RE: PistonHeads Tours 2010
RE: PistonHeads Tours 2010
Friday 8th January 2010

PistonHeads Tours 2010

PistonHeads and Petrolhead Nirvana are pleased to announce the first two driving tours of the year.


It hasn't been the greatest of starts to the motoring year what with snow, ice and road closures, but it can't last for ever and summer is just around the corner (sort of). In an attempt to help you imagine days of driving on snow-free roads, we are pleased to announce details of the first two official PistonHeads tours run by our partners at Petrolhead Nirvana.

Many driving tours take you outside of the UK (as we will be doing ourselves later this year), but that means we often forget that you don't have to leave the UK to find great driving roads and we want to prove that to you by offering two great UK-based tours.


Lotus Tour 8-9 May

Day one: We meet at the Lotus facilities in Hethel, Norfolk, at midday. The afternoon is spent touring the factory and production facilities, as well as spending approximately half an hour on track in a current production Lotus. First you will get to drive with expert instruction provided by a Lotus test driver, and then they'll demonstrate in a few hot laps what the cars are actually capable of! The day ends with a short drive to a wonderful country house hotel where a fine dinner is provided, drinks are consumed, and beds are welcomed!

Day two: After breakfast (full English, naturally) we are met by more Lotus test drivers before they lead us on a morning tour of their favourite local roads - the very roads where the suspension of each new Lotus model is fine-tuned before production. The morning ends with tea and cakes on the Norfolk coast, with ample opportunity to discuss the morning's antics.

Spaces on the tour are offered at £297 per person including factory tour, track time in a new Lotus, dinner/bed/breakfast in a country house hotel, and morning refreshments at the end the drive out on Sunday morning.


Highland Tour 16- 22 May

Join us on this tour as we visit the Lake District, Scotland and the Yorkshire Dales over Seven fantastic days.

We start on day one in the Lake District, taking in the Kirkstone Pass before moving North on the A817 than runs from Loch Lomond to Garelochhead. It's a fantastic road with smooth Tarmac, sweeping curves and travels 1000ft above Glen Fruin with the adjacent mountains rising a further 2000ft above you. We drive this road twice before spending the night in a haunted coach house.....but don't let that put you off!

Day two brings similar roads, taking in Loch Leven and Fort William as we head towards Eilean Donan Castle, and on to the Isle of Skye before reaching our (non-haunted) overnight stop near Torridon.

Day three starts in the Western Highlands, where we will spend the day driving on the fantastic twisting roads, eventually crossing over the beautiful Kylesku bridge before reaching our next hotel.


Day four and you're now almost as far north as you can go in mainland Britain and, to celebrate, we'll stop for (a sober) lunch at the Glenmorangie distillery. If that isn't enough, we then head south to the Balmoral Estate for dinner, taking in the very best roads the area has to offer.

Day five and we're making the most of our last day in Scotland, with some more fun roads before crossing the border and heading to the Yorkshire dales and a two-night stop. Our hotel is owned by a serious Petrolhead, so we can be guaranteed a warm welcome over the two nights we are there.

Day six will be a play day with a mystery tour of some of our favourite local roads.

Day seven and it's time to head home, back to reality and the chance to put all the photos on PistonHeads, making those who missed out green with envy!

You'll get 6 nights bed and breakfast, a tour manager, full sat-nav itinerary files, walkie-talkies, route and info packs, and some of the best roads the UK can offer, all for just £497 per person.

For more details and to book either call the guys at Petrolhead Nirvana on 0845 838 7363 or book online.

Because the hotels have been chosen for their style and character places are strictly limited to 15, so book early if you want to join us.

 

Author
Discussion

Harsh

Original Poster:

4,551 posts

234 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
If you've got any questions about either of these tours, feel free to ask smile

soad

34,323 posts

199 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
They both seem really good value. thumbup

CTT

45 posts

195 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Having done most of that scotish tour last year, i can safely say that is was one of the best holidays ever. Amazing driving roads, beautifal scenery. The experiance makes you totally switch of from work etc. Amazing blast past loch lomand

quattrophenia

1,103 posts

221 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
The Scottish one sounds very interesting (weather provided of course), as I was considering a drive to either Germany or Scotland. Just out of interest, what is the approximate total mileage for this tour and is it open to all makes of car?

