OK, I'm kinda thinking out loud here, in case there are suggestions!

We tend to spend more time than I'd like getting my DH coffee while traveling. I'm guessing this will be harder than usual while driving in the highlands. Are rental cars likely to have cigarette lighters? I've seen immersion heaters that plug into them here in the states...would they work in the UK? I'm guessing there might not be the plug/voltage issue, so maybe? Then we could take along some VIA (Starbucks instant) packets to keep us moving.

~Liz

A jar of good instant and a large flask would do the trick. Fill up from your room kettle before you leave in the morning. We have a lot better instant than you'll be used to in the States.

Your B&B or hotel may be prepared to fill a flask for you, either with hot water, or even better with proper coffee if you don't have a kettle.

The immersion type heater you refer to will work in a car in the UK - all 12v devices will. But a flask of water/coffee would be safer. Maybe a couple of insulated beakers too?

I'm not sure why you presume it would be hard to find somewhere to get a coffee in the Highlands - on what basis do you arrive at such a sweeping statement? We British like coffee too you know (in fact these days its overtaken the traditional cuppa in popularity). They're are plenty of hotels / teashops / pubs by the roadside and in the villages that will all serve coffee. Failing that, virtually every hotel and B&B room will have a kettle you can use to make up some instant coffee to put in your own thermos flask.

all the hotels have nescafe/pot for teas that are good

but Nescafe is pretty sucky coffee

Usually bring paks lots of starbucks Via

best powdered I have found

and a coil cup heater with an adaptor just in case.

works great for me everywhere.

I didn't "presume", I said I GUESSED!

We've never been to Scotland, and while I'm certain we won't have any trouble finding coffee in towns, my IMPRESSION is that there are long stretches without so much as a cafe...which is great, in my opinion, but decent coffee is a top requirement!

Perhaps taking a thermos along is the answer, though.

~Liz

Take the thermos, or buy one there - and if you find somewhere to buy coffee along the way stop and enjoy a coffee break. If you don't find somewhere of if you want a cup on the go then you have your thermos with you. Nothing like a good coffee while enjoying a view!

I always pack a few coffee bags and an immersion heater for any trip. Just in case we wake up really early or need a quick cup.

You can find coffee bags in any grocery, Folgers is good, it's important to follow the instructions exactly.

"Are rental cars likely to have cigarette lighters?"

That probably depends on how old the hire car is, some new cars don't have cigarette lighters (or the socket), they have a 12v outlet for things like satnavs and ipods but the socket is totally different.

Every new car I have seen - including our 2 day old one has a normal lighter socket, if not the lighter - you normally pay extra for the "smokers pack" nowadays.

They often have a USB or other aux in socket as well for MP# players and the like.

MP3 players I mean.

"MP3 players I mean."

MP# sounds right when I'm trying to sort out playlists

You coffee drinkers are lucky....you should try to find a Dr. Pepper in Ireland.

If he likes the kind of coffee that puts hair on his chest, we occasionally find Medaglia d'Oro instant espresso that does the trick. Lots and lots of Scots have and use thermos bottles (vacuum flasks) for tea and coffee breaks on the road, and you will have a real kettle in almost every B&B room.

For those really lonely stretches of road have you considered taking along some caffeine pills?

Some of you are making it sound like an expedition across the Australian outback...! Yes the Scottish Highlands are a fairly remote place with the lowest population density in the UK, but nevertheless criss-crossed by roads, and dotted with villages and small towns. Anywhere you can get to <b>by car</b> is going to have some sort of hotel / pub / cafe every 45 minutes or so at the most. If you need to drink coffee more frequently than that, a bigger problem is going to finding a loo!

I also was amused by the trackless wastes of the Highlands.
In my experience, the area is full of hopeful souls setting up potteries and craft centres. These all have little cafes attached, presumably that's how they make most of their money.
As for loos, it's much easier for men to do what my late mother euphemistically called, "Visiting Mrs. Greenfield"

It does sound like he has a caffeine addiction. Maybe a trip to the doctor is required.

>>Maybe a trip to the doctor is required.<<

Or a hospital - they're more likely to have a café.

Give 'em a break. It's a reasonable question. And the answer is Gordon R's