Link to 4 video clips here if anyone wants to see them:
Mostly trains & boats.
The Damson hotel was the one featured on t.v.
Was the manager as punch worthy in the flesh as he came across on t.v?
And staying there I suppose you had plenty of oppurtunity to brush up on your foreign languages with the staff.
Indeed it was Ben, although I didn’t know that when I booked it.
Never saw that manager, although I know who you mean 'cos after finding out about the series I watched a few odd bits online.
Yes a varierty of languages spoken including American! but all very pleasant & polite people.
very interesting diary! thank you
An update on the above with a rather dramatic & sad ending:
After the holiday I advertised the car for sale. I was 2 minded whether to sell or not. I thought if I can get my price I will let her go, if not I’ll garage her for the winter.
Although in very good overall condition, she did (don’t they always?) need quite a few jobs. Alas I have neither the time or money. Given both, no way would I part with the car.
The tax expired at the end of October & I parked her up in my heated garage.
Meanwhile inquiries came in from as far a field as Scotland, Kent, Channel Islands & even Malta. 3 guys flew over from Malta. I wouldn’t accept their (pay cash now & drive it away) bid.
In February I accepted a higher offer from a young man. He came with his Dad to look at it & apparantly already had a Spitfire. I did offer to deliver by trailer (to the West Mids) for reasonable cost but he was insistent on my taxing it for him & on driving it on the February salt covered roads.
A few days later I received a special delivery envelope from FMG Support the recovery organisers containing an invoice for £300 for recovery + £20 a day storage.
Apparently the car had been abandoned on the hard shoulder of the southbound M6 in Staffordshire, a stones throw from where he would been leaving the m/way, the same day he collected it. (4th Feb) Of course I was very concerned that the car may have broken down (after my trouble free holiday) but why abandon it? No breakdown cover?
I phoned FMG support and explained the situation and passed on the new keeper details.
A week later I called again, concerned that if they had not heard from the new keeper (it was an armed services post room address) that the car might be crushed.
I was able to ascertain that the reason for the abandonment was that it was accident damaged and the occupants had been taken to hospital. They had been in touch with the new owner and his insurers were covering the cost.
I have heard no more. I do hope that the very pleasant young chap & his girlfriend were OK.
A somewhat disturbing ending to my very enjoyable ownership.
I heard it ended up in a Copart sale. I wish I had known, I would have gone & bought it back just for the engine. 15,000 miles from new!
I enjoyed your blog as I know most of Scotland from cycling and hostelling.Ashame to see the old ■■■■■■■ her roof. Older cars require a bit more skill and patience to drive.
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her. 
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!! 
44 Tonne Ton:
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her.
Just wish it had rained a bit less 44T. Wanted to go a few weeks earlier but was too busy to get away. Had little chance to enjoy the performance as she was very tail happy in the wet. (but then, again, look at the mpg I got 
)
bigvern1:
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!!
I had a Marina 1.8TC Jubilee in, I think, 1977. Same colours as that Sprint: bright yellow, black vynil roof & green sundym glass. Used to keep a 1 hundred weight bag of till (agri fertilizer) in the boot to hold her down.
BigV I did put the sale in my signature here, but not long before it was sold. Never thought to do so earlier.
Driveroneuk:
44 Tonne Ton:
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her.Just wish it had rained a bit less 44T. Wanted to go a few weeks earlier but was too busy to get away. Had little chance to enjoy the performance as she was very tail happy in the wet. (but then, again, look at the mpg I got
bigvern1:
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!!I had a Marina 1.8TC Jubilee in, I think, 1977. Same colours as that Sprint: bright yellow, black vynil roof & green sundym glass. Used to keep a 1 hundred weight bag of till (agri fertilizer) in the boot to hold her down.
BigV I did put the sale in my signature here, but not long before it was sold. Never thought to do so earlier.
You did go to Scotland mate! 
Driveroneuk:
44 Tonne Ton:
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her.Just wish it had rained a bit less 44T. Wanted to go a few weeks earlier but was too busy to get away. Had little chance to enjoy the performance as she was very tail happy in the wet. (but then, again, look at the mpg I got
bigvern1:
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!!I had a Marina 1.8TC Jubilee in, I think, 1977. Same colours as that Sprint: bright yellow, black vynil roof & green sundym glass. Used to keep a 1 hundred weight bag of till (agri fertilizer) in the boot to hold her down.
