(Page 3 of 5)

 

‘These things are like big trucks and extremely reliable. I don’t see other cars matching it. They really were built to last. When WO Bentley built these cars, a lot had to go abroad, including to Africa. So they had to be tough. He was a brilliant engineer, if not the best businessman.’

 

Of the 1,260 mile trip from Scotland to London he said: ‘This is a great event and a wonderful drive. We’re prepared for the weather. It’s been very windy and raining. But it changes by the minute. Hopefully we’ll get some sunshine too.’

 

The Freys, whose names and national flags are displayed proudly either side of their bonnet, have more trips in store: ’Next year we’re taking it to Kenya and Tanzana.’ And in 2021 they plan to make an epic 17,000-mile trip from London to Sydney in their trusty Bentley.

 

Bearded cleric Rev Ian Murray is dipping in for the first leg of the drive in a 1922 Bentley which was rebuilt in 1933. The procession set off from John O’Groats, close to the northernmost point of Britain, along the Caithness coastline before heading south to the 22,000 acre Novar Estate near Dingwall, stopping off en route at Dunbeath Castle and Glenmorangie House.

 

By Thursday (21 March) the touring party will head inland towards Edinburgh, stopping off at the Robert-Adams designed stately home Archerfield House at Direleton, East Lothian on the East coast of Scotland.

 

There are stops en route at the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa in Inveraray and Cameron House at Alexandria. This leg of the trip will take four-and-a-half hours.

 

A spokesman for the Bentley Drivers’ Club said: ‘The Scottish section of the tour will be rounded off in fine style with a black-tie dinner in the state dining room on board the Royal Yacht Britannia - with access to the Queen’s private quarters - in Leith on Friday 22 March.’

 

It’s good to have friends in high places and the Rev Ian Murray is giving his blessing to the Bentley drive – as well as dipping in for the first leg of it.

 

‘I’ll be blessing the cars as they go,’ he said.

 

The bearded cleric is taking part in a 1922 Bentley which was rebuilt in 1933.

 

It belonged for generations to the Fry family of chocolate fame but family-friend Mr Murray had the chance to drive it. Two weeks ago his dream came true when he was able to buy it outright for himself.

 

The car has some extra elements, having within it parts – including a hand-pump and clock - cannibalised from a historic but wrecked racing car known as ‘Old Number 7’.

 

Elgin-based Mr Murray, a minister with the Church of Scotland who covers lots of churches in the East of Scotland up to the Shetlands said: ‘It is a remarkable piece of engineering. It will still do 100mph – but only on a German autobahn where it is legal’.

 

‘It’s been in the same family since 1933 – the Fry family of chocolate fame - and I’ve had the privilege to be able to drive it for many years. It has some parts from other cars. So it really is a bit of a mongrel. Two weeks ago I bought it. It is an incredible history. It even worked as a fire engine during the last war.’

 

After a day’s break at the Novar Estate, the tour resumes (on Monday 18 March) with the cavalcade travelling through the mountains of the North West Highlands, along the stunning North West 500 route, down to the Kyle of Lochalsh and over the new road bridge to the Isle of Skye

 

The tour then heads (on Saturday March 23) across the Scottish borders into the North of England for a five-hour trip to York, calling en route at Floors Castle & Gardens at Kelso in the Scottish Borders, the Lord Crewe Arms Hotel at Blanchland in Northumberland and the Rose & Crown at Romaldkirk in North Yorkshire.

 

The Bentley Drivers’ Club spokesman said: ‘This leg of the tour will conclude at the Principal Hotel in York, with an atmospheric evening dinner set among historic and royal carriages at the city’s National Railway Museum on Sunday 24 March.’

 

The cavalcade leaves York (on Monday March 25) and heads cross country to the north-west of England for a five-hour trip to the Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa at Nantwich, calling en route at Bentley in the suburbs of Doncaster, Winnats Pass in the Peak District and Fischer’s Baslow at Bakewell in Derbyshire.

 

On Tuesday (19 March) the tour continues by ferry back to the mainland, through the Highlands and heads to the Isle of Eriska Hotel Spa & Golf resort, punctuated with stops at the Invergarry Hotel at Invergarry and Inverlochy Castle Hotel near Fort William

 

Continued on next page