The BMWi8 – it’s a bit back to the future

(Warning: this is a non-technical review and I don’t watch Top Gear)

If you’re after thrills, attention, speed and a glimpse into the future, with hardly a carbon footprint to mention, the BMWi8 is just for you.

BMW’s most flamboyant car yet was released back in July and it certainly wouldn’t feel out of place in a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster.

I’d say it’s a bit back to the future, what with its upward-swingy doors and slightly menacing headlights, bringing to my mind a certain Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine.

It’s quite a task not to just stand and gawk at it for a very long time.

Inside the car, the fun continues. There’s a digital dash and all the clever mod-cons you’d expect in such a mean machine to make it a super enjoyable experience.

The inside is surprisingly comfy even if the back seats and the boot are iddy biddy. To be fair I didn’t expect anything else.

What I didn’t anticipate, however, was how tricky it is getting in and out of this beast. Suffice to say I was very relieved I was wearing trousers or my dignity would have been swiftly destroyed.

Once on the road it’s quite a pleasure to pootle along at leisure in either comfort or eco mode while watching others goggling as you glide past. But, even better when on the open road you can toggle into sport mode, which is where the full awesome thundery power of the i8 comes into play.

Acceleration from zero to 60mph takes just 4.4 seconds.

Whatever that actually means, to me it was nerve-jangling speedy. However, its handling is obviously agile, the steering precise, and the braking effective, a combination which felt reassuring safe even at speed.

Of course, being a plug-in hybrid it’s also incredibly efficient. With a full tank and a fully charged battery the i8 can cover around 310 miles, so thankfully range anxiety shouldn’t be a massive issue.

The reality though is while it isn’t a time machine it certainly makes me think that we’re heading to the future – insanely FAST.

In the words of Doc Brown: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”

Essential facts you might like to know

• It costs £99,845
• It’s a petrol engine with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo
• It has a top speed of 155mph
• CO2 emissions are 49g/km (zero tax band)
• You’ll probably need a lie down afterwards

For more information about the BMWi3 tweet Andygclark or visit www.lloydnewcastlebmw.co.uk

 

Tenting it up at Rye Hill Farm

Without a doubt, Northumberland is my favourite county in the country. Strikingly beautiful, largely unspoilt, steeped with fascinating history and is home to many wonderful places to explore and stay.

One of my favourites has to be Rye Hill Farm. Located in rural Slaley deep in the heart of Northumberland, the 300-year-old small holding is the perfect base for getting out and about to explore the surrounding countryside.

As well as offering visitors a marvelous four-star experience in either its farmhouse bed and breakfast or self-catering holiday cottage, Rye Hill is also home to a bit of a hidden treat; a small, but perfectly formed, campsite.

It had been a while since I had enjoyed camping, so when the opportunity to pitch a tent and stay over at Rye Hill presented itself I was super keen to check it out.

Well-maintained, the campsite is quiet – a relatively long driveway from the main road through the 30-acre farm ensures that the only noise likely to disturb is the hearty bleating of sheep and enthusiastic clucking of free range chickens.

While situated high enough to command panoramic views, the site is actually very well sheltered. A world away from wind-tussled I can assure.

Best of all it offers commodities to ensure a comfortable stay. This includes electric hook ups, a fresh-water tap, a waste disposal point and, importantly, a clean modern toilet and shower unit.

The location of Rye Hill is conveniently close to a number of footpaths and tracks to explore on foot. If you wish to go a bit further afield you’ll find that the Derwent Reservoir, the woods of Dipton and Slaley, and Hadrian’s Wall are all short car rides away.

And after the trials of pitching a tent it is also particularly comforting to note that a very friendly hospitable pub aptly named The Traveller’s Rest is just a stone’s throw away.

Of course one of the pleasures of the great outdoors at night is sky watching, and Rye Hill’s location is privy to some of the most clear upward views, revealing fascinating constellations and other captivating night sky activity.

Such a treat, I would go back in a tent in a heartbeat.

Why not follow Rye Hill Farm on Twitter and Facebook.

