Welcomed by Stuart on behalf of Rolls-Royce and Gaelle on behalf of North Coast 500, we headed into the award-winning restaurant for what would be one of many fine meals over the next four days.
When we headed out to the car, we were embarking on a journey that would not only have a huge impact on Mike and myself but, as I discovered later, would also change many people’s lives for the better.
It was our first experience of the latest incarnation of the Ghost, and it was everything we hoped it would be – and more.
The car wafted along the roads with an almost imperceptible hum, the multimedia functions were simple to master, and the sat-nav was a joy.
A rotary controller worked all the multimedia and although we had so many ways to add to the in-car ambiance with digital radio, television, wi-fi, and Bluetooth, it was good old fashioned conversation about the scenery and the car that kept us entertained.
The drive from Inverness to John O’ Groats took us past the Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord, providing us with a perfect opportunity to learn about one of Scotland’s most famous exports: whisky.
After browsing the museum and buying a few souvenirs, we were off into Wick for dinner at Mackays Hotel. Apart from a well-earned reputation for good food, Mackays Hotel has something about it that no other hotel or restaurant in the world can lay claim to: it’s situated on the world’s shortest street, measuring just 6 feet 9 inches.
Stuart joined us for dinner and was eager to learn our thoughts on the Ghost. But few words were necessary as the smiles on our faces and a single exclamation of “It’s amazing!” said it all.
The hotel’s owner, Murray Lamont, is quite a character and told us tales of the local area in one of those beautiful softly-spoken Scottish accents that could sell sand to the Middle-East. It was a wrench to leave, but we had to press on that night to John O’Groats, the Northernmost tip of the Scottish mainland.
The next instalment of our North Coast 500 adventure will follow soon.
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