The International AutoEcosse

It’s been a while since my last update! So some old news this time as I took part in the International AutoEcosse two weeks ago. It was again was a top event I dare say, with some very fine driving roads. And as it was a shame to come over for only two days of driving, we had decided to extend our stay in Britain a bit to do some walking before and after the event.

Day 1: Setting off for Britain

On board the King Seaways, ferry terminal IJmuiden harbour

Waiting patiently to throw of the lines, ferry terminal IJmuiden harbour

Pilot boat speeding past towards a ship to pilot into the harbour

Looking back at the Dutch shore line and the skyline of Zandvoort

Day 2: Yorkshire Dales

Before the event we spent two days in the Yorkshire Dales. Here we got some great weather, both for driving and walking! To start with the first, some lovely driving roads across the Yorkshire Dales, including the Buttertubs Pass.

A short rest for man and machine, Green Springs, Cliff Gate Road Richmond

Green Springs, Cliff Gate Road

Fine view from Green Springs over the Cliff Beck and the Swaledale towards Muker

View over Muker Common

Cliff Side seen from Green Springs

And from there we headed towards Hawes, where we checked into our hotel for the night, and enjoyed a lovely late afternoon / early evening walk.

Old field barn, Hardraw

View from Hardraw towards Weather Fell

View from Sedbusk Lane towards Mile House Farm and Weather Fell

Walking through the meadows between Sedbusk and Bellow Hill

Foot and cattle bridge over one of the tributaries of the River Ure, Hawes

Our accommodation for the night, Herriot’s Hotel in Hawes

Day 3: Hawes – Bainbridge

Most of this day was spent on a nice walk. Starting from Hawes we headed to Burtersett and up onto the moors. Here we joined the Roman Road heading down towards Bainbridge for lunch.

Walking through the meadows between Hawes and Burtersett

In the meadows above Burtersett

Looking back along the Roman Road towards Weather Fell, Bainbridge High Pasture

Lunch at The Rose & Crown Hotel in Bainbridge

After lunch we followed the River Bain towards Semer Water and Countersett. From here it was up again towards Burtersett High Pasturel, and down the other side back towards Hawes.

View on Semer Water from Bracken Hill

Semer Water Bridge, Countersett

With the walking done late on the Friday afternoon we headed for the Old Stone Trough in Kelbrook. Here we had ample time for some socializing on the Friday night with the Club Triumph teams who rallied there.

Day 4: IAE leg 1 Gretna Green – Alexandria

On Saturday morning we headed for Gretna Green and the start of the International AutoEcosse. Luckily the temperatures in Scotland had dropped quite a bit compared to the previous day. It even remained dry during most of the event!

The first leg took us from Gretna over some great driving roads to the Kames Circuit near Muirkirk, for lunch and some tests.

Tests over and lunch finished we headed north for the next (none timed) test, the Forestburn Hill Climb. Shame that the weather was very windy and chilly, making watching the action not much fun. So after going up the hill once we did what most teams did, head for the finish at the shores of Loch Lomond. On this stretch we managed to get lost several times. So in the end I programmed the satnav and headed straight for our B&B just outside Balloch to sign into our room.

With everything sorted I decided to leave the car on the drive of our accommodation and we walked into town for some action involving cars and cones.

With the action over the teams dispersed over the various pubs and restaurants of Alexandria for some food and a few beers of course!

Day 5: IAE leg 2 Alexandria - Rothesay

The second day of the event started where the first one had ended, with more cones, which I didn’t do. I just made sure there were a fair few cars on their way before setting off to the Rest-And-Be-Thankful hill climb. This to prevent us from arriving there first. From Alexandria the road book took us toward the shores of Loch Long and from there to the foot of the Rest-And-Be-Thankful hill climb. Although I waited a bit before setting of we managed to get there first. As we were rather early at the Rest-And-Be-Thankful hill climb, we were slightly hampered by some moving chicanes though!

But some drivers had other problems, looking pretty much like they lost their way a little on the last corner of the course.

Must say the this venue deserves to be restored to its former glory. Actually there are plans to do just that. Hopefully they can raise enough funds to carry out this work!

Signalling to the start that the course is free

From the Rest-And-Be-Thankful hill climb we headed slowly but surely further west until we reached the Bute ferry at Colintraive. After crossing the Kyles Of Bute, and and a tour of the island, the finish of the event was on the Esplanade in Rothesay, which we again didn’t reach. At least not with the car. Less than half a mile before the finish, we passed our B&B so we just dropped the car there and walked to Rothesay’s esplanade to find out that most of the action was already over.

Rothesay Esplanade

So we did what the other teams had done. Find some food and beer. The rest of the evening was spent socializing in one of the not too many pubs in Rothesay. Another lovely event over! And it started to rain …

Day 6: Around Rothesay

Sadly for the winners of the “Spirit of the Event” award it rained quite heavily that night. As a result of which their Citroën flat twin powered Lomax was rather reluctant to fire up next morning. In the end it needed a lot of assistance to get going again. Of course someone had to do the hard work and take the picture 😁

As the weather forecast was rather hopeful (for the West of Scotland that is) we decided to stay on the Isle of Bute for a few more days to do some more walking and sight-seeing:

View from Bogany Wood over Craigmore, Rothesay Bay and Loch Striven

View from Bogany Wood over Rothesay Bay

View over Rothesay Bay from Battery Place, Rothesay

Rothesay cemetery

Near Crossbeg, B881 south of Rothesay

B881 near Lochend Farm, Isle of Bute

Loch Ascog seen from its southern shores, Isle of Bute

Day 7: Glencallum Bay & Mount Stuart

This day we started with a nice circular walk, starting from Kilchattan Bay. But sadly this time the weather didn’t cooperate. As soon as we got out of the car it started to rain. And the (occasionally heavy) rain stayed with us for most of the walk. So I kept the camera stowed away for most of the time.

Derelict light house at Rubh’an Eun, Glencallum Bay

View over Glencallum Bay with the Isle of Little Cumbrae in the back ground

But by the end of the walk, and the morning, the weather had cleared. Giving us an opportunity to spent a leisurely afternoon in and around Mount Stuart House.

Mount Stuart House

Mount Stuart House’s garden

Day 8: Homeward bound

But all too soon our stay on the Isle of Bute was over, and we found ourselves back on board the ferry that would take us from Rothesay to mainland Britain and home.

On the vehicle deck of the Rothesay – Wemyss Bay ferry

A last view back towards the Isle of Bute from the Rothesay to Wemyss Bay ferry,

while crossing the Firth of Clyde

Looking south, while crossing the Firth of Clyde, towards Great Cunbrae Island on the left,

Knock Castle on the left and Hunterston Ore Terminal in the distant left.

Oilrig, Tyne Dock

Inquisitive sea gull aboard the ferry, Royal Quays Ferry Terminal, Shields Harbour

The light house on the South Pier of the River Tyne Entrance, Tynemouth

A final view while heading for home. Ships anchoring in front of the Tynemouth

Edited 2nd of June 2021: As it is 10 years ago that I was touring parts of England and Scotland with ‘t Kreng, I decided to freshen up the pictures using the original digital “negatives”. Also added a few extra pictures and edited the text where necessary.

And since this visit to the Rest-And-Be-Thankful hill climb course, the track has been restored to its former glory! And as such making it so much more fun to drive as I found out a few years later!