We've just got back from a week in Jockland
We normally trek from B&B to B&B each night, this time we tried a different tack and rented a cottage on the shores of Loch Ness near Inverness, this meant we could do one of any 5 routes each day depending on the Met Office rain radar app (which worked a treat!)
We found this place and were really pleased with it.

http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/properties/C...

We decided on a straight run up to the cottage east of Loch Ness







Next day the Highlands were pissing down so we headed for the Cairngorms;

Corrimony Cairn
Loch Garten Osprey Centre (they had gone South a few weeks earlier but the staff showed us some great videos from the nest)
Loch Morlich & Cairngorms (we were going to take the railway up but the summit was in cloud )
A86 past Kinguissie & Loch Laggan
General Wades Military Road up East of Loch Ness

Lock Morlich was stunning




Bizarrely we found a herd of reindeer wandering around, they didn't seem to mind me blending in!




My sat nav seems to like loops and back roads




Next day we went dolphin, whale and seal spotting on the Black Isle
Not too much spotted but a nice drive!
Mrs K hoping and searching with the 'noculars




The weather in the highlands improved the next day so we headed north;

A836
Balnakiel Beach
Smoo Cave & Sango Bay beach Durness
Tongue
A836 Lairg – Melvich
Grey Cairns of Camster
Hill o' Many Stanes Mid Clyth
Whaligoe Steps & cafe

This is the view down to Tongue causeway, always good for some photos




The causeway always has some stunning views








Smoo Cave always interesting, the rain had flooded the cave so no boat trip (again ) well worth a wander round though!




It was a tad windy on the beach




The Hill o' Many Stanes is a strange place but ancient



The Whaligoe Steps are superb, 365 steps down to a mini harbour that was still used until the '70's. "Dave" who lives at the top gave us all the history and the cafe at the top serves some excellent food with excellent views






We had a down day the next day and planned the following day;
Clava Cairns
A939 Grantown on Spey to ****bridge
A93 Braemar to Spittal of Glenshee
Bruar Falls walk to the top
A9 scenic route back to Inverness

The penultimate day was the one I was looking forward to, the weather to the west broke out in sunshine!
A837 Inveran - Ledmore
Ardvreck Castle (DBS owners should know this one! )
Kylesku bridge (and this one!)
Achmelvich beaches
A832/896 Wester Ross coastal road
A896 Incheril - Annat
Applecross pass
A896 Glen Docharty
Corrieshalloch Gorge near Ullapool




Any DBS owners know where these are?





Glen Docharty



Wester Ross Coastal road looking out to the Cuillins on Skye



Last day the rain returned so we headed home along the A82 (bad move ) the weather, coaches & shed draggers dispersed and the sun shone as we went through Glencoe.
We did 2281 miles in 6 days, I am proud to say I achieved 20.8 mpg on the M-way home, the rest of the time it was in the 17's
This is Johnny's last run out before his "op" and it confirmed sticking with the S and letting Bamford Rose convert it is the right move

 

Nice photos, but some names you have there...

Scenery always seems a bit ominous looking, doesn't it? And empty of all life. Good place for a spy to hide out...

 

Gorgeous pictures and thanks for sharing. I hope to find myself one day in the UK, especially with my Aston..!

 

Great pics. Makes me miss the UK

 

Calendar quality photos...very nicely done! AHaa the pleasures of an open road.

 

Outstanding. Thank you for sharing!

 

Glad you enjoyed them!
I guess no one got the significance of these two to Aston Martin's DBS then?

 

I lived in Scotland for 3 years, had a BMW M-Coupe ... your pics brought back some great memories. I drove up/down, east/west several times. I camped, hiked, biked, and even swam all around the countryside. The roads are fantastic, the scenery breathtaking, and the weather makes it epic.

thanks for sharing!

 

Whoa, simply fantastic photographs and a reason to have my Vantage shipped to BR, have the mods done (engine & suspension), pick it up at BR then drive through Scotland, drink Glemorangie, The Macallan, Oban, visit Jonny Walker for a whee dram and play golf with the misses... Then have the car shipped back to the US. Yes, this is the plan. Thanks for the inspiration Mikey K!!!

 

Speaking of shipping, I was talking to someone who had their Aston shipped over to England for the big Aston celebration (a DB4). It was $15K round trip. So as much as I'd love to ship my car over to Europe, if that's what it really costs, then forget it...

You'd be better off shipping the BR crew over here...

 

Mikey, you are the ultimate Aston anorak LOL

FF

 

A chap from Singapore shipped his Vantage over in a container

 

Very Jealous

 

cracking photos Mikey! looks like fun!

 

Great pictures! And what a beautiful landscape to enjoy while driving an Aston.