BigV I did put the sale in my signature here, but not long before it was sold. Never thought to do so earlier.
Blimey what a change to see something different from the usual Leyland bashing on here.If you liked all those you’d have liked the 2.5 PI,P6 3500S even more.There wasn’t a big difference in fuel consumption between them or the Dolomite Sprint either.In my case I had a 2.5 PI when I was 18 then bought a BMW 3.0 SI and sold that a few years later and bought a Jag XJ12.I liked the Jag so much I’ve had one ever since and still run a 1984 XJ12 which I’ve put a 6 Litre TWR engine in and a 5 speed manual box which will run all day at 165 mph +. 
I used to keep a paving slab in the boot of my Marina Gt…That was actually a lovely looking car. Bronze with pinstripe and black vinyl roof. Roundabouts were…Interesting! I like the big Triumphs. I saw a mint one in Yeovil last week. I’m now on the lookout for a Mini 1275GT. I know where 2 are. One’s knackered the other is ok, but brown!
bigvern1:
I like the big Triumphs. I saw a mint one in Yeovil last week.
This reminds me of my trip to work every morning when I had the 2.5. 
I used to love the 2.5PI when I was a school boy. A friends Dad was Managing Director of Dutton Forshaw North west & used to come home in all sorts of new stuff:
Dolomite Sprints, 2.5PI, 2500S, H reg Range Rover (no PAS), E-types and a succession of TR6’s.
So when I went anywhere with my friend and his Dad and/or Mum it was in these cars.
In the early 80’s I bought a scruffy red N reg. 2500TC in an auction for just few hundred pounds. What a car that was, comfortable, quick, smooth, no at all bad on fuel. Used to pull cars home from Carlise auctions on an A bar with it at 70mph.
Carryfast:
Blimey what a change to see something different from the usual Leyland bashing on here.If you liked all those you’d have liked the 2.5 PI,P6 3500S even more.There wasn’t a big difference in fuel consumption between them or the Dolomite Sprint either.In my case I had a 2.5 PI when I was 18 then bought a BMW 3.0 SI and sold that a few years later and bought a Jag XJ12.I liked the Jag so much I’ve had one ever since and still run a 1984 XJ12 which I’ve put a 6 Litre TWR engine in and a 5 speed manual box which will run all day at 165 mph +.
Driveroneuk:
I used to love the 2.5PI when I was a school boy. A friends Dad was Managing Director of Dutton Forshaw North west & used to come home in all sorts of new stuff:
Dolomite Sprints, 2.5PI, 2500S, H reg Range Rover (no PAS), E-types and a succession of TR6’s.
So when I went anywhere with my friend and his Dad and/or Mum it was in these cars.In the early 80’s I bought a scruffy red N reg. 2500TC in an auction for just few hundred pounds. What a car that was, comfortable, quick, smooth, no at all bad on fuel. Used to pull cars home from Carlise auctions on an A bar with it at 70mph.
Something similar to this was what I was going to do with mine before I bought the BMW.The owner was so keen to get rid of the so called ‘ultimate driving machine’ that it was just too good an offer to turn down.But even an M5 would have had a job keeping up with the Triumph considering all the engine options available for the Rover V8.
Carryfast:
Driveroneuk:
44 Tonne Ton:
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her.Just wish it had rained a bit less 44T. Wanted to go a few weeks earlier but was too busy to get away. Had little chance to enjoy the performance as she was very tail happy in the wet. (but then, again, look at the mpg I got
bigvern1:
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!!I had a Marina 1.8TC Jubilee in, I think, 1977. Same colours as that Sprint: bright yellow, black vynil roof & green sundym glass. Used to keep a 1 hundred weight bag of till (agri fertilizer) in the boot to hold her down.
BigV I did put the sale in my signature here, but not long before it was sold. Never thought to do so earlier.
