6th June - 8th June, 2008

This trip wasn't so much an "Over the Top" - it was more like "Up the Middle and Down the Side".  We were trying not to repeat last year's route as best we could and so two MGFs left from Mona's Tea Room at Muckhart late on the Friday morning and headed up Glen Devon to Gleneagles and then Crieff.  From then it was up through the Sma' Glen to Aberfeldy and Kenmore before going round the Schiehallion to Loch Tummel and a spot of lunch at Blair Atholl.  We were trying to keep off the A9 as much as possible, but we had to do a few miles on it to reach Dalwhinnie before turning off towards Loch Laggan.  At Spean Bridge we turned right and followed the various lochs that join together to make the Caledonian Canal.  At Drumnadrochit we left the water behind and climbed over the hill to our first overnight stop at Beauly.

Next morning we were joined by Fred Driver and the three cars headed for the Black Isle and the Cromarty Firth.  At Alness we took the shortcut over the hill to Bonar Bridge with a stop off at Croick Kirk on the way.  It was a little out of our way, but our lunch stop was to be Durness and so at Lairg we took the single track road to Laxford Bridge and from there to Durness.  After lunch, we retraced our tracks for a little and then followed the main road for Ullapool.  It was then down through Gairloch to Loch Maree and along Torridon to Shieldaig before taking the coast road to our bed for the night at Applecross.

Sunday, we were on our way again bright and early heading for Loch Carron via Bealach na Ba and from there to Kyle of Lochalsh for morning coffee.  It was here that we all went our separate ways - Fred to Inverness and Terry and Lynne taking a more leisurely pace south.  Gerry and I made our way back to Invergarry and then Fort William before heading down through Glen Coe and Strathyre back to the Stirling area and home.

Another good weekend and on the whole the weather was kind to us - hood down all the way.  Total distance travelled was just under 750 miles.

Croick Kirk

Ullapool

Corrieshalloch Gorge

Loch Maree

Applecross Inn