#daciaroadstories

Above: Dacia Duster (Prestige Blue dCi 115 4x2)

Having been offered a Duster by Dacia UK to head out on a road trip for a week, I grasped the opportunity to drive up to Scotland, in particular the Isle of Skye, a place I’d wanted to visit for years. Clocking up a total of 1,469 miles, this was a trip I will always remember.

Above: Buttermere and Warnscale Head Bothy

Boot packed and heading out from home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, my first stop was the Lake District, a hike to Warnscale Head Bothy from Gatesgarth. The route to Gatesgarth via Keswick, at the north of the Lakes, took in some challenging twisty single-track roads; up and down like a rollercoaster, scenic views along the way, roaming sheep providing the occasional obstacle. The drive was a joy, the Duster proved nimble yet powerful and the commanding seat height offered great visibility taking in Honister Pass with its narrow bends and steep gradients (1 in 4 in some places) with ease. I arrived at Gatesgarth early greeted by golden morning light and blue skies. Stepping out of the car – silence and serenity, quiet birdsong, dappled light and the rush of water in a nearby stream. It was Easter Monday and contrary to previous Easter bank holidays the temperature was already soaring, just like the mountains in the haze. Laden down with weight, my rucksack was hefty, a quarter of it filled with logs and kindling to fuel the wood burning stove at the bothy in order to cook lunch; pan-seared rump of Herdwick lamb with a wild garlic salsa verde and crispy new potatoes with lemon and thyme. Cooking in the bothy felt like going back in time, so primitive with just a few pans over the heat of the wood burner, and highly satisfying, easily one of my best bothy meals in what’s become known as ‘a room with a view’ looking down over Buttermere.

Above: Herdwick Lamb, Warnscale Head Bothy - ‘a room with a view’, Duster

After an overnight stay in the Lakes I embarked for Scotland feeling the sense of anticipation of what was to come: The Isle of Skye, a place I’d wanted to visit for years, and now, I was on the road, on my way. The drive was a long but scenic one offering jaw-dropping views – Ben Nevis, Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, The Buachaille and the Pap of Glen Coe, each area bringing back memories as if it was yesterday that I was there hiking with my family. The Lake District is beautiful and majestic but Scotland with its vastness is something else. At long last, Skye was in sight! I pulled over into a layby next to Loch Alsh, Skye Bridge in the distance. I paused for few moments by the Loch taking in the view before the final approach. The scenery was breath taking, layers of mountains in the haze. I still had a fair drive to my destination, Shulista, at the far north of Skye. It was early evening by the time of my arrival at Shulista Croft Wigwams, my home for the next two nights. I was greeted by a warm welcome. I didn’t even bother to unpack, the evening was blessed with a sunset, so after being on the road for ten hours I then embarked on foot, on a few miles hike up to Rubha Hunish, the most northerly point on Skye to take in the sunset by the sea. I returned in darkness via an indistinct path which started to get a bit eerie. I was glad to reach my home for the night. It was a breezy but clear night, warm and cosy in the wigwam and the sound of the wind outside quickly sent me to sleep.

Above: The Buachaille, Rubha Hunish, Shulista Croft Wigwams

The following day was spent sourcing ingredients; bread from from the Isle of Skye Baking Company in Portree and Alderwood Smoked Salmon from the Isle of Skye Smokehouse in Ard Dorch. A beautiful drive along the cliff tops at the west of the island, blue skies, warm sunshine and breezy. The following day I cooked breakfast at The Lookout Bothy at Rubha Hunish – scrambled eggs from Shulista Croft (incredible eggs Maran and Sussex White with such yellow yolks and I got a double yolker!) served with the smoked salmon and toasted corn bread from Skye Bakery. And what a place to sit and eat breakfast!

Above: West of Skye above Uig, Breakfast at The Lookout Bothy

The next few days were spent exploring the island by car and on foot. Skye is a bigger island than you realise, I clocked up a fair few miles just driving around. A week on Skye and I felt I’d only really scratched the surface – a wander at the base of the Cuillins which looked like the French Alps in the sunshine set against a pure blue sky, a hike up The Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, Neist Point Lighthouse and a five-mile drive via a dirt track into wild and remote terrain, 400m above sea level, at the south of Skye not far from the summit of Beinn Dubh a’ Bhealaich where I cooked Stovies, a traditional highland stew of Aberdeen Angus and Highland beef with potatoes mopped up with some crusty bread.

Above: One Man and a Dacia, The Old Man of Storr, The Quiraing

All in all, it was a truly epic week. Many memories made and I met some of the friendliest folk along the way. Thanks to John Corfield for allowing me to visit his smokehouse which is based on a traditional Scottish cleit and the smoked salmon was incredible! Thanks to Adam and Sally Williams at Shulista Croft Wigwams, such a friendly couple, I enjoyed our chats and thank you for the eggs! Loved watching all the lambs. I hope to return one day! Manythanks to Dacia UK for facilitating this trip to Skye in the first place,enabling me to reach the places I’d dreamed of. I enjoyed every minute and every mile driving the Duster. If you’re feeling inspired, why not start planning your Dacia road trip and book a test drive with a Duster today at: www.dacia.co.uk.