Blimey what a change to see something different from the usual Leyland bashing on here.If you liked all those you’d have liked the 2.5 PI,P6 3500S even more.There wasn’t a big difference in fuel consumption between them or the Dolomite Sprint either.In my case I had a 2.5 PI when I was 18 then bought a BMW 3.0 SI and sold that a few years later and bought a Jag XJ12.I liked the Jag so much I’ve had one ever since and still run a 1984 XJ12 which I’ve put a 6 Litre TWR engine in and a 5 speed manual box which will run all day at 165 mph +.
You,Carryfast,are a ■■■■■■■■■■■ of the “first water” my son !!! Bewick.
Bewick:
Carryfast:
Driveroneuk:
44 Tonne Ton:
A sad end for the Dolly but at least you had a nice holiday with her.Just wish it had rained a bit less 44T. Wanted to go a few weeks earlier but was too busy to get away. Had little chance to enjoy the performance as she was very tail happy in the wet. (but then, again, look at the mpg I got
bigvern1:
I wished I’d knew it was for sale. I would have had it in a flash. I love 'em. Shame she’s dead now.
I had all types from that era. Marina TC’s/GT’s/ Dollies/Spitfire/MGB …Good times. I remember being in a Dolomite 1850 heading back to Brum from Plymouth. There was a coachload of girls waving whilst behind them.
I thought I’d be a show off, cogged down at 75 mph, and blew the engine up right before their eyes!!I had a Marina 1.8TC Jubilee in, I think, 1977. Same colours as that Sprint: bright yellow, black vynil roof & green sundym glass. Used to keep a 1 hundred weight bag of till (agri fertilizer) in the boot to hold her down.
BigV I did put the sale in my signature here, but not long before it was sold. Never thought to do so earlier.
Blimey what a change to see something different from the usual Leyland bashing on here.If you liked all those you’d have liked the 2.5 PI,P6 3500S even more.There wasn’t a big difference in fuel consumption between them or the Dolomite Sprint either.In my case I had a 2.5 PI when I was 18 then bought a BMW 3.0 SI and sold that a few years later and bought a Jag XJ12.I liked the Jag so much I’ve had one ever since and still run a 1984 XJ12 which I’ve put a 6 Litre TWR engine in and a 5 speed manual box which will run all day at 165 mph +.
You,Carryfast,are a ■■■■■■■■■■■ of the “first water” my son !!! Bewick.
If it’s bs then I’d have been a bit richer now but not as happy.
But the bit about the Jag being able to run all day at 165 + wasn’t exactly accurate because it does need to stop quite ‘often’ to fill it up with petrol running at that speed.
Recently had a weeks holiday to the Lake District & Scotland in my 1975 Triumph Dolomite Sprint.
Left Sunday afternoon 18th September, returned Saturday 24th.
I had intended to post my intention to go as I would have been pleased to meet up for a brew and a chat with anyone in the areas I was in or passing through. Orys & Caledonian Dream spring to mind. (not forgotten Highlander, but he’s much further north).
Apart from the first 2 nights in the Lythe Valley, I stayed in B&B’s at about £35 a night.
Eat at Morrisons both nights in Fort William. Chicken curry & chips one night, Scampi & chips the other, both £4.29.
Car ran well with no problems. 1st tank of fuel returned a very pleasing 35.6mpg. 2nd fill up 33.8mpg. The second lot of driving included much more cross country, hills, bends, etc. I sit at just over 60 on the m/way and around 50-55 on A roads. 810 miles in all.
The 1st 2 nights were on a package deal at the Damson Dene Hotel, Lythe Valley, Lake District.
3rd night Helensburgh.
4th & 5th. Fort William
6th Dunoon
I know we have a member who drives for the Scottish haulier P McKerral ( truckscenescotland.co.uk/gallery/pmckerral/) who has put excellent interesting diaries about his work up on here. I believe they have about 30 trucks, I saw them all over the place from Balloch to Fort William to Lochgilphead. They certainly seem to have those trucks working.
On reckoning up on my return, I was somewhat shocked at the overall cost, just shy of £600 and I hadn’t gone out for a beer for 4 of the 6 nights. (heck, I must be getting old!)
Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed seeing it all for real. Just wish the weather had been better, it rained heavily almost every night and a lot during the day too, apart from the last day running home.
