STIRLING EFFORT 

It's May Bank Holiday weekend so rain was expected but luckily didn't actually arrive until the sunday in the Highlands. The Highlander 08 participants were drawn from all over the UK and even from Northern Ireland and it was a pleasant day when they gathered at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre in Stirling, just right for a top down drive into the Highlands. A contingent from the South East met up beforehand in the Lake District and extended the weekend by a couple of days getting a taste of some passes at Hardnott and Wrynose as well as experiencing more power in the form of steam on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. The 10% rule soon played it's hand as Dave Alexander's Trophy 160 sprung a leak on top of Hardnott pass but managed to limp it's way the 170 miles to Stirling. Thankfully the MG spirit was plentiful and Alan Dunlop loaned his MGB so that Dave & Michelle could complete the event whilst the Trophy was in Morrisons of Stirling being repaired.

Having set off on Saturday morning it was only a short time before the second F sprung a leak but Patrick bravely filled his reservoir with radweld and the problem was solved temporarily. The rest of us  breathed a sigh of relief as added to poor Ken Beresford's HGF on the way up this now completed our 10% of breakdowns. So time to set off towards Glencoe and lunch at the Bridge of Ochry where we were showered with sandwiches whilst admiring the dramatic landscapes surrounding us. A further hop led us through the mountains and on to Connell where our hotel for the weekend waited for us. The Falls of Lora Hotel overlooks the bridge and Falls themselves..... which are only visible at certain tide conditions but give the hotel it's name. With a warm welcome from Mrsd Webster we all settled in and looked forward to our special MG dinner in the evening before retiring with a wee dram of Scotland's finest to send us to sleep snugly.

The next day was a little grey and rain threatened but some hardy souls set off with roof lowered towards Oban and our first stop at at McCaig's Tower, a huge coliseum like folly overlooking the town and affording fantastic views. The rain became a little more persistent as we headed out in a snaking line fo Fs towards the Sea Lock at Crinan and then on to Inverary. This is where the group split with Fs heading off into variouos locations, some visiting the town and others moving on to a  Hydro Electric Power Station built inside a mountain. With the drizzle easing a little the cars headed back to Connel to dry out and look forward to another gala dinner where thanks were expressed to Dave Clelland and Gerry Hiorns for organising the 10th MGF Register Highlander event .

Monday morning was time to disperse with some crews continuing a Highland tour and others meandering back home again stopping off in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and various other places before finally getting back to the comfort of Home and contemplating on another fantastic weekend in the Highlands.

Check out the video of Highlander 08 on  You Tube above.

Words and Pics Tim & Liz Morris

Additional Photos

GN = Glen Nielson