Day 1: The Long Haul to Loch Lomond

On 30 May 2014, the Clio became a high-speed vessel for an ambitious, multi-day endurance road trip from Southampton all the way to the breathtaking landscapes of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) and the majestic Scottish Highlands. The first epic leg of the journey took us deep into the north of England, where we pulled up for a restful night's sleep at a favourite Premier Inn in Carlisle

The following morning brought a wonderfully glorious, sun-drenched sky, and our first port of call was the romantic village of Gretna Green—a spot my missus was absolutely determined to visit for reasons best known to herself. With that marital box firmly ticked, I fired up the hot hatch and pushed north past Glasgow, following the banks of Loch Lomond as the tarmac began to twist upwards into the towering, dramatic peaks of the Highlands.

 

Into the Highlands and the Great Glen

 

As we entered Glencoe, the scenery shifted into something truly monumental and atmospheric; the towering, volcanic peaks closed in around the ribbon of the A82, throwing dramatic shadows across the glen. The sheer scale of the landscape was humbling, with the jagged, ancient ridges of the Three Sisters of Glencoe dominating the skyline. We pulled over into a crowded stone layby right beneath these three imposing peaks to take a well-deserved breather, watching waterfalls cascade down the deep mountain gullies and soaking in the rich, solemn history of the valley.

Back on the road, the Clio danced flawlessly along the sweeping tarmac, guiding us past the narrow waters of the Corran Ferry crossing towards our final northern destination of Fort William. The panoramic vistas stretching out across the shimmering, glass-like lochs were completely breathtaking, making for a spectacular backdrop as we enjoyed a hearty lunch in the shadow of Ben Nevis.

 

Turning back south for the monumental homeward stretch, the Clio ate up the tarmac through Cumbria, hammering down the M6, transitioning seamlessly to the M40, and completing the final sprint via the M3 back into Southampton. Wrapping up a mind-blowing 1,162 miles, it was an absolute marathon for a weekend run—proving yet again that the legendary little 172 is built for the open road.