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Click all the pictures to enlarge
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May 25th to June 13th 2007
The tour was to retrace the path of the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial undertaken by the original Silver Ghost, registration AX201 and carrying rally plaque No1, which was being driven 100 years later by Paul Wood of P&A Wood on behalf of Bentley Motors who own the car. 61 cars took part for all, or parts, of the tour. My car carried plaque No 17, identifying her as the 17th oldest car on the tour.
The tour had started at the new Rolls-Royce factory at Goodwood, and then been flagged off by the Lord Mayor of London from the Guildhall, proceeding north to Lake Windermere, where we joined, having been abroad.
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Having driven the car very little since I bought her on 12th April, we set off on a 240 mile drive to Loch Lomond. Nearly came a cropper almost straight away down a long slope when I found that I could not stop. Thankfully the road levelled before I actually needed to stop, and I realised later to my chagrin that I had had my foot on the clutch so had no engine braking. A good lesson which was to stand me in very good stead later on anything up to 1 in 3 descents with hairpin bends at the bottom.
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We climbed Rest and Be Thankful, which was something of a non-event, especially compared with the roads we would encounter later.
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Then a champagne reception at Ardkinglas House, and an excellent lunch at Loch Fyne Ales.
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A certain Australian entrant preferred his own mascot to the Spirit of Ecstasy.
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Start the Scottish Reliability Trial with the original Day One route from Loch Lomond to Kinloch Rannoch, passing the wonderful Killin falls.
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Follow the original Day Two route to Aberdeen, looping down via Brechin on the way. Stop by Menzies Castle, where Bonnie Prince Charlie overnighted on the way to Culloden, and the caretaker insisted on changing into his full regalia and being photographed with the car.
The car featured on Scottish Television and on the front page of the Aberdeen Press and Journal - but since the latter wanted £25 to reproduce the photograph here, it is not shown!
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From Aberdeen to Aviemore, following the Day Three route, and covering 250 miles.
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To Lochinver via an extremely challenging coast road.
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Around the north coast to John o'Groats and on to Acergill, via the Queen Mother's Castle of Mey.
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Back to Aviemore via Dunromin Castle and the best falconry display we have ever seen...
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...and the stunning Cawdor Castle.
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Following the Day Four route up to Inverness, down Loch Ness, up the other side and down to Kinloch Rannoch.
On the way, drop by Inverlochy Castle outside Fort William for a wonderful lunch.
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The Dunalastair Hotel's mattress nearly crippled Ellen's back last night, so we drive on a day early to Edinburgh, stop over a couple of nights, and ship the car home while our chauffeur picks us up.
Neither some awful weather nor some worse hotels could spoil our huge enjoyment of the trip. We have covered 2085 trouble-free miles.
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Click here for a superb photo set posted by a US participant.
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Low Wood Hotel, Windermere
Pretty awful - 1 out of 10
Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond
www.devere.co.uk/deluxe/Cameron-House
Not bad. 7 out of 10
Loch Rannoch Hotel, Kinloch Rannoch
www.loch-rannoch.com
Not for us. 3 out of 10
Ardoe House Hotel. Aberdeen
www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/6626/fiche_hotel.shtml
Not bad. 7 out of 10
Aviemore Highland Resort
www.aviemorehighlandresort.com/leisure/index.htm
Ghastly modern complex with tiny standard rooms. Staff very nice, however.
2 out of 10
The Albannach, Lochinver
www.thealbannach.co.uk
Absolutely delightful small hotel - just 3 rooms and 2 suites - with a wine list that would do credit to any smart London restaurant. We highly recommend it.
10 out of 10
Ackergill Tower, Wick
www.ackergilltower.co.uk
This should have been the highlight from a hotel aspect. It is only available for whole of property rental. We found it pretentious, arrogant, and indiscreet - they told us that the board of Microsoft had just been, Madonna was coming, and that George Harrison's son was a frequent guest. They were unable (or unwilling?) to sell us champagne, and offered just a single red and a single white for the set dinner, which was no better than anywhere else we stayed. They did, however, turn our laundry around in a couple of hours on the evening of our arrival.
6 out of 10
Dunalastair Hotel, Kinloch Rannoch
www.dunalastair.co.uk
The pits. No help with luggage, no water in the room, and a mattress which nearly crippled Ellen. Avoid at all costs.
0 out of 10
Marriot Dalmahoy Hotel, Edinburgh
www.marriott.co.uk/Channels/hotels-uk/hotels/travel/edigs-marriott-dalmahoy-hotel-and-country-club
Not bad. 7 out of 10
Though not on our route, the world-class Inverlochy Castle should not be missed if you are in the area (and can afford it). We last stayed 10 years ago and came for lunch to find it as fine as ever.
www.inverlochycastlehotel.com
Amazingly, all the hotels (even the appalling Dunalastair) produced perfectly acceptable food.
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With friends, drove both the Silver Ghost and the Phantom I to Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire for the RREC's 50th anniversary rally which was, of course, dominated by the Ghost's 100th anniversary.
Attendance was huge and must have been the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces ever, and certainly of Ghosts.
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A very early, pre-Silver Ghost, attended by kind courtesy of Bentley Motors.
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A very large collection of Ghosts drove past...
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...some displaying non-standard mascots...
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...and the Silver Ghost Register showed their cutaway engine.
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The Silver Dawn underwent inspection for the Concours d'Elegance,
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her main competition being Sir Michael Kadoorie's superb London-to-Edinburgh replica.
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In the event (forgive the pun), the other car won, and went on to win Best in Show, but the judges said there was nothing to choose between our cars but there could only be one winner.
At least we got the Yellow for second.
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Details of the Phantom are in her own Diary and Events.
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