I passed my driving test at the ripe old age of 18 not knowing then it would be another 18 years before I got the keys to my very own car. These days, I can be found motoring (at the stipulated speed of 20 miles per hour max) through the streets of south London in a fetching fire-engine-red Nissan Qashqai.
Needless to say, when the opportunity arose to drive a sporty Porsche Cayenne through the wilds of the Peak District, I Googled ‘ladies leather driving gloves’ and said: ‘YES PLEASE!’
I arrived at Wildhive Callow Hall just outside Ashbourne for a fortifying light lunch before acquainting myself with the Cayenne, a super sleek SUV in a cool Arctic grey.
Now I’m hardly a petrol head, but once I’d overcome the fear of pranging my £77k+ car, I settled back into the extremely comfortable heated driver’s seat and tackled the winding country lanes ahead with, and allow me to toot my own horn here, the panache of a professional (nothing at all resembling a Sunday driver pootling to the shops…).
My first mission was tackling an incredibly bumpy dirt track (no problem for the purring Porsche with its high-performance tyres and suspension system), crawling behind a burly herd of cattle as I went.
After, I had the opportunity to off-road in a farmer’s field full of muddy inclines – and my, what a freeing feeling, a million miles away from the South Circular with its traffic and fumes.
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Next, came the chance to take things up a gear: driving through Bradbourne Brook on the way to the pretty village of Tissington.
Not the usual sort of doddery driving I’m used to, I followed the expert guidance given through my walkie-talkie and ploughed ahead, putting pedal to the metal (the Porsche goes from 0-60mph in a super speedy six seconds) and sending waves of water cascading up either side of the car.
I’ll be honest, a big part of me worried about aquaplaning (whatever that actually is), or worse yet, damaging a luxury vehicle beyond repair and having to foot the bill – but luckily the Cayenne and I emerged from the water safe and unscathed.
Next up, a pitstop at 17th century Jacobean manor Tissington Hall for a cuppa and slab of Victoria sponge cake. Suitably refreshed, I was back on the road again, this time taking a longer route via Carsington Water – an expansive reservoir home to lapwings, kingfishers and buzzards – all the while feeling like I was cruising in a car commercial.
Inside the Cayenne, you’ll find cutting-edge tech: a large touchscreen with access to maps, music and phones, plus innovative ‘Mood Modes’ that allow the driver to flit between different light, climate and sound settings (you don’t get any of that in the Qashqai). There’s also a spacious boot with ample room for everything you might need for a rural retreat – including your dog.
After a day of driving, it was time to head back to base as the sun dipped below the skyline. Parking the Porsche for the last time, I was sad to say goodbye – I was a Cayenne driver if only for a day – but what better way to explore the rugged landscapes of Britain’s first National Park than behind the wheel of a super stylish SUV.
