Scottish Lowlands Navigation Mystery Run - Sat 13th August

[BigSkyBrad]

 

 

Back for 2022 - An inter-area mystery run using rally-style ‘tulip’ instructions in a route-book to navigate (at your own pace) 200 miles of twisty, fun and scenic B-roads and single-tracks covering three counties off the M74 south of Glasgow . Some of the roads are absolute gems of Westie-ness, and the scenery quintessencially Scottish. Starting at Happendon Services (Cairn Lodge) on the M74, cars leave 1-2 minutes apart, for a full day’s drive to Peebles, the destination. The route can on occasion cross over itself, so it's not unusual to see fellow Westies on the run coming the other way, making you second-guess your navigation. Some of the roads will be new to even the McWesties. Included is a sealed envelope with a map and way-points to rejoin the route if you go astray (and the destination if you get horribly lost). There’s staggered fuel stops, and a lunch break to grab a bite and a blether about the morning leg.

 

It’s easier if you have a navigator alongside you, but it can be done solo with a bit of multi-tasking. A working re-settable trip-meter speedo and a pen is all that is required, and a clipboard is recommended to hold the route book from blowing away. If you don’t have a trip-meter, it can be done with your mileometer and simple addition, or perhaps rig up a cycle computer. Although GPS is very much discouraged in the spirit of the event, Westfield speedos can be temperamental - so, a suitable phone app such as (Android) Off-road Tripmeter 4x4 (£4.69) could be used, as it's a simple tripmeter and has a big display and reset button.

 

Don’t forget your smiles, and some wet-weather protection just in case. The more cars the merrier, and this type of event runs better with a decent turn-out. Because the run is driven at your own pace, this is a good event for involving a navigator that may not always enjoy the usual club run-out. The route is entirely 'tulip' based - there is no map reading, so there's no excuse!

 

To make it a cosmopolitan event, we would love to see Westfields joining from areas south of the border - come up for the day, better still the weekend or maybe you could make the event the start or end of a Scotland driving holiday, and if returning south the next day from Peebles the A708 is a must. 

 

For those making a weekend of it, principle accomodation is at the Barony Castle Hotel, as per previous years. I have secured a favourable bed'n'scottish-brekkie rate for our group, £129 instead of £179. After-run dinner is at the hotel, whether you're staying at the hotel, somewhere else in Peebles, or just doing it as a day trip - all are welcome.

I'll tell you now - as at today 22nd March, there is only 24 rooms at the hotel not booked for 13th Aug, so you need to book fast! - PM me @BigSkyBrad for details for booking.

 

Itinerary - Saturday 13th August

0900 - Meet at Happendon Services, M74  (Cairn Lodge)

0930 - Drivers/crew briefing

1000 - First car away, order drawn from hat

Lunch - depending on start order and pace - 1200-1330-ish

Finish - Peebles, depending on lots of things! - 1530-1700-ish

 

This run so far appears to be the only McWestie run scheduled for this year, so is just what your car needs to blow out the cobwebs!

[BigSkyBrad]

Those up for the fun...

 

Over-nighting

1. Brad and Diane (obviously!)

2. Alan and Helen (from Preston)

3. Gary Taylor

4. Brian H7

5. Dave and Jen

 

Day-tripping and dinner

1. Judder

 

Day-tripping

1. V6 Steve

 

.

[AlanHodge]

Hi Brad, am I right assuming that it’s £129 per couple per night for B&B cheers Alan

[BigSkyBrad]

Just now, AlanHodge said:

Hi Brad, am I right assuming that it’s £129 per couple per night for B&B cheers Alan

Correct - £129 for a standard double room including full Scottish breakfast. If you wish to upgrade the room, there will be a surcharge of course. PM me for booking details.

 

[Gary Taylor]

I’ll be there and stopping overnight

message coming for booking details

[AlanHodge]

7 hours ago, BigSkyBrad said:

Correct - £129 for a standard double room including full Scottish breakfast. If you wish to upgrade the room, there will be a surcharge of course. PM me for booking details.

 

Hi Brad thanks for that, Helen and I will be coming up staying Friday & Saturday as last time, message on way 👍🏼👍🏼

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Stick me down as a daytripper cheers Brad 👍

[AlanHodge]

13 hours ago, BigSkyBrad said:

Correct - £129 for a standard double room including full Scottish breakfast. If you wish to upgrade the room, there will be a surcharge of course. PM me for booking details.

 

Booked in Friday and Saturday 🙂

[BigSkyBrad]

4 hours ago, AlanHodge said:

Booked in Friday and Saturday 🙂

That us booked for the Saturday.

[H.7]

Aiming to be there and staying overnight - PM sent 😊

[H.7]

That's me booked in for Saturday night 😊

[judder]

Hi Brad, please put me down as a day tripper and dinner, thanks.

[BigSkyBrad]

A friendly bump to the top of the bill for those on yesterday's McWesty run, and anyone else up for a fun day/weekend.

[BigSkyBrad]

Draft route is mapped out - another 200 mile run, with a good mix of A, B and single tracks and they'll be dead quiet, except for Westies coming in the opposite direction (some more loops this year to keep everyone second-guessing if they're on the right track). Next job is to scribe it into a route book and test it.

 

So far, this is the only run scheduled for the rest of this year's McWesty calendar. South of the border types are more than welcome if you want 200 miles of near-deserted squiggly roads. Last time I looked online, there were still rooms available at the castle if you want to make a weekend of it, great if you have a significant-other who's not enamoured on the usual day-run blasts - they are just as involved in the day as the driver.

[Davep1]

PM sent.

 

Dave.