A secret French paradise

It’s fair to say that the Ardèche is a secret French paradise. Nestled in the Rhone Alps region which borders the Swiss alps, Cote D-Azur and Burgundy it’s one of the lesser known destinations in France and is certainly one of the most remote.

Comprising grandiose, wild and unspoilt scenery, the region is known as the Grand Canyon of Europe because of its plunging gorges carved out by the crystal clear waters of the Ardèche and Rhone rivers.

The deeply breath-taking Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve is a must see. The series of canyons wind around the rivers, which have no less than 25 rapids. Simultaneously sumptuous, savage and friendly it’s not difficult to see why walking, kayaking, canoeing and white water rafting are favourite activities here.

Lucikly for me, Ardèche is also impeccable for more sedentary activities like enjoying fine wines and feasting on gourmet foods.

The charming ancient cliff-top village of Balazuc provided me with the perfect place to indulge. Rightfully awarded both the status of a Village of Caractere and classified amongst France’s most beautiful villages, it clings bravely to the mountainside overlooking the river Ardeche and is a delightful maze of cobbled streets, ancient walls and eclectic shops.

It is in this idyllic setting that ceramicist and artist Tom Charbit creates a range of pottery and art using raw materials working with their imperfections, vitality and beauty, and a mere 15 minute walk away lies the ecotourism hamlet of Viel Audon where tasty organic goat’s cheese, fruit jams, syrups and juices are produced.
The Château de Balazuc, a luxurious 11th-century castle, was my home for an enjoyable evening. Run by the most hospitable Luc and Florence Lemaire, the restored Chateau boasts beautiful contemporary bedrooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a terrace offering the most stunning sweeping scenery. Simply a perfect setting to enjoy local delicacies prepared by the lovely Florence washed down with beautiful viognier white wine and the region’s delicious speciality chestnut liqueur, châtaigne d’Ardèche.

Of course a trip to France isn’t complete without a visit to a winery. The ultra-modern Néovinum offers a unique interactive immersion into the Ardèche’s wine universe, followed by a most educational tasting session which did wonders to advance my oenologic knowledge.

The scenery in Ardèche continues underground, for the region is home to a secret world of seven magical caves. The largest cave is the awesome Aven d’Orgnac, which extends for over 20 hectares and its ceilings reach heights of up of 55 metres, the equivalent in height to Niagara Falls. Its geological jewels include fine crystallizations and enormous stalagmites and are a glorious sight to behold.

Ardèche is an essential destination for anyone seeking a slice of paradise. Its dramatic mountains and rolling green hills alongside paradisiacal chestnut forests and lavender fields all make for truly exquisite and goose bump-inducing visual treats. It really does offer some of the most diverse and spectacular landscapes I have ever set my eyes upon.

With thanks to the kind hospitality of the Ardèche Tourist Board.

Other places to check out:

• Pont-d’Arc Cavern. The world’s largest replica cave ever built will open in April 2015. It is a carefully constructed copy of the original 36,000 year old cave which is only accessible for scientific purposes.
  Alba-la-Romaine Archaeological Museum. A recently opened Roman cultural heritage site showcasing archaeological discoveries made over the last 20 years.
  Bistrot de Pays Au Levant. Situated in St-Maurice d’Ibie, this restaurant offers seasonal cuisine prepared by owners Elodie and Nicolas.

I heart Krakow

There’s nothing I like better than a city break so the opportunity to whisk my son away for his eighteenth birthday celebrations provided me with the perfect opportunity to try out somewhere new.

Krakow, Poland’s stunning second city, was the perfect choice. Just a two hour flight from Newcastle upon Tyne it’s a surprisingly speedy journey to one of Europe’s most historical and magical medieval cities.

After checking into the Venetian House, Krakow’s only aparthotel located directly on Krakow’s main market square, we set out to explore the city.

The main market square is the largest medieval-era square plaza in Europe. And very impressive it is too. Sitting in the middle of the square is an old Cloth Hall, which proved useful on many an occasion to gain my weak bearings, while a huge Gothic basilica stands proud at one end with the St Mary Town Hall Tower at the opposite.

Chilling in one of the many bars and restaurants (there are over 500 dotted around the old town centre), while sampling the local vodkas, wines and surprisingly delicious food, offers endless opportunities to watch the world go by.

