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.
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.
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.
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