just returned from a trip into the highlands, returning via the east coast through northumberland and yorkshire.

we covered a total distance of 1590 miles, used 32.1 gallons of diesel

average consumption of 49.5mpg which i'm very happy with.

the trip up and back was all on motorway but whilst there was all on minor A and B roads and some single track thrown in for balance

spent the 1st week around Stirling enjoying the hospitality of friends and some really good places to eat and drink. The Wee Blether in Aberfoyle being just one. 10x

beautiful scenery too.

Loch Ard

and the odd waterfall

in the lodge grounds

angel falls

had a bit of a play on some public access forest tracks round Loch Drunkie

a trip on Sir Walter Scott, a steamboat on Loch Katrine, in appalling weather but it was still good fun

the next day the sun was shining so we had a drive out to Stronachlachar,

along Loch Arklet

and Loch Lomond

week 2 started with a drive north through Glen Coe and Glen Shiel, where we found this chap busking in the mist and rain

we made a small detour to find this challenging track courtesy of Johann. thanx mate!

didn't quite make it to the top as it was very wet and slippery but couldn't resist an attempt

the next day we drove over the Bealach na Ba pass, the highest road in the UK aparently, and were lucky with the cloud lifting just enough

Scottish road block

it took a wee tap from Harry and a hollar from me to get him to move... eventually

no sooner had we passed than he came back into the road to resume his breakfast.

after tea and cake in Shieldag we travelled east to Loch Ness

we didn't see Nessie but we did find the Loch Carron Crocodile the day before

through Aviemore and more gorgeous landscape ending up in Pitlochry.

monday and heading south, across the forth road bridge with a quick stop in Queensferry and then Edingburgh, at the castle.

we were going to cross to Lindisfarne but the tide was high so it had to wait till the following morning.

see the dark dot just right of the yellow "DO NOT CROSS" warning sign?

it's a brand new, hired, Merc E class. or should i say it was?

the driver and passenger had to be rescued from it's roof by the inshore lifeboat because they tried crossing outside the published safe crossing times. Muppets

and no, the insurance won't pay out!!

when it's safe to cross it looks like this...

we went across the following morning to take in the Priory, village and church then headed for Yorkshire.

just had to see Aysgarth falls in full flow, as every other visit it has just been a trickle.

we spent our last night at a 17th century coaching inn near Leyburn. all oak beams and crooked window and doors, with a roaring log fire and fab home made steak pie and chips for dinner.

our last day was spent driving flooded roads in torrential rain heading for home.

all in all, a very enjoyable 12 days and apart from the minor gearbox problem mentioned elsewhere, Harry performed brilliantly.

Bring on the next trip

Fantastic pictures of my country i love it!!

I Also love that Yeti they are growing more and more on me i must say.

Excellent pics just our sort of trip!

I love photographing waterfalls, would you mind sharing the locations?

Interesting and a very well put together report. Despite the weather it looks as if you had a great time. Thanks for the post...

Very impressive photos, glad you had a nice adventure in the Yeti.

I love photographing waterfalls, would you mind sharing the locations?

Reflections on water and waterfalls are my sort of thing too.

1 McDonald forest hills hotel driveway. Kinlochard. In the entrance on the right 50mtr from road

2 David Marshall Visitor Centre in Aberfoyle

Angel falls Here

3 Aysgarth Falls in the village of Aysgarth, Yorkshire

Aysgarth Falls Here

There are 3 sets of falls here, upper which my pic is of, middle and lower.

They are just a trickle most of the time but still a nice place for a walk.

We also found quite a few just pouring out of the rocky hills on the A896 from Loch Carron to Kishorn and a few shallow falls on the way up

Bealach na Bà to Applecross. Again normally a trickle but in full flow with all the rain we were having.

Happy hunting.

AWESOME photos CFB, didn't realise you bumped into Hazel Blears

I love these adventure threads, well done, keep up the good work

the next day we drove over the Bealach na Ba pass, the highest road in the UK aparently

Point of information: the Bealach na Ba is not the highest road in the UK - the Cairnwell Pass in Glenshee, and The Lecht are both higher (and both are home to ski centres, unsurprisingly) and there's a couple in England that just beat it too. The Bealach na Ba does have the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level at Applecross to 626 metres. The name means Pass of the Cattle - imagine trying to persuade a herd of highland coos up and over that! It is a much more interesting road than the higher ones to the East. Did you take the road round the north side of the Applecross peninsula to Shieldaig and Torridon? Fantastic part of the world!

AWESOME photos CFB, didn't realise you bumped into Hazel Blears

I think you'll find that's not her..... This one is male!

It could be Boris Johnson though.

Same well groomed hair!

Point of information: the Bealach na Ba is not the highest road in the UK - the Cairnwell Pass in Glenshee, and The Lecht are both higher (and both are home to ski centres, unsurprisingly) and there's a couple in England that just beat it too. The Bealach na Ba does have the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level at Applecross to 626 metres. The name means Pass of the Cattle - imagine trying to persuade a herd of highland coos up and over that! It is a much more interesting road than the higher ones to the East. Did you take the road round the north side of the Applecross peninsula to Shieldaig and Torridon? Fantastic part of the world!

Thanks for the correction EJ, I was only going on what the locals told us. Perhaps they actually did mean height from bottom to top.

Yes we did go all the way round on that road, that's where we found the cattle.

Had actually planned to stop in Shieldag at Nanny's tea shop but it was closed. I was gutted as the cakes are legendary.

Had to make do with a fresh fruit scone, cream and jam at the hotel instead. :p

Although flat as a pancake, I really enjoyed the road from Torridon to Achnashee too.

Great visibility so you can 'make progress' if you get my drift

In fact the whole trip was excellent and I cannot wait to go up again.

Great pictures CFB! Looks a lovely trip I have to say.

Although flat as a pancake, I really enjoyed the road from Torridon to Achnashee too.

Great visibility so you can 'make progress' if you get my drift

Other good highland roads for 'getting a move' on are the A87 past Loch Cluanie to Shielbridge (from where you can go over another interesting pass to Glenelg, and then take the community owned turntable ferry to Kylerhea - a much more 'romantic' way to get to Skye than the boring bridge IMO) and the A835 from Garve to Ullapool (though I believe that may be haunted by speed cameras these days). Another hazard at this time of year, especially as the nights draw in, is deer on the roads. If you see the reflection of your headlights in their eyes, be ready to brake hard!

Other good highland roads for 'getting a move' on are the A87 past Loch Cluanie to Shielbridge (from where you can go over another interesting pass to Glenelg, and then take the community owned turntable ferry to Kylerhea - a much more 'romantic' way to get to Skye than the boring bridge IMO) and the A835 from Garve to Ullapool (though I believe that may be haunted by speed cameras these days). Another hazard at this time of year, especially as the nights draw in, is deer on the roads. If you see the reflection of your headlights in their eyes, be ready to brake hard!

Yeah, we did come across a few dee this trip but thankfully well off the road.

Sheep on the other hand!! Just when you think they have moved to the side of the road so you can drive on, they decide to run to the opposite side!

Still, got a freezer full of lamb chops out of it.