Street performers add an entertaining buzz of excitement while horse and carriages transport tourists around the city. The market square is clearly the heart of the city.

Of course the weight of history hangs heavily in Krakow. The city has been at the centre of political upheaval in Europe for centuries, and the brutal horrors of the Second World War remain poignant.

Around 200 zlotys (approximately £40) will hire a buggy ride that explores the old Jewish quarter, and provides detailed narrative. This includes a visit to what was Oskar Schindler’s factory where the famous Schindler’s List was created, saving hundreds Jewish workers from certain death in Auschwitz.

Auschwitz is 30 miles west of Krakow. Our guide told us that all Polish students are obliged to visit. This should, in my opinion, be mandatory for everyone.

On the day we went, it was a blistering hot day as we passed under the Arbeit Macht Frei sign, yet I was cold with goose bumps. An official tour of the red-brick buildings converted to museums revealed the belongings of those who entered the camp.

I have no adequate words to describe Auschwitz. You need to go there yourself to comprehend the darkest depths of despair that over one million humans faced. Then put your own problems into perspective and be grateful for what you have.

That evening saw us spend an evening in a typical Krakow bar watching the World Cup 2014 final where Germany was victorious. The locals were beside themselves with delight and it highlighted to me that the passage of time will always bring forgiveness and light.

An interesting and beautiful city, I left a piece of my heart in Krakow.

An African adventure

Travelling ‘free-style’ (to me that means having no definite plans or places to stay) has always held fascinating appeal to my, until now, suppressed sense of adventure. So when my mum and I booked flights to Malaga in Spain with a vague idea of hitting Morocco in Africa I was certain this would prove to be a sure-fire and exciting way to fulfil this ambition.

It would also be, I thought, a good way to tick off a couple of my other long-standing bucket list desires – seeing Gibraltar and visiting Casablanca.

One plane, three buses, one taxi, and a ferry
Upon arrival at Malaga airport I was immediately struck by how cold it was. Being February this shouldn’t have come as a shock but, nevertheless, I was expecting it to be a little toastier than England. Fuelled by the desire for warmth and sunshine, we decided to continue heading south and aimed to reach Tangiers in Africa before sunset.

It was exceptionally easy to navigate the Spanish transport system. Within minutes we had boarded a local bus and were heading for Marbella where we transferred onto an Algeciras-bound coach. One further bus ride, with a taxi journey squeezed in between, saw us safely arrive in Tarifa, a town located on the southernmost coast of Spain and just a mere few miles from Morocco.

The main advantage of traveling by road, apart from the fact it is unbelievably cheap, is that it’s a great way to admire the scenery. Stretches of markedly quiet roads snake around the unmistakable charm of the Mediterranean Sea, which is beautifully lined with mountains and cliffs all scattered with curious-looking Spanish structures.

So content I became (and just a little bit smug that events were proceeding so smoothly) I succumbed to accidental sleep during the final leg of the bus journey and missed the views of Gibraltar. I expect it looks like an impressive grey flinty rock but, for now at least, that first-hand sight remains on my ‘to-do’ list.

Undeterred, the next step of the adventure was getting to Morocco and, luckily, from Tarifa it’s not a difficult task. Speedy Tangier-bound ferries leave the Port Of Tarifa regularly and the short journey is spent in relative comfort gliding over the choppy Gibraltar Straits.

Tangerine world
While Tangier offers lovely unspoiled beaches, February certainly doesn’t offer sun-basking weather so it was the city streets that we eagerly headed for. After finding one of the loveliest hotels along the seafront, we set about exploring the city, which is home to a bustling vibrant medina, and plenty of cafés and restaurants.

The medina is a pleasant place to get the feel of local ambience and, remarkably, we did not get pestered by the locals – who are known as Tangerines – so we had the opportunity to browse the shops selling food, souvenirs, clothes and other goods at a pleasurable and leisurely pace.

Playing in Casa
Proceeding south via a surprisingly comfortable five-hour train journey, we reached Casablanca. Fuelled with a romantic ideal to find a Bogart-style gin joint we swiftly checked into the first hotel located by the city’s Casa Voyageurs station and headed out to explore the surrounding area by dusk.

