JUST PASSING THROUGH - The road to the Applecross Pass

Featuring the Renault Sport Clio 182 Cup

At mid-day I had a brain storm. I fired up my Mac and went onto Google Maps for a look to see if it was feasible. 439 mi and approx. 11 hours 2 mins. 100 miles short of a trip to London and without the luxury of a motorway...best get going!

Link to Google Maps: http://tiny.cc/applecrossmap

I decided today was the day to head over to the infamous Applecross pass. I was in at Shell by 1 and with tyres, oil and fuel taken care off I was pointing the Clio westwards.

Up and over the A93 through Ballater, Braemar, the Cairngorms national park and finally through the snow gates approaching Glen Shee. This road is absolutely fantastic as it snakes along a valley floor between the hills. Higher speeds easily obtainable and with a view sometimes well in excess of a mile you can happily use both sides of the sweeping road. I could write a thread on the A93 alone.

The signs show this road is not to be messed with, that's 3 within a few meters! Down the other side and into another valley floor. An epically long straight followed by a lumpy, bumpy, yumpy and sometimes jumpy stretch that's scarred with the marks of many fouled sumps. The A93 is a road of extreme contrasts. Clio is in its element, with the sensible ride height providing plenty of wheel travel there is no need for the pace to drop. Just as well I saved lunch till later...

70 miles covered and its time for a lunch stop. Thank you Shell petrol station for providing V Power and a delicious sandwich. As the Clio ticked it's self cool I sat and watched drenched bikers doing their best to pedal the two miles of steep gradient, better turn the heater on it's getting cold in here!

The long straight in the picture above? You bet I did!

As entertaining as they are I've always thought of the majority of Scottish roads as imperfect, lumpen and neglected. Imagine my surprise when in the middle of the highlands and hugging the edge of a Loch I came across a pristine, almost virgin, stretch of black tarmac that lasted for miles upon miles. If you have a car with firm suspension and a low ride height then this is the road for you.

After finally reaching the top of another summit I came across a view that was really worth stopping for.

Mountains behind and more mountains in front. No going back now!

Time for tea. Nutritious! What a view to grab a bite to eat beside.

The famous, or should that be infamous sign. I think it'd make a lot of people think twice but this is what I've come almost 200 miles for.

On the way up I stopped to snap a few photo's to show the intimidating road and land scape. No claims of flat out pedalling here, this road needs to be treated with respect. Steep drops to the left, only wide enough for one car and armco barrier that probably brings a false sense of security.

It really is Scotland's own version of the Stelvio Pass. Below is the view from the first parking spot back down the valley. This has to be seen with your own eyes to be appreciated...

Above is the view from the summit. I don't know how but the further you go the better the views get, it's stunning! Some old couple had set up there motor home here, perhaps I can see the perks of caravan-ing when there is a view like this to wake up to.

Looking out over the Atlantic as the sun sets, perfect end to a perfect drive...well it would be but for the drive home. Road to Inverness is flat, open and has the potential for huge speeds. The prospect of meeting a deer was enough to keep my cruising speed down though. Entering Inverness on the Kessock Bridge at night makes for a grand entrance. I guelled up at a 24H Esso (thank you iPhone and Googlemaps) before setting my sights on Aberdeen and making my way home with no more stops.

~fin~

Edited 28 August, 200917 yr by Tav

that looks frekkin awsome!

rally style action round that hairpin?

On the way back down the hand brake got nipped once or twice, but only at about 10-20mph, didn't want to bin it. I actually came across a truck with a digger on it's flat bed doing a 10-point turn at the steep hair pin in the foreground. He had a HUGE drop behind him. I squeezed by, took a pic then went on my way!

Edit: Here's the nutter!

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~mctavish/A...ss/rbatruck.jpg

Edited 28 August, 200917 yr by Tav

Lovely pics... What camera do you use?

Tav, i really do enjoy reading your write ups from days out and adventures....you know how to capture moments and describe the events really well!

this picture is excellent...

i loved the last post i read with you imrie etc went out in th G and you did the pics in amovie reel widescreen sepia format.

nice to see the car gets rtaken out for a proper drive....hope your well mate.

its been too long

Christian

Just.....WOW!

Brilliant

its been too long

Christian

Aye we'll all have to catch up in future some time, Polo show 2010?

Lovely pics... What camera do you use?

Coolpix 4600, it's years old and only has 4.0 Mega Pixels. Good lense though and really is point and shoot. Bit of adjustment to brightness/contrast in photoshop (contrast +30-100) and brightness up or down gets the pics poppin' out the screen. A few of the pics I did different areas with different brightness then blended them together with a big eraser with a really soft edge. Really simple stuff. I am sure a pro would pick faults but for a little 700px wide picture I think it's important to make it jump out at you. Would love a DSLR though!

http://www.cameras.co.uk/cameraimages/niko...-4600-front.jpg

Edited 28 August, 200917 yr by Tav

Nice thread, Nice pictures! seeing those shots makes just about everyone want to go out for a drive!

yep, it's really made me think about going up onto dartmoor now. great write up mate

Great pics and a top write up once again Tavington, keep these adventures coming :-D

Edited 28 August, 200917 yr by walshc

polo show 2010 oohhhhh its oooooooooooooon! you've just been served! :p

we need a proper reunion over the morgan spiced

polo show 2010 oohhhhh its oooooooooooooon! you've just been served! :p

we need a proper reunion over the morgan spiced

Bennett and I were discussing it a week or two ago. Now that it's back at Billing it might be like old times! Whap a Polo badge on the Clio...or actually take one down ....

3 bottles of mogran's for each night and a cooler full of meat, SORTED!

winner, i'll bring the ITB'd polo

winner, i'll bring the ITB'd polo

Get out my head and stop stealing my ideas!

i live in inverness and the roads on the west coast r great so quite as well

but thats jst bonny scotland lol

Pretty epic stuff and great pictures too ... looks kinda wet though

thats just an epic day out, love it, the pics are wikid aswell matey

AMAZING thread!

hat off to you buddy!

i think i'll be planning a route to there for the next half term if i get a certain car i'm looking at.

such an awe-inspiring trip!

Edited 28 August, 200917 yr by zakgallagher

Brilliant write up, think you have caught the moment very well. I think I need to plan a road trip on my own, man and machine and all that

I'd get all kinds of involved with that!

You'll have to go visit it sometime pinches, should be right up your street...or gravely track...or what ever

Brilliant write up, think you have caught the moment very well. I think I need to plan a road trip on my own, man and machine and all that

mechaphile!