Our recent “cruise ship” tour of Scotland was a great break from the day-to-day here in Florida with high temperatures each day hovering around sixty-five degrees. We started our journey in Copenhagen, Denmark where we boarded the Azamara Pursuit for fourteen days, visiting various cities, towns and villages and getting to know the wonderful people, beautiful scenery and rich history that make Scotland what it is. Unfortunately we could not fit Sparky, our 924S, in the overhead bin or he would have come along! We were restricted to vans and busses on the great driving roads that are well suited for Porsches.
Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes offer an unrivaled playground for Porsche enthusiasts seeking the ultimate driving experience. From winding coastal roads to scenic highland routes, there are several exhilarating drives that showcase the country’s natural beauty and provide a thrilling journey for drivers of these iconic sports cars. One of the most iconic routes is the North Coast 500, which takes you on a 500-mile loop around Scotland’s northern coastline. This challenging route offers stunning coastal views and twists and turns that will test both driver and machine. (For a short video on the NC500 from the Grand Tour, take a look at this video from the show.)
Another must-drive is the Bealach na Bà in the Scottish Highlands, known as one of Britain’s most challenging roads with hairpin bends and steep gradients. For those seeking a more relaxed drive, the Cairngorms National Park offers picturesque routes through lush forests and past tranquil lochs (a “loch” is a “lake” in Scotland.)
Of course our trip took us to the tourist locations such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, along with the Shetland Islands in the north. We searched for Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, and met the Duke and Duchess of Argyll (Torquhil and Eleanor Campbell) at their home, the Inveraray Castle – really nice “regular people” by the way. The Duchess stepped in to provide us a special tour of the castle while the Duke worked behind the counter in the Gift Shop!
And we did our share of “Porsche Spotting” along the way, too. There were a lot of Porsche SUV’s, probably due to the need for utilitarian vehicles in the rural landscape of the Scottish Highlands. We did see some newer 911’s and Caymans in the larger venues, along with a few Taycans. But the highlight was a lone 924 2.0L on the Isle of Man – red, in nice condition.
A return to Scotland is on our list, but the next trip will be by road, not by ship. The Highlands offer some of the greatest scenery we have ever encountered, and getting on the road (left side as it is) is a must-do, even if it is in a rental car.
The Porsche 924 Owners Club is very active in the UK, as is the Porsche Club Great Britain. We belong to he Porsche 924 Owners Club, and they have some great events almost all year round. We are planning a trip back to England next summer for the club’s annual Bomber County Run, a two-day road trip to various WWII bomber bases in and around Lincolnshire with the accompanying museums, aircraft and displays. I hope to be able to sneak in a trip to the Highlands, too.
So now it is time to get back to work. I just wish we could have brought back those sixty-five degree days with us! It is HOT here in July in Florida!
