Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Road trip advice for a Hebridean Adventure

In the first two weeks of September I am taking my 2007 Plus 4 2 seater, Molly, to the Outer Hebrides for an island hopping adventure as part of a sabbatical from work.

I would really welcome any tips and advice members of the board have, especially any who have undertaken road trips as this is my first of this length.

I will be travelling on my own (a welcome relief from being in charge or responsible for people at work and at home). Starting from Worcestershire my trip through Scotland will take in Ayrshire, Arran, Kintyre, Argyll, Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay, South Uist, St. Kilda (a day trip without Molly obviously!), Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, Harris, Lewis, Skye, Invergarry and then home via the Jim Clark Room at Duns.

The trip will include 6 Calmac ferry crossings and several causeways.

I will be taking walking kit and a pencil bag of golf clubs (carrying them in the passenger footwell). I'm thinking of getting a bag from www.boot-bag.com for my luggage rack and probably just a holdall or two behind the seats. I have looked online at the Hillsalive fitted bags but they look very expensive and almost a bit inhibiting taking up all the space behind the seats.

I will be getting the car serviced at the factory before I go. (It should be pointed out that I am a mechanical and practical half wit, and half is generous, so will have a list of all the local garages and mechanics on the islands I can find beforehand in my phone for emergencies).

Do you have any recommendations? For example, on essential supplies and spares to take with me. Is there anything, mechanical or practical that you wish you had taken after your trip?

Any suggestions on security? I will be stopping in between hotel stops en route for sight seeing, walking, golf etc. when most of my kit will be in/on the car. (For example, what are people's thoughts on the passenger footwell lockable box or recommendations for boot rack luggage security?). I suspect North Uist etc is not a hot bed of opportunist theft from cars but I ought to minimise the risks.

I'm hoping I won't have any grounding problems getting on and off the ferries. I will be using the Maps app on my iPhone for directions (plugged into my cigarette lighter for power) and the Ordinance Survey app with a purchased map of the Outer Hebrides for walking. My kids bought me a "Pebble" device for recharging on the go.

I have booked up all my accommodation in advance.

Any thoughts and recommendations very gratefully received. Many thanks in advance.

Take a midge hat.

I've had a Boot Bag for the last 3yrs and I am very pleased with it. As for security when leaving the car during the day I just take all the portable valuables (sat-nav, camera, phone etc) with me in a shoulder bag. Have a good trip. Gerry.
ps what are fuel supplies like in the area you're planning to tour? Perhaps a spare 5lts would be advisable.

Not sure about the boot bag - I tried one last year and found it's soft underside not that great on a Morgan rack. Plus all the buckles / straps to do up / undo became a bit of a trial. Not too bad if you are going to be based in one or two places, but on an everyday basis would become tiresome. That said, I'm holding on to my Bootbag for use on a car with a small boot...

I recommend a waterproof case, such as a Peli case.

Jays has done most, if not all, of the Western Isles, mainly on 2 wheels, so might be able to give you some geographic pointers...

Don't put the tourists off, midges are just a like the loch ness monster

Never seen just bit like uck

Bl..dy felt later on though!!

Find some good midge repellant Biffo - Avon Skin so Soft or an equivalent...

...And I don't mean a hat made from midges, not like a hat made from fox.

We had no midge problem at all - probably a bit early.
We took three bags, plus small rucksack:
1) The "Overboard" duffel with 120L capacity, which proved itself on the trip home with over two hours of torrential rain through the Highlands and not one drop of water got in. All our clothes and shoes, except for coats were in here.
2) The MMC leather touring bag. This took underwear,toiletry bags and miscellaneous stuff like battery chargers, satnav chargers, reading material etc.
Note: I always take magazines on holiday and rarely have time for a read!
3) The Simmonds boot bag which takes boots, sticks, socks,lightweight Kagools, walking trousers and waterproof trousers.

The Overboard and MMC bag fit behind the seats with the rucksack, with the hood up. The boot bag on the rack secured by a spider, but I also took a combination lock bike cable in case we had to leave it. I left this wrapped around the spare wheel spokes and luggage rack. In this case the storm cover over the hood adds security because it stops casual looking of what's inside, and removing it is likely to draw attention.
When we needed to take the roof down during the journey the MMC bag and boot bag and rucksack went inside, and the Overboard bag went on the rack. This left enough room behind the seats to place the roof, and cover with the tonneau. All anoraks travelled loose but screwed up into corners, because it's important not to stop the seat belts working. Travelling alone you'll have the passenger seat, so either use a full tonneau cover if you have one, and use a storm cover whether you have the roof up or down.
We had no problems over eight days and sometimes Bumble was parked in exposed places.

Thank you all so far for your advice, much appreciated.

Take a real map also