Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms July 2020 Scottish Islands 500 with Travel Club

Hi there. Saw this advertised in August Miscellany, and myself and Lady HB are considering going for it (would be our first Club trip).
The intention is for me to take a leisurely drive up there over a couple of days whilst Her Ladyship gets a train up, so I pick her up in Inverness on Day 1.
I realise it’s a big ask but wondered if anyone is going, if there are any suggestions about where I should stay on the way there (and back) probably around Penrith area (didn’t there used to be a Morgan owner who used to post who owned a hotel hear the Lake District?)? Separately, would you peeps recommend joining this kind of trip? Finally, Lady HB has asked me to ask the TM Google Group/TM Massive (or Moogle as I call it)....are the Ferries onerous or rough (I do realise that this is of course weather dependent as well)? It looks like there are two or three ferry transfers involved which is making her wonder if it will put her off the rest of the trip worrying about them. She isn’t a massive fan of long boat trips and this is a big concern of hers.
Many thanks for any tips/hints/suggestions and hope to meet up with other like minded souls on said trip if we decide to go...
HB

We've just had a pleasant stay at the recently refurbished 17th century Greyhound Inn in Shap, enjoying excellent food. Just one junction up the adjacent M6 to Penrith.

Next time try the Shap wells hotel ( got a good bit of history ) l . Its about 2 mile outside Shap ( dog friendly ) A couple of month ago about 60 of us from several car clubs had a great time . Used to keep German pow's oddly they got better food than the English Soldiers till they found out and put a stop to it .

Hi Headless Blue.

A couple of suggestions for your stop over.

1. Riverside @ Kendall A really good mid budget Hotel - with ample adjacent (free) parking.

2. Gilpin Bridge Hotel/Pub A very good pub/Hotel not far off the Mway. Plenty of parking. Mid range priced.

Hope these help!

HB, might be best to reduce possible pressures, starting out with avoiding ferry trips to some Scottish island, even in the "sheltered" waters of the Clyde estuary the ferry can be cancelled due to rough weather, even in Summer.

I expect the increased number of folk using them as the result of social media postings, and who may be running to any sort of schedule might be somewhat disappointed to find their plans disrupted by cancellations..? To turn up without a booking might not be wise on any busy route..?

If you stick to the mainland there are perhaps some country roads not encumbered with baby boomers in their campervans and caravans....(-:

A friend runs a guest house near the borders, Gordon the proprietor was a Rally Navigator and knows plenty of quiet roads around the borders and well beyond, his guest house has been on TV (four in a bed) Trip advisor has some data on it and a Morgan crew have sampled staying there too.... Tim H may be able to provide you with a heads up...?

Whatever you are planning I hope it works out as you might wish..

Thanks all for suggestions and tips - I will check each one out.
In all honesty, aside from the stopover point, I guess I was curious if others had partaken in these MSCC Travel club arranged tours (and enjoyed them) and also assuming the ferries were open, if they were long trips or eg always in sight of the land/islands? I don’t have a real concept of the distance between Skye, North Uist, Isle of Harris and then on to Ullapool. Simply trying to reassure Lady HB, coz if she ain’t convinced, we ain’t going!!!! I presume that if the weather in July causes ferry cancellations that the Club has plan Bs in mind. Eg more time on Skye/west coast etc.
Thanks again for any knowledge imparted
HB

I haven't done the Travel Club 500 but my Coastal Trip used the Inverness to Oban Coastal Route. No ferries involved due to using the Skye Road bridge. If you fancy a look, this area is covered by Days 5 to 9 inclusive... [url=https://franks4x4-solograndetour.blogspot.com/2012/04/day-5-perth-to-cullen-bay-nr-buckie.html][/url] Frank

Re the MSCC Travel Club part of the question:

We have used MSCC Travel Club for a trip to Austria (where we met a few who also frequent this forum) and for a bespoke trip to the Pyrenees and Picos for 4 DonMog cars.
We have booked a trip in June with them - Stelvio Pass and Lake Garda.
They are good value and a huge time saving over organising your own hotels etc.
We had started to try and organise the Pyrenees and Picos ourselves but kept encountering fully booked Paradors. Scenic & Continental / MSCC Travel Club sorted it all for us.

We're not big on group tours to be honest and would rather do our own thing.

But what I do regret is not doing the TM Scottish Tour, which I think was in 2010.

It was touch and go whether we went, the weather had been wintry, and we chickened out.

I'm still regretting that decision even now.

I’d highly recommend Dalston Hall in Carlisle for a stay, although, it’s probably more suited to a romantic stay for two.

Despite having toured about in the west several times a year, I’ve yet to explore the western Isles, it’s just too time consuming for a day trip from the east where I live. I doubt I could convince my dearly beloved to join an organised tour, but I might manage an overnighter together if I entice her with a nice, country house hotel. We both quite like Harris tweed, I’m sure I could bribe her with something while there too.

With regards to the weather, the only time I didn’t enjoy the west was when the visibility was poor with low cloud, if you can’t see the scenery, you might as well stay at home. Cold, wind, rain and snow are all fine as long as you can see into the distance.