Summer is just around the corner

And there are very few things that can bring people out of their selfimposed winter hibernation more than the prospect of buying a new motor car.

Owning a car is an essential component for those of us who live in the beautiful but distant and vast West Highlands. Without a car, our lives would come to a standstill: how would we ever get things done? How would we get to work, take the children to school, do the weekly shop or visit friends? It can be no surprise then that buying a motor car is, for most people, the second most important purchase they will ever make, next to purchasing their house. People devote serious time and consideration to the acquisition of a car and are prepared to clock up the miles in pursuit of the perfect purchase. That is especially true of the West Highlands where potential buyers will not only trawl Argyll and Bute, but think nothing of travelling to Perth, Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Ayr and many other places to find the ideal vehicle. And this is where our motoring supplement comes in: it is a route map to the many dealerships, both locally and beyond, who will help you find the car that suits your family requirements and your wallet; and the many garages and services who will keep you on the straight and narrow with first-rate maintenance. And to make that journey more memorable, we have compiled a tour-de-force of Scotland’s five most scenic drives – all of which are to be found in the West Highlands. Happy hunting and happy motoring; after all, the 17-plate of your dreams may just be around the corner.