MX5 with boot rack, tent/trangia - Scotland 14 days in July

[saxon]

So I'm in the process of buying a very nice low mileage 2022 Mazda MX5 and hope to get the car in early July. The missus and I have 17 days off from 10th July and I figure a 14 day road trip from Haslemere to Scotland would be epic in that car!

I've had a lifetime ambition to take my TVR Griffith up to Scotland to tour the Highlands, Islay (huge fan of the malts from there) and to drive the A82 and also the Skyfall road. I've never managed it and the Griffith is going after 29 years and being replaced by the MX5. We're contemplating camping at least some of the time to keep costs down, although I'm not sure how much of a problem the midges are up there in July - will that likely force us into a hotel every night? If it's just a case of avoiding dusk and dawn then we can probably cope. I'd love to do it in hotels all the way but frankly I find hotels and eating out has become really expensive in the UK of late and my thinking with the tent was it's cheap to stay and we can cook for ourselves saving a fortune. A quick look for example at hotel/B&B prices on Islay shows it's around £440-£550 for two nights on Islay for two people in July and when you add in say £150 for dinner and drinks that's £600-£700 just for two nights on Islay (the price of a cheap week in Spain!)

We plan to take a compact tent and trangia and sleeping bags and mats in a boot mounted rack leaving the boot for a couple of soft bags for clothes and some camera gear.

I would really appreciate some guidance on best roads and route planning. I was thinking that breaking the journey in the Lake District on the way up and Liverpool (my home turf) on the way down would make sense (in a hotel).

Advice and route guidance would be greatly appreciated from those who have done this kind of thing...

Saxon

[Red Devil]

I'm in Kent and have been going to the Highlands most years since 2009 (except during the lockdown).
I always depart (very) early doors to get well clear of the traffic purgatory of the Home Counties.
If going via the Erskine Bridge I stop for refreshment at the Orton Scar Café (near Tebay) . Overnight in Helensburgh.
If via the Forth Bridge, refreshment stop at Spring House Farm Shop and Café (near Leeming Bar). Overnight in Perth.

This is the definitive thread on the Highlands - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You may need some stamina (it has been going for 13 years!) but you should find some inspiration therein.

[s2kjock]

Midges are not just dawn to dusk sadly - you will get them all day and they are bad probably from April to September. Hot, dry, very sunny weather can mitigate them a bit if you are lucky enough to get it. A reasonable breeze will keep them off you. Anything else and you will suffer camping. The roads will also be busy and plenty places you might think would be nice "wild" camping sites may already be occupied. Not sure how busy official sites are, but motorhomes are a menace.

[daqinggregg]

I’d imagine all day in a MX5 (great car) and all night in a tent, would get old, (one night) very quickly.

You say it’s a dream trip; I’d pony up for the accommodation costs, make the holiday shorter, or get very inventive with your itinerary.

Scotland also likes to throw some in variables of which, I’m sure you’re aware; they can make for a miserable or delightful experience.

Dong it a mix of accommodation/canvass may not be as easy as you think, you may need to book a long way in advance, some places are stating minimum stay lengths.

IMO, Scotland is one of the most beautiful (not just the NC500) places in the world.

[Time4another]

Midges will be ravenous in July.

I'd concentrate your efforts and time on the west coast. Find everything between John O'groats and Inverness to be pretty bland in comparison. Avoid as much of the A9 as possible, it's tedious, Loch Lomond to Loch Ness or vice versa is a better option.

Fort William to Mallaig is a lovely road, although a dead end unless you hop on the ferry. Silver Sands of Morar are just before Mallaig and would make a lovely spot to spend some time, few lovely beaches there. Achmelvich, another glorious beach to stop at.

[Steve_H80]

Scotland is a fantastic place if you get the weather, but July is going to be high midge and tourist season. Check ahead for accommodation and read up on the rules for wild camping, you can't just roll up and pitch your tent anywhere.
Personally I would avoid the NC500 route because sitting in traffic drives me nuts, I would aim for the quieter areas. I would aim for for are Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll & Bute, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland. All have some fabulous driving roads provided you avoid the motorways main trunk routes.

[loskie]

https://openroadscotland.com/2019/great-scottish-r...

Head west at Carlisle, Kirkcudbright, Isle Of Whithorn, Mull of Galloway up to Arran cross to Kintyre up the West coast Oban and Mull, Inverness back down the east to Edinburgh and the borders.

[Glosphil]

saxon said:

So I'm in the process of buying a very nice low mileage 2022 Mazda MX5 and hope to get the car in early July. The missus and I have 17 days off from 10th July and I figure a 14 day road trip from Haslemere to Scotland would be epic in that car!

