***This is a sponsored post, all opinions are forever my own.***
The summer before last, I went on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands and I adored every single second. It also got me itching to return asap. Now, I might not attempt the Bealach na Ba in the winter (not to mention the fact that it’s closed to drivers during the winter months) but other parts of Highlands and Fort William, I’d love to see dusted with snow.
But a completely different type of preparation goes into undertaking a winter road trip and in order to be safe on the road you have to be sure that your car is working fine. It doesn’t matter if you are going to commute in a local town like Dundee or if you are planning for a longer trip to other parts of Scotland – your car and tyres have to be in tip top condition in order to ensure your safety.
Tyre Care
Tyre care is often neglected, but its extraordinarily important in the winter. Not only do tyres help determine your fuel consumption (bad tyres put a strain on the vehicle and the car needs more fuel) but also the right tyres help your car perform at the optimum level. It’s also important to check the pressure in your tyres; additionally tyre tread depth has to be followed otherwise there are legal penalties.
When driving locally, it’s worth getting your tyres locally as the person fitting your vehicle will know what’s best for the roads in the area. All local areas (Dundee, West Yorkshire or London) have tyre fitters on every corner and you can book an appointment with them online. For example, in Dundee you could get new tyres in Dundee at Fife Autocentre website.
Have a Winter Tune Up
Have your heater, defroster, brakes, lights, oil levels, and exhaust system checked. Make sure there’s antifreeze in the radiator as well.
Run Tests
It’s really important to check that all of your signals, lights and defrosters are working properly before you undertake a road trip. The sunset is will start around 3:45 pm, so you really wouldn’t want to be stuck on the road with lights that failed.
Check the Forecast
This is so obvious, but so important. You need to know what kind of weather you might be driving into that day, so make sure you check the forecast frequently. Sometimes starting an hour earlier or later can make a huge difference to road conditions.
Prep an Emergency Kit
It’s always good to have an emergency kit that stays in the boot of your car. I’d recommend keeping a blanket, a water bottle, an ice-scraper, extra windshield washer fluid, a torch, a extra phone charger, and jumper cables in your car at all times. Nothing will go wrong, but it’s better to be prepared in case it does.
Would you undertake a winter road trip? Where would you go?
*** This is a sponsored, all opinions are forever my own.***
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Ullapool, Scotland
Hadrian’s Wall
Isle of Skye
How to Camp in the Scottish Highlands
Arthur’s Seat
Harry Potter Guide to Edinburgh
How to Plan an Edinburgh City-Break
A Dog-Friendly Guide to Glasgow
A Vegan Guide to Glasgow
10 Things to Do Around Inverness
