking forward to the return leg as soon as you finish it.
Enjoy and if you can get some pictures! On that note, pop out to South Queensferry (30 ish minutes from central Edinburgh) to get some dramatic pictures with the bridges in the background, then cross the bridge and follow the coast back to Kincardine bridge then back to Edinburgh, not epic but nice and chilled.
Isn't this where car do ECOTY? I fancy a blast out this way too, not too far for me.I live around these parts so i might be able to help.
Head out from Edinburgh on the A702, keep going till you reach Carronbridge and then turn left down to Thornhill, have a spot of lunch then retrace your route back to Elvanfoot where you turn South and then pick up the A701 back to Edinburgh.
On the way out you'll think you're back in Surrey, if you get the weather, as there are lots of quaint towns etc. It reminds me of the A272 (I used to live in Crawley and regularly blasted about the South Downs and down to Goodwood). Lots of well sighted bends and long straights for getting past less enthusiastic drivers.
Between Elvanfoot and Carronbridge is epic, you'll be looking forward to the return leg as soon as you finish it.
Enjoy and if you can get some pictures! On that note, pop out to South Queensferry (30 ish minutes from central Edinburgh) to get some dramatic pictures with the bridges in the background, then cross the bridge and follow the coast back to Kincardine bridge then back to Edinburgh, not epic but nice and chilled.
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