Brown · Sep 17, 2015

Just to add to all the discussion on here about whether you can travel long distances in the Defender, I thought I'd post up my activities today. I'm doing a long trip in my Defender and will update this thread with pictures through the day. As you can see, I'm starting early, and will go to Scotland from Leicester and back. Or I will if the Land Rover behaves itself.

This is a bit of a hostage to fortune, as now I've written about it in here I'll probably break down and have to come home on a flat bed truck courtesy of the AA. But we can try.

Watch this space. . . .

honolulujoe · Sep 17, 2015

I used to regularly travel there and back in a day from sw London to north of Manchester in my 110 c500 miles when I had it, so probably a little shorter than you are going but easily doable.

bit gutless on the hills as it was a 2.5 na, it only broke down once and that was local, clutch went so I thought that was forgiveable

Brown · Sep 17, 2015

Well, I've made it over the border. I've just filled up and had a pee and a sandwich at Tesco's in Annan. As it's still early I shall trundle over westwards and have a look at Stranraer. No interesting pictures yet, but it was very pretty as it got light coming up through the hills in the Lake district.

Here's what the tracker makes of it:

Good run on the motorway, hardly any roadworks and not much congestion as it was so early. Land Rover running well and keeping me in luxury and comfort as usual.

vilguy · Sep 17, 2015

ah your only down the road from me

norseman · Sep 17, 2015

I never ceases to amaze me that some people are actually surprised when their older motors complete a long journey successfully. I can only assume that vehicles are actually LESS reliable now than they were decades ago. Years ago I confidentially travelled hundreds of miles on several occasions, in both northern Europe & Norway, without any breakdowns & this was in vehicles built in the 1940's !

Brown · Sep 17, 2015

Thanks for the interest gentlemen. Here's what I've been doing since last checking in. My goodness me, Scotland's enormous! Wide open country, big skies, the lot. Just the little bit bordered by retna, Stranraer and Kilmarnock to the norht is about th size of Wales.

I've visited a ruined abbey

and seen some lovely views of the coast

No sign of Ireland, even though according to the map it's just across the sea to the west. Now I must buy my girlfriend a souvenir. She wants something that says 'Scotland' on it.

One of these days Mr Vilguy I must come and share a cup of something with you and have a look at all your various project cars.

vilguy · Sep 17, 2015

haha, welcome to pop over

ah i see you stopped at the abbey, its nice round there.

There is a maybief farm park there just round the corner which is great if you take little un's

Buy her a haggis (bleugh!)

West Slope Rover · Sep 17, 2015

Brown said:
Thanks for the interest gentlemen. Here's what I've been doing since last checking in. My goodness me, Scotland's enormous! Wide open country, big skies, the lot. Just the little bit bordered by retna, Stranraer and Kilmarnock to the norht is about th size of Wales.

I've visited a ruined abbey

and seen some lovely views of the coast

No sign of Ireland, even though according to the map it's just across the sea to the west. Now I must buy my girlfriend a souvenir. She wants something that says 'Scotland' on it.

One of these days Mr Vilguy I must come and share a cup of something with you and have a look at all your various project cars.

Enormous?? Oh, you islanders need to get out more....

Turboman · Sep 17, 2015

norseman said:
I never ceases to amaze me that some people are actually surprised when their older motors complete a long journey successfully. I can only assume that vehicles are actually LESS reliable now than they were decades ago. Years ago I confidentially travelled hundreds of miles on several occasions, in both northern Europe & Norway, without any breakdowns & this was in vehicles built in the 1940's !

I often wonder about that too. Years ago I regularly used to drive a series from Hampshire to Northern Scotland for forestry work. And I have been as far as Carlisle and London form Cornwall in my 90. Never even occurred to me that I would break down, and I didn't!

Brown said:
Thanks for the interest gentlemen. Here's what I've been doing since last checking in. My goodness me, Scotland's enormous! Wide open country, big skies, the lot. Just the little bit bordered by retna, Stranraer and Kilmarnock to the norht is about th size of Wales.

You haven't even scratched the surface yet! Another 250 from where you are to brother in laws in Moray, and another 100 miles after that till you hit the fleshpots of Wick!

vilguy said:
Buy her a haggis (bleugh!)

Haggis! Yum-Yum. If you don't want it, I will eat it!

Marmaduke · Sep 17, 2015

A couple of weekends ago I did from my house just outside Burton on Trent up to Kirriemuir and back towing a trailer cos I'd bought a Series 2a. Left the house a quarter to five in the morning and got home just before eleven at night. When I fired the sat nav up on the M74 on my way there I'd still got 118 miles to go

.

