A82 Road Trip

Running from Glasgow to Inverness, the A82 is the main road linking the central belt to the western highlands of Scotland.

Within a relatively short period of time you can get access to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

We set out early in the morning with the intention of going to Glencoe, but had to stop several times to take in the sight before us.

A day is too short a timescale to take in so breathtaking vistas. The outcome being that a return trip is already being planned.

Mist covering the base of Beinn Dorain near Tyndrum

Bridge over the River Orchy

Inveroran

Loch Tulla

Black Rock Cottage with Buachaille Etive Mor in the background

Red deer grazing

Kingshouse Hotel

Loch Etive

Ben Starav overlooks Loch Etive

Red deer stag

Sunset over Glen Etive

Monte Carlo Historique 2015

Back at Paisley for the second year running, the Monte Carlo Historique rally again chose Abbey Close as one of its starting locations for 2015.

It's always good to see the classic cars presented for the public to admire.

With the race starting in the evening, camera shutter speeds were low. This meant that most of my photos were taken while the cars were static.

Volkswagen Golf

Mini Cooper

Ford Escort Mk 1

A little bit of last minute route planning in a Sunbeam Talbot Extreme

Saab 96

Spare wheel on a Morgan +8

A pair of Austins, A40 and Mini

Lotus Cortina

Cars lined up for the start of the rally

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

Paisley Abbey providing a colourful backdrop

Opel Kadett setting out for Monte Carlo

MGB GT waiting to start the race

Bo'ness Diesel Gala

My last photo outing of 2014 took me back to Bo'ness, a place I have visited several times throughout the past year.

While I have a preference for steam, I thoroughly enjoyed my day out even though the temperature struggled to raise itself much above freezing point all day.

There were several classes of engines going back and forwards from Bo'ness station to Manuel, near Linlithgow.

Manuel halt on the Bo'ness & Kinneil railway

47643 at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

Class 37 diesel loco passes Kinneil Halt on a frosty afternoon

GB Railfreight diesel loco 66721 at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

47643 at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

66721 at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

Deltic loco 55022 and her admirers at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

66721 at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

Deltic loco 55022 Royal Scots Grey at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

Close-up of Deltic loco 55022 Royal Scots Grey at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala

Festive lights on Bo'ness station patform

Bo'ness station platform

Bo'ness Diesel Gala drawing to a close

Coca Cola truck

Coca-Cola's famous red truck has been seen on television since 1996.

It is currently on a 45 stop tour of Britain, for people around the country to queue up to have their photograph taken beside it.

A visit to Glasgow let me get up close to the truck when it stopped at St Enoch's Square.

Isle of Arran

The Isle of Arran is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature".

A lot is crammed into this island from rugged mountains in the north to more gentle rolling hills in the south.

With Calmac reducing the ferry cost recently, a trip to the island was a temptation which I could not resist. The weather felt more like early autumn than the middle of November.

A return visit has already been decided on before the ferry prices go up for next year's summer season.

Calmac ferry Caledonian Isles entering Ardrossan Harbour

On our way to the beautiful Island of Arran

Bridge over Black Water

Warm autumn colours

View of Kilbrannan Sound and Kintyre peninsula

One of six stone circles on Machrie Moor

Only 3 stones remain standing in this circle

Cloud decending on the jagged mountains on the north of the island

Dumbarton Fireworks Display 2014

Unlike Inverclyde Council who held their fireworks display on a wet Saturday evening, Dumbarton chose to have theirs on Guy Fawkes Night and also had a beautiful calm evening for their display.

I chose to stay on my own side of the river, having a wonderful view of the fireworks as they were launched from near the castle and rock.