Callander Classic Weekend Sat 28th Sun 29th August 2004

We received over 600 entries for this year's Classic Weekend. With lots of attractions on offer including the Concours D'Elegance, Driving Challenge, Classic and Sports car Auction and Sale and model helicopter displays and real helicopter flights to name but a few it all added up to what promised to be a great weekend. All we needed was half decent weather. We didn't get it. The heavens opened and it simply poured none stop for almost the whole weekend. It just goes to prove that no matter how well organised and planed an event is you need half-decent weather for it to be a success. Conversely there are poor events which are deemed successes simply because they have been lucky with the weather. We can only say that despite the inclement weather many of those attending made the best of it proving to be true enthusiasts and we have to admire and thank them for that. We received a number of very kind letters of appreciation despite the dreadful conditions including some from regular entrants who had travelled hundreds of miles from England to be with us. They promised to be back next year. It is letters like this that are the icing on the cake for us and make it all worth while.

Photos of the Callander Classic Weekend can be seen on our Recent Events page and on our official photographers web site www.nexus-photography.co.uk


Highland Tour 15th - 24th October 2004

Our tour commenced with the arrival of the advance guests in Ayrshire on the Thursday in anticipation of joining others the following day for the sail to Mull. An excellent dinner was enjoyed by all at Wildings Hotel & Restaurant fronting the picturesque shoreline at Maidens, some guests staying there overnight.

Many of the guests on this first part of the tour to Mull were first timers but everyone joined in the fun so typical of the Highland Weekends and it was soon clear we had a number of real characters amongst them. On Saturday we drove over to the island of Iona for lunch at Martyrs' Bay Restaurant - You have got to sample Sheila's Fish Chowder, surely the best in the land and to die for! The sail to Staffa with our usual skipper Davie from Staffa Trips was a great success and included sailing our small boat right into the mouth of Fingal's Cave. Sunday's visit to Torosay Castle via the miniature steam train, brought out especially for us, was as enjoyable as ever. Torosay Castle has to be one of the best castles to visit in Scotland, visitors are made to feel almost at home by the relaxed informal atmosphere and the train journey to get there is a must. We left the castle and after visits to the "Wings of Mull" birds of prey sanctuary and Duart Castle for a photo shoot, both venues making us most welcome we journeyed back to our the Western Isles Hotel. Teatime each day meant a visit to the famous Mishnish Bar on the front a Tobermory. A fantastic pub atmosphere made more enjoyable by the free bowl of locally caught mussels served up on the bar counter. Monday, and after farewells some guests departed for Oban and home whilst others sailed north from Fishnish en route for Loch Inver. One worthy guest was enjoying himself so much he decided to leave his wife to travel down home with another guest whilst he continued on to Loch Inver. His delightful and understanding wife had important appointments to keep I hasten to add. The Western Isles Hotel had done us proud yet again and remains one of the best hotels on the West Coast of Scotland. It won't be long before we are back in Mull.

Our journey to Loch Inver was via Loch Carron, stopping for coffee at another not to be missed favourite the Carron Restaurant near Strathcarron. Excellent food including grilled fresh prawns and home baking served by hosts Peter and Michelle. Peter is a big Porsche enthusiast with a preference for 928s so he is obviously someone with good taste like myself…. smile! Over a gloomy but awe inspiring "Pass of the Cattle" into Applecross for a light lunch and then on round the peninsula towards Torridon gave us our first breath taking view of Wester Ross and the Western Highlands.

By the time we had checked into the Inver Lodge Hotel at Lochinver we were all ready for a drink at the bar and to meet up with our new guests joining us for the second leg of the Tour. The Inver Lodge is another firm favourite with us. The friendly welcome, the service, the rooms and the food are simply excellent and there is no better base to explore arguably the most beautiful remotest part of Britain! Guests were mesmerised as they toured amongst the majestic highland peaks of Suilven and Stac Polly, walked the deserted white sandy beeches near Kinlochbervie. We shopped away in Ullapool and enjoyed our tea time walks to another great pub next to the "Pie Shop" at Lochinver each day. It was a perfect haven and we were in perfect company. Everyone was sad when it was time to leave but all departed with fond memories, not least of the fantastic last night's dinner when we sampled the locally caught fresh lobster and venison.

A spirited drive south to the Pine Trees Hotel Pitlochry to meet up with more arriving guests was followed on our first night by a visit to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. For the next few days we toured Loch Tummel Loch Rannock and Loch Tay. We made a memorable short visit to the lonely tiny Rannock Station and it's tearoom on the edge of the world … sorry Rannock Moor, and promised ourselves to return one day to catch the train across the moor.

When the tour finally came to an end everyone, although exhausted agreed they had had a fantastic time. The Pine Trees Hotel at Pitlochry, as with the other hotels was as superb as ever and the staff couldn't have been more helpful and attentive.

Photos of Highland Tour be seen on our Recent Events page

See details of 2006's visit to the Outer Hebrides.