Shan't be doing that again in a hurry

Brown · Sep 17, 2015

Gentlemen, I'm flattered by your interest. I just thought I'd post this up because of all the people who talk about how you can't do long trips in a Land Rover. It's a long time since I visited Scotland, and must do so again when I have a little more time. I can only squeeze a day off work at the moment because I'm really busy. So this is just a test trip to the bottom left hand corner. I want to have a proper look round the north one of these days. From my house to Glasgow is less than halfway there. Here's progress so far:

Here's a clock telling the wrong time in Stranraer

And an abandoned hotel sprouting Buddleia.

I'm in Ayr now so I'll head back diagonally across the peninsula to Annan, top up with diesel, and breeze back down the M6.

vilguy · Sep 17, 2015

stop at the asda on junction 44, the kingsnorth industrial estate. Its the cheapest around by ALONG way, yourll be saving 10p a ltr compared to filling up at Annan!

Turboman · Sep 17, 2015

Brown said:
Gentlemen, I'm flattered by your interest. I just thought I'd post this up because of all the people who talk about how you can't do long trips in a Land Rover. It's a long time since I visited Scotland, and must do so again when I have a little more time. I can only squeeze a day off work at the moment because I'm really busy. So this is just a test trip to the bottom left hand corner. I want to have a proper look round the north one of these days. From my house to Glasgow is less than halfway there. Here's progress so far:

I'm in Ayr now so I'll head back diagonally across the peninsula to Annan, top up with diesel, and breeze back down the M6.

It is interesting!

No been to Stranraer for about twenty years.
Really think there should be a road trips thread, think maybe there is, not sure!
M74/M6 should be nice at this time of year, tourist traffic has cleared. Hope the Manchester Liverpool work traffic is gone by the time yu get there!

Turboman · Sep 17, 2015

vilguy said:
stop at the asda on junction 44, the kingsnorth industrial estate. Its the cheapest around by ALONG way, yourll be saving 10p a ltr compared to filling up at Annan!

Usually good fuel prices at the supermarket just off the Penrith junction anorl!

vilguy · Sep 17, 2015

Turboman said:
It is interesting!
No been to Stranraer for about twenty years.
Really think there should be a road trips thread, think maybe there is, not sure!
M74/M6 should be nice at this time of year, tourist traffic has cleared. Hope the Manchester Liverpool work traffic is gone by the time yu get there!

there is alot less traffic now compared to just a few weeks ago.

Turboman · Sep 17, 2015

vilguy said:
there is alot less traffic now compared to just a few weeks ago.

Not surprised, much better down here as well. Weather has been putting off a few weekenders as well.

Jam1 · Sep 17, 2015

Brown said:
Gentlemen, I'm flattered by your interest. I just thought I'd post this up because of all the people who talk about how you can't do long trips in a Land Rover. It's a long time since I visited Scotland, and must do so again when I have a little more time. I can only squeeze a day off work at the moment because I'm really busy. So this is just a test trip to the bottom left hand corner. I want to have a proper look round the north one of these days. From my house to Glasgow is less than halfway there. Here's progress so far:

Here's a clock telling the wrong time in Stranraer

And an abandoned hotel sprouting Buddleia.

I'm in Ayr now so I'll head back diagonally across the peninsula to Annan, top up with diesel, and breeze back down the M6.

I'm sure I've seen that hotel in the news for some reason?
Older vehicles that are used regularly is one thing but one that is used infrequently or for very short trips is another and I can understand the concern.
Used to drive up past Dundee often in an old mini on the a roads with the ex insisting we sat at 55mph now that was a long trip

and to the Outer Hebrides in Marinas etc often at night as the roads were almost completely deserted
try that now and it's non stop traffic 24/7 .
Oh and get a bottle of Buckfast to go with the haggis

wattfield · Sep 17, 2015

I was on that road last week, we went to Garlieston near Newton Stewart for the weekend.
As for long journeys, I've driven Defenders to Spain & France, and only broke down once, when my alternator gave up in Spain.

Turboman · Sep 17, 2015

wattfield said:
I was on that road last week, we went to Garlieston near Newton Stewart for the weekend.
As for long journeys, I've driven Defenders to Spain & France, and only broke down once, when my alternator gave up in Spain.

Alternator can pack up on anything. The one on my Clio did!

£350!

markSX · Sep 17, 2015

You wanted something typically Scottish

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