Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
Scotland touring holiday!!
I'm excited to share that my upcoming holiday to Scotland is just around the corner! Our first stop is Dunoon, where we've secured a cosy cottage for a week. We plan to bring our bikes and SUP boards for outdoor fun. Afterwards, we'll head to Buckie for another week and stay at a hotel, which is a more affordable option than another cottage rental. I've been preparing our D4 vehicle for the trip and can't wait to embark on this adventure.
I recently installed a new roof rack, bike holders, SUP holders, and a portable small fridge freezer in my car. It also had a thorough service recently, and there were no issues found during the check. In addition, I made sure to review my breakdown coverage and warranty, and I have a selection of tools and fluids on hand. I also purchased a new GAP reader for added peace of mind.
31st Jul 2023 12:09 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73080
Don’t forget to pack your wetties, it’s been piddling down up here.
31st Jul 2023 1:58 pm
bdc6570
Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
Waterproofs ,boots, swim shorts and wetsuits.. all part of the kit we bring every time we holiday in the UK..
31st Jul 2023 2:50 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14388
Nice. Just need the napalm cannon for the midges and you'll away. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
31st Jul 2023 2:52 pm
KPTV8
Member Since: 05 Feb 2012
Location: Itinerant !! (Scotland/Donegal)
Posts: 187
Aye, well you DO take pot luck with weather up here; the decision is simple - bad weather is disappointing, but when it's good (i.e. dry and warm or even not-too-cold) then the scenery is just SO wonderful and worth the gamble !!
Also the PUBS up here are now much better than of old so you can still enjoy a wet day.
Re. MIDGES, remember :-
1. They can only hang around when/where wind is below 4mph, so head for open hillsides or shorelines, and avoid hollows. Boggy ground is worst, esp. in or near sheltered woodlands.
2. They can't handle SMOKE, so if you're stuck with a cloud of midges then light a smoky BBQ (but of course take care not to set alight vegetation).
Hope you enjoy greatly ))
31st Jul 2023 3:22 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
Moo wrote:
Nice. Just need the napalm cannon for the midges and you'll away.
Midges are mostly on the west coast so you should be fine on the east/north coast around Buckie, we do seem to have a lot of cattle flies though, they don't bite but are annoying.. if you get chance have a look at the Deveron valley from Banff south and you won't be disappointed.. a few hidden gems in there such as Bridge of Alvah and the view from my house and you've just missed the Turriff show I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
31st Jul 2023 4:25 pm
bdc6570
Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
KPTV8 wrote:
Aye, well you DO take pot luck with weather up here; the decision is simple - bad weather is disappointing, but when it's good (i.e. dry and warm or even not-too-cold) then the scenery is just SO wonderful and worth the gamble !!
Also the PUBS up here are now much better than of old so you can still enjoy a wet day.
Re. MIDGES, remember :-
1. They can only hang around when/where wind is below 4mph, so head for open hillsides or shorelines, and avoid hollows. Boggy ground is worst, esp. in or near sheltered woodlands.
2. They can't handle SMOKE, so if you're stuck with a cloud of midges then light a smoky BBQ (but of course take care not to set alight vegetation).
Hope you enjoy greatly ))
Thank you
31st Jul 2023 6:46 pm
bdc6570
Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
nigethecat wrote:
Moo wrote:
Nice. Just need the napalm cannon for the midges and you'll away.
Midges are mostly on the west coast so you should be fine on the east/north coast around Buckie, we do seem to have a lot of cattle flies though, they don't bite but are annoying.. if you get chance have a look at the Deveron valley from Banff south and you won't be disappointed.. a few hidden gems in there such as Bridge of Alvah and the view from my house and you've just missed the Turriff show
That sound lovely, we cant wait!! Scotland here we come..
31st Jul 2023 6:48 pm
Davethegeo
Member Since: 01 Oct 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 912
Top choice of holiday country!
Agreed re. West vs east coast for midges. E coast generally better but the cleggs (horseflies)seem quite voracious sometimes.
Get a midge net hat. Only a couple of quid and can work well. As for midge repellent while in Dunoon, a combo of everything you can buy sometimes works (Smidge, DEET, Citronella....). Best bet is to befriend a smoker or develop a taste of barbecues.
Enjoy your hols.D1 300Tdi - gone
D2 Td5 ES (Alive remapped...mmm) - sadly gone
D4 2012 SDV6 XS - Stolen
D4 2014 SDV6 HSE - Shiny
1st Aug 2023 7:48 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8225
Southhamton to Dunoon in a day - that’s not much of a holiday!It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
1st Aug 2023 7:50 am
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2521
us sotonions are used to a long drive
anything north of basingstokes considered the third world MY05 SE D3 Manual my first LR what a car
MY10 HSE D4 auto
MY14 XXV more buttons than the spaceshuttle
1st Aug 2023 7:54 am
bdc6570
Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
M3DPO wrote:
Southhamton to Dunoon in a day - that’s not much of a holiday!
Well.. the plan is to stop at Chorley for a night then continue the journey to Dunoon. Following seven days in Dunoon we pack up and head to Buckie!
Then head back to Southampton with a stop over at Blackpool.
1st Aug 2023 8:03 am
bdc6570
Member Since: 02 Oct 2014
Location: Southampton
Posts: 185
mark the spark wrote:
us sotonions are used to a long drive
anything north of basingstokes considered the third world
1st Aug 2023 8:03 am
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
M3DPO wrote:
Southhamton to Dunoon in a day - that’s not much of a holiday!
I'd have that done before lunch when I picked my D4 up from Poole I flew down to LHR, Uber to the station then train to Poole and drove back to Aberdeenshire the same day (well almost) and here is 3 hours further North than Dunoon ! I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
1st Aug 2023 10:05 am
Journeyman
Member Since: 27 Sep 2020
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 289
mark the spark wrote:
us sotonions are used to a long drive
anything north of basingstokes considered the third world
I thought it was anything north of the M27!Cheers,
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))
annoying.. if you get chance have a look at the Deveron valley from Banff south and you won't be disappointed.. a few hidden gems in there such as Bridge of Alvah and the view from my house 
and you've just missed the Turriff show 
- that’s not much of a holiday!