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

305 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Seriously tempting...

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
quattrophenia said:
The Scottish one sounds very interesting (weather provided of course), as I was considering a drive to either Germany or Scotland. Just out of interest, what is the approximate total mileage for this tour and is it open to all makes of car?
Daily mileages can be found here: http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/tours/2010/highla...

All in all, from the lunch in the Lake District to the last night in Yorkshire it's about 1000 miles, plus the extra to get to and from home.

And yes, all makes of car, though i'd suggest a Model T Ford may struggle to keep up wink

hewlett

2,186 posts

244 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Well done for keeping it affordable smile I'm sure these will be fantastic tours.

Wayney

626 posts

229 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Guys cracking value for money, well done on keeping them affordable, very tempted, just need to check my piggy bank! ;-)

krallicious

4,312 posts

228 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Looks like you have put together a couple of good tours there. Highlands is on the 'to do' list. As for Norfolk, I am lucky enough to be back here for a couple of months. I had forgotten just how good the roads are around here. The country house hotel in Norfolk doesn't happen to be Dunston Hall does it?

Skyedriver

22,194 posts

305 months

Friday 8th January 2010
quotequote all
Highland one looks good, you'll probably pass my front door on Skye.
Good timing, get there before the midges

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

217 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
Nice one Pete wink Sounds like a great tour.

Having seen most of these roads last year, I'd highly recommend it to anyone!

Taffer

2,288 posts

220 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
I must say, the Highland trip looks pretty good value. Even though I live in Glasgow and have driven/ridden most of these roads, I'd be tempted to drive down south and do this trip from the Lake District. Is the night stop near Torridon a sleeping bag on the floor of GetCarter's house? biggrin

One minor correction though - it's the Kylesku Bridge, situated in Kylesku. If you stick Kylescu into your Tom-Tom you'll probably end up in Romania somewhere!

whythem

773 posts

200 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
Is that 2nd tour restricted to 15 people or 15 cars?

Garlick

40,601 posts

263 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
Taffer said:
One minor correction though - it's the Kylesku Bridge, situated in Kylesku. If you stick Kylescu into your Tom-Tom you'll probably end up in Romania somewhere!
Thanks thumbup

I've changed it.

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
Did consider GetCarter's house but that would have doubled the price smile
Good spot on the bridge.

15 people, the smallest hotel only sleeps 16 yikes

VerySideways

10,267 posts

295 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
krallicious said:
Looks like you have put together a couple of good tours there. Highlands is on the 'to do' list. As for Norfolk, I am lucky enough to be back here for a couple of months. I had forgotten just how good the roads are around here. The country house hotel in Norfolk doesn't happen to be Dunston Hall does it?
Yep, Dunston is a favourite with our friends at Lotus, who are we to argue? biggrin

varsas

4,071 posts

225 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
They both sound great!

Are those prices 'per person'...assuming two to a bed or car, or are those the actual price I'd pay if I rocked up on my own? (i'm sad, lonely and very ugly so may not be able to get anyone to come with me) cry

krallicious

4,312 posts

228 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
VerySideways said:
Yep, Dunston is a favourite with our friends at Lotus, who are we to argue? biggrin
They do wonderful food there and the building is one of the most stunning in England IMO. If I am still in Norfolk, I might accidently try and drive the same roads at the same time as you! Always good to see some nice cars around here biggrin

Harsh

Original Poster:

4,551 posts

234 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
varsas said:
They both sound great!

Are those prices 'per person'...assuming two to a bed or car, or are those the actual price I'd pay if I rocked up on my own? (i'm sad, lonely and very ugly so may not be able to get anyone to come with me) cry
As these are UK tours we dont have the expense of ferry/eurotunnel crossings which are obviously per car, so if you come on your own to one of these then you'll still pay the same price.
You will likely be sharing a room with someone though.

varsas

4,071 posts

225 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
quotequote all
Harsh said:
varsas said:
They both sound great!

Are those prices 'per person'...assuming two to a bed or car, or are those the actual price I'd pay if I rocked up on my own? (i'm sad, lonely and very ugly so may not be able to get anyone to come with me) cry
As these are UK tours we dont have the expense of ferry/eurotunnel crossings which are obviously per car, so if you come on your own to one of these then you'll still pay the same price.
You will likely be sharing a room with someone though.
cool.