I've had a lifetime ambition to take my TVR Griffith up to Scotland to tour the Highlands, Islay (huge fan of the malts from there) and to drive the A82 and also the Skyfall road. I've never managed it and the Griffith is going after 29 years and being replaced by the MX5. We're contemplating camping at least some of the time to keep costs down, although I'm not sure how much of a problem the midges are up there in July - will that likely force us into a hotel every night? If it's just a case of avoiding dusk and dawn then we can probably cope. I'd love to do it in hotels all the way but frankly I find hotels and eating out has become really expensive in the UK of late and my thinking with the tent was it's cheap to stay and we can cook for ourselves saving a fortune. A quick look for example at hotel/B&B prices on Islay shows it's around £440-£550 for two nights on Islay for two people in July and when you add in say £150 for dinner and drinks that's £600-£700 just for two nights on Islay (the price of a cheap week in Spain!)

We plan to take a compact tent and trangia and sleeping bags and mats in a boot mounted rack leaving the boot for a couple of soft bags for clothes and some camera gear.

I would really appreciate some guidance on best roads and route planning. I was thinking that breaking the journey in the Lake District on the way up and Liverpool (my home turf) on the way down would make sense (in a hotel).

Advice and route guidance would be greatly appreciated from those who have done this kind of thing...

Saxon

£150 for meal & drinks for 2! On a recent holiday in North Wales it didn't cost £200 for a for decent meal & drinks for 6.

[Pit Pony]

I'd say take a tent and mix it up with the odd night in a hotel. My ideal trip would be 2 nights near Edinburgh and lunch at the ship on the shore.

Then arran, for 2 nights, then across to Kintyre. And follow the road up to oban. Ferry to Mull. Tobermory has a good fish restaurant. Then across to the mainland, up to Mallaig and then to Skye. That's the first week sorted. I'd avoid the NC500 as it's full of camper wkers I've heard. Maybe head for the Caingorms then home via the borders. And North Yorkshire moors.

[loskie]

If the Arran ferry isn't playing ball head up the coast. Cross onto the Isle Of Bute, off there onto the Cowal peninsular to Portavadie and get the wee ferry to Tarbert on Loch Fyne. That drive is a pleasure. Maybe stop off at Kames or Tighnabruich.

[dcb]

saxon said:

So I'm in the process of buying a very nice low mileage 2022 Mazda MX5 and hope to get the car in early July. The missus and I have 17 days off from 10th July and I figure a 14 day road trip from Haslemere to Scotland would be epic in that car!

You think that's a good idea ? Each to their own, but most
of Scotland is a barren wilderness for a reason.

I'd ignore Scotland and head over to CT18 8XX and go on from there.
It has the following advantages:

1. Closer to Haslemere
2. No 400 miles of awful Brit motorway to get there.
3. Better driving standards
4. Faster driving standards
5. A distinct lack of speed cameras compared to UK.
6. Better food and drink.
7. No mozzies.
8. Arguably a better standard of English spoken.
9. A local population who don't have a permanent chip
on their shoulder about the English.
10. Usually better weather.

[Wacky Racer]

dcb said:

You think that's a good idea ? Each to their own, but most
of Scotland is a barren wilderness for a reason.

I'd ignore Scotland

I don't think you have ever been north of Watford have you?

[dcb]

Wacky Racer said:

I don't think you have ever been north of Watford have you?

I have spent multiple decades north of Watford thanks.

Ok the Scots will bang on about daylight at 11 pm during the summer,
but they won't mention opening the curtains at 9:30 am and
shutting them at 2:30 pm during winter.

Any national cuisine which thinks that neeps & tatties with haggis
is great has little to recommend it. Just think of how many Scottish
restaurants you see when you are outside the UK. None.

It's 540 miles from Haslemere to Fort William.

For reference, Paris is 320 miles. Brussels is 260 miles. Amsterdam is 370 miles.
Cologne is 400 miles. Strasbourg is 530 miles. These are all fine European cities
well worth visiting.

[Halmyre]

dcb said:

Wacky Racer said:

I don't think you have ever been north of Watford have you?

I have spent multiple decades north of Watford thanks.

Ok the Scots will bang on about daylight at 11 pm during the summer,
but they won't mention opening the curtains at 9:30 am and
shutting them at 2:30 pm during winter.

Any national cuisine which thinks that neeps & tatties with haggis
is great has little to recommend it. Just think of how many Scottish
restaurants you see when you are outside the UK. None.

It's 540 miles from Haslemere to Fort William.

For reference, Paris is 320 miles. Brussels is 260 miles. Amsterdam is 370 miles.
Cologne is 400 miles. Strasbourg is 530 miles. These are all fine European cities
well worth visiting.

You don't see a lot of English restaurants either to be honest. Unless you count every "Traditional English Pub" in every seaside resort in Spain.