World of myth and beauty: Porsche Travel Experience Scotland
A magical, awe-inspiring tour of the Scottish Highlands
Stunning lochs, breath-taking mountains and challenging roads –there’s nothing better than exploring the remote, rugged beauty of the Highlands in a new Porsche
A land of myth and fantasyHave we landed in the middle of a scene from Braveheart or Highlander? Eilean Donan Castle is ahead of us – just a few miles from the Skye Bridge – and it feels like we’ve been transported to another world. This fairytale castle dates back nearly 800 years, although the building we see today was lovingly reconstructed at the beginning of the last century by its owner, Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap. It’s become an iconic image of this magical region. It’s not just the views that are film-worthy on the Porsche Travel Experience Scotland’s exploration of the country’s beautiful north western coast. The roads surprise you with their long, sweeping curves – the kind that make your heart race. As does the scenery around you too. Eilean Donan Castle sits on an island at the confluence of three sea lochsLoch deep, mountain highAs we leave Eilean Donan behind us, we make our way towards Loch Torridon, via a detour over the legendary Bealach na Bà pass. This serpentine, single-track road climbs all the way up to 2,000 feet. It’s closed to large vehicles and trailers… and when you drive along it, you’ll understand why. The road surface has seen better days – it was originally constructed for herders to drive cattle along – but the views from up here across mountain and loch are worth a few minor bumps in the road. The Quiraing on Skye has been a location for many Hollywood moviesWe head back down towards the coast. There’s no sightings of people or villages for miles and miles – just us, our Porsche 911 Cabriolet and a few sheep for company. When we eventually reach Upper Loch Torridon, just one of the many legendary sea inlets that we encounter on our tour, we are met with deep blue, shimmering waters. It looks inviting, but even in the summer months, you’ll need to be brave to take a dip here. Understandably, that aren’t any takers among the participants on the Porsche Travel Experience Scotland.Take the high road: Scotland’s glens and lochs provide some of the most dramatic scenery in northern EuropeA date with NessieThere are said to be over 30,000 lochs in Scotland and we’ve passed by quite a few on our route. It can be a little, shall we say, ‘changeable’ up here, but thankfully the weather is kind to us today – which makes it perfect for opening the top of our 911 Cabriolet and drinking in even more nature. We’ve arrived in Inverness, the northern-most city on the UK mainland and known as the gateway to the Highlands. But more importantly, it’s the starting point for any visitor’s quest to that most famous loch of all – Loch Ness. Of course, we all want to see if we can glimpse that mythical creature, Nessie. We crane our necks towards the loch, hoping for a tell-tale ripple on the surface. But for today at least, it’s the driving we will concentrate on. There is mile after mile of enticing, near-empty roads up here.
The place is magical – it’s so far north, so isolated, that it sometimes feels as if you’ve left Earth and landed on another planet
It’s not every day you bump into kilt-wearing Scots, like these musiciansFull steam ahead to a magical settingIt would have been quite a coup for the Porsche Travel Experience Scotland, but sadly we didn’t see Nessie. But how about a little Harry Potter? An hour’s drive south west of here, along sweeping, beautifully Tarmacked roads, lined with rhodendron bushes and cutting through forests, is the Glenfinnan Viaduct. We arrive just in time to see the ‘Harry Potter train’ – or the Jacobite Steam Train as it’s known in real life – as it travels across this magnificent valley bridge. Set against this backdrop, we feel like we’ve been transported into Harry Potter’s world itself. Hogwarts can’t be too far away, can it? A trip to the Scottish Highlands is an investment in your memory bankThe Porsche Travel Experience Scotland isn’t just for films buffs and lovers of Instagram-perfect countryside. With its mix of wild, curving corners and long, higher-speed stretches that soar and dip, the Scottish Highlands are a true driving challenge.This story is part of the 25 Years of Porsche Travel Experience anniversary series. We take you on a virtual world tour around the globe – with a new, fascinating episode each week. Click here to read all stories.
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