We have just returned from a very nice trip to the north of Scotland and have come to the conclusion that there are no XMs north of Inverness, unless they have them very well hidden, but there were two last week, my sons and mine.

It was interesting to compare fuel consumptions as both cars are identical, on the leg from Axminster to Inverness my sons averaged 48.8 and mine around 55 mpg. We were driving more or less in convoy so average speeds should have been about the same, he probably has a heavier right foot than me and his wife. who did much of the driving, certainly has! The only other difference is that mine has done 170k+ and his has a new engine with probably less than 10k on it.

It was worth the trip just to drive the 40 miles on the A836 from Lairg to Tongue. The scenery is allways spectacular, with continious forests, Lochs, rivers and mountains, but this time we had the bonus of all the autumn colours, these things combined with the lack of traffic makes it a drivers paradise. Mind you, congestion is increasing, last year we passed two cars in the 40 miles, this time it was six or more!

Put that drive on the list of things to do before you die.

Peter.N.