THE ROUTE.
DAY ONE. Starting at the Lovat
Hotel in Perth, the route headed North East through Kirriemuir
and Edzell, sweeping around through Ballater and Crathie, close
to Balmoral. Lunch was taken at Nethy Bridge to the South of
Grantown on Spey. Then heading through the Glenmore Forest Park
past Aviemore we headed South West to Kingussie then doubled
back to head North, turning off through Strathdearn and
Strathnairn to arrive for our overnight stay in Inverness at the
Craigmonie Hotel.
DAY TWO. A fast drive up the
North East coast along the A9 over the Firths of Moray, Cromarty
and Dornoch, then we turned inland and headed North along the
quiet narrow roads, with passing places, to Tongue and lunch at
the Ben Lovat Hotel. The scenic coast road took us to our most
Northerly point at Durness, then through villages with such
delightful names as Scourie, Clashnessie and Lochinver. We
enjoyed the spectacular scenery of the Inverpolly Forest
national park before passing through Ullapool and so to our
overnight stop at the Dundonnell Hotel on the side of Little
Loch Broom.
DAY THREE. Along the West coast
road by Gruinard Bay and past Inverewe Gardens to Gairloch. Then
beside Loch Maree to Kinlochewe and Upper Loch Torridon. The
dramatic Applecross hairpins followed, (always a must on every
Highland 3 Day!), stopping for lunch at the Loch Carron Hotel.
Then the route headed through Glen Shiel to Invergarry and down
the banks of Loch Lochy, through Fort William and down the coast
through Oban to the overnight halt at the beautifully situated
Loch Melfort Hotel.
Hover on thumbnail
photos for titles, click to enlarge.
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THE ENTRANTS.
23 cars started the course
and 23 finished with relatively few problems apart from the
odd puncture, broken fan belt and loosened shock absorbers.
There were 17 big Healeys, but no
small ones. There was an MGA an MGB and for good measure an
MGC. A Morgan, a Mini Cooper and a Datsun 240Z completed the
list.
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THE EVENT.
Again, all
credit to Mike Raven and his band of helpers for yet another
highly successful Highland 3 Day Tour. Jan and Paul had
assembled such a vast array of quality photos that I was
spoiled for choice which ones to include - great quality
too, I will have to invest in a better camera myself if I am to
compete.
The tour was not
without incident and the billowing smoke ahead of us on the
first morning signaled, not a BBQ at the lunch halt, but a
coach which had burst into flames just prior to our arrival,
delaying all of us by an hour or so. Fortunately no one was
hurt in the fire but the bus was gutted. (See photo)
Bernard Jones had a
close call when the car in front he was overtaking seemingly
did not see him and pulled out, Bernard's spinner neatly
removed her hub cap. Henceforth he will be remembered as
Bernard 'Boadicea' Jones.
Many thanks to Mike on
behalf of all we competitors for such a memorable event.
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