• Peter Dannock
  • Rob Dannock
  • Peter Dannock
  • Rob Dannock

Euroadster ’23

Combining a desire to travel with a passion for the world's best-selling convertible sports car, my brother and I are embarking on a ten-week journey through the United Kingdom and Europe in a Mazda MX-5. Læs mere
  • Day 13 - Newcastle to Edinburgh

    29. juni 2023, Skotland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We started our drive a little earlier, at 5.30 am today. We both woke early and thought it would be better to head off early. Today’s route would take us inland from Newcastle, over the Scottish border before heading back to the coast at Berwick upon Tweed and then along the coast to Edinburgh.

    At Duns, we stopped to look at the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum. Jim Clark was a Scottish racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1968. He won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965, and was considered one of the greatest drivers of his era. Clark also won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965, becoming the first non-American to do so since 1916. He sadly died in a racing accident in 1968 at the age of 32. As a motorsport fan, it was a terrific museum and tribute to Jim

    However, the day's highlight was our stop at Cockburnspath on the coast to visit my mum’s childhood home. My mum grew up in Cockburnspath through the Depression and Second World War, then left for London at the war's end before coming to Australia. Even though it has been thirty-five years since I visited Cockburnspath, it was the first time my brother had seen my mum’s childhood home. It was a sentimental moment for both of us.
    Læs mere

  • Day 15 - Edinburgh to Inverness

    1. juli 2023, Skotland ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    We arrived downstairs in the restaurant for breakfast at 6.00 am, only to find that breakfast on the weekend is served from 7.00 am. It was disappointing that we would miss the breakfast we had paid for with our room, but we wouldn't wait. Getting on the road early has been of great benefit to us.

    From Edinburgh, we travelled west to Stirling. The city is home to the famous Stirling Castle, once the residence of Scottish monarchs and is now a major tourist attraction. The castle is situated on a rocky hilltop and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Of course, we were too early to go in to have a look, so we took a few photos and moved on.

    We then travelled northwest to visit Loch Lubnaig and Loch Earn. These were the first two of many lochs we expect to see in Scotland. At Loch Lubnaig, we saw some fluorescent buoys moving up the lake, which were attached to swimmers in the lake. Though it was summer, I would have thought it would still be too cold to swim in a Scottish loch.

    Eventually, we drove in a northeastern direction through the Cairngorm Mountains, the highest and most extensive range of arctic mountains in the UK, with their highest peak, Ben Macdui, standing at 1,309 meters high. They are a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts for hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. The area is also known for its winter sports resorts and ski slopes. Being a snow region, it goes without saying that the roads were fantastic to drive along.

    After arriving at our accommodation, our hosts allowed me to use their car washing equipment to washing the car. I always feel happier driving a clean car.
    Læs mere

  • Day 16 - Inverness to John O’Groats

    2. juli 2023, Skotland ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    The weather turned lousy today, wet, windy and overcast. There was no driving with the roof down today. We had our customary early start and quickly found ourselves over the Kessock Bridge and out of Inverness. The plan was to drive to Cromarty and get the short ferry ride across the Moray Firth to Nigg. Unfortunately, the ferry service wasn't turning today's, so we turned around and followed the road along the Cromarty Firth to get back on track.

    As you continued north, we passed through quaint villages and towns such as Tain, Golspie, and Brora. The next stretch of the journey took us through the rugged and remote landscapes of Caithness. The scenery here is stark and dramatic, with towering cliffs and rugged coastline. Though we were keeping a lookout, we didn't see any whales.

    Being a Sunday, all the towns and villages we passed through were closed. I guess they were all at church. However, we did find an open laundromat in Wick, so we could get some clothes washed.

    As you approach John O’Groats, you'll see the famous signpost that marks the northernmost point of the British mainland. However, our accommodation host reminded us that dunnet heads, just down the road, is, in fact the northernmost point of the mainland. I think he may be right.
    Læs mere

  • Dunnet Head

    3. juli 2023, Skotland ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Dunnet Head is a headland in the northern part of Scotland, located in Caithness. It is the northernmost point of mainland Great Britain. The area is known for its stunning natural beauty, with rugged cliffs and stunning ocean views.Læs mere