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Cayman GTS on the NC500


Wow! What a trip!

We’re just back from a nine day trip from Shropshire around Scotland’s magnificent North Coast 500, via Stirling and Inverness. This was our first long-distance trip in the Cayman and a return to micro-packing (so we thought) after five years with the Panamera. How amazed were we with the amount of stuff the Cayman can swallow up, and with room to spare. The first test duly passed as we loaded kit for all weathers (not quite trusting the optimistic forecast) and activities.

But how comfortable would it be with its short wheel-base, small cabin with the engine loud and proud behind our heads, and no air-suspension? Again we needn’t have worried. 1500 miles of motorways, smoothly surfaced A roads, some raggy minor roads, and even the ‘Wee Mad Road’ and Pass of the Cattle all covered with composure and comfort. Dual zone air-con came into its own as the outside temperature consistently rose into the mid 20s and even hit 32 degrees on one occasion…and this is in Scotland!

A few close encounters with huge potholes in rough car parks and bits of flying debris mean the underside and bodywork no longer look show-room perfect. But I always think the patina tells its own story of a great trip and over the years I’ve learnt to trust the experts in correcting the stuff that needs to be fixed, rather than sweating too much about the inevitable bumps and chips.

Apart from the car, with its glorious, and now well run-in, 4 litre engine and slick manual gearbox, highlights of the drive-in included the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle. On day one, Dunrobin Castle and Duncansby Head (John O’Groats has to be ticked off, but is a bit of a theme park), and Farr Bay at Bettyhill. Day two highlights included Ceannabeinne Beach, Smoo Cave, Kylesku Bridge, Clashnessie Beach and the first sight of the Assynt mountains: Canisp, Suilven and Cul Mor. We spent an extra day in Lochinver and stretched our legs with a beautiful 7 hour walk from Inverkirkaig to the foot of Suilven over ground that was unusually dry and not a midge anywhere! The next day we explored the geology of Knockan Crag, and amazing Inverewe Gardens before landing at beautiful Gairloch, which we visited last year on a trip to remember family members who perished in the WW2 Russian Arctic Convoys. Our final day included the drive through mountainous Torridon, a coffee stop in Shieldaig and then the infamous Pass of the Cattle above Applecross, which nearly passed without incident apart from meeting the inevitable Motorhome on a blind uphill hairpin! A couple of overnight stops with relatives in Garve and Doune (of Monty Python castle fame) on the way home and torrential thunderstorms on the M56 to round off a superb trip.

What a trip. What a great car!









 
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