What a mistake to make! In hindsight, it’s abundantly clear that my research and planning skills need serious work as our excited roaming on the Casablanca streets near and around the train station yielded us a serious shortage of cafés or restaurants, let alone gin joints.

The one establishment claiming to be a restaurant we did venture into soon saw us ushered out with the claim that food was not served or available. Beaten, for this day, we reverted to dull food and sweet Moroccan wine savoured in the hotel lobby.

While Casablanca certainly is the industrial and economic heart of Morocco, I found it to be less than endearing. The traffic congestion made crossing the French-inspired boulevards into what felt like at times a life or death situations, and the pollution was eye-wateringly overwhelming.

Its unassuming and maze-like medina is fascinating but I personally found it mildly threatening after an interlude with a persistent local who insisted on advising us on the surrounding sights then demanded dirhams for his unasked trouble.

It must be noted though, I am naïve: two lone European women wandering the streets of Casablanca is bound to draw attention – indeed WE were the tourist attraction.

However, the awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque more than made up for this minor hassle and we settled by the edge of the Atlantic to take in its ethereal beauty as the sun went down for another day.

One noticeable difference in both cities, I found, is the way people (well, the men) know how to enjoy the moment. Relaxing in cafes watching the world go by, drinking coffee, smoking, and chatting – it’s certainly a pleasant way to spend time.

No place like home
With our time in Africa drawing to a close all that was left to do was to return to Spain in time for the flight home to Newcastle. An easy feat I confidently assumed given the inbound smooth experience. How wrong I was.

Adverse weather conditions saw all ferries from Tangier to Tarifa cancelled and a Spanish taxi driver strike threated to thwart a timely arrival back to Malaga. However, after frantic discussions in broken English and Arabic and some quick thinking, negotiations, and a small trek by foot on a busy motorway we were soon at our final destination.

Exhausted and ready to return to normality I have never been so happy to board an EasyJet plane. While I enjoyed every moment of my Spanish / African adventure, I have to say coming home can be as nice as discovering somewhere new.

As a certain Dorothy once said “there’s no place like home”.

With thanks to my dear mum.

In the company of Renault Zoe – a girl’s world review

As an electric vehicle aficionado I jumped at the chance to take Renault Zoe, the latest addition to the French car manufacturer’s lekky car collection, for a four-day jaunt.

Of course, I want to talk about Zoe’s appearance first. And why not, as it’s certainly a head-turning, pretty-looking motor effortlessly bucking the trend of the aesthetically-challenged electric cars of the past.

Its exterior design is sleek and futuristic; sweeping squinty headlights and a cute rounded nose complete with an over-sized Renault badge doubling as the charging point adorn the front, while its beautiful backside is perfectly complemented with a large round bumper and small brake lights set at the outer edges.

Upon further inspection, I discovered that the hidden rear door handles pleasingly bear the thumb print of Zoe’s designer Jean Sémériva. Nice touch, Renault.

The Zoe’s interior doesn’t disappoint either. The dash is well laid-out and its touch-screen system is super-sleek with clear and easy-to-use menus. And while the use of some cheap-feeling plastics here and there was disappointing, the overall feel was undoubtedly ultra-modern.

It’s clever too: the dash display area informs how economically you’re driving. The digital readout glows green for eco-driving, blue if you’re a bit heavy on the metal and violet if you’re consuming a lot more power than necessary. Another smart touch is the ability to warm up the car’s interior remotely, perfect for frosty mornings.

Any electric car is not good for long distance treks, and the Zoe is no different. The gearless, automatic design is especially built for city driving and its range falls short of 100 miles. As most of my initial impressions of the Zoe were mainly gathered on long stretches of more rural roads rather than city streets, I did experience a few bouts of range anxiety.

Somewhat naively, I was expecting to be able plug the Zoe into the mains and easily charge her overnight. This was not the case. To my chagrin, I was restricted to using public charging points leading to a mad-capped quest to charge the Zoe as her power speedily drained away.

Two attempts to charge up Zoe in the market town of Morpeth, Northumberland failed me due to unexplained technical glitches. Eventually I was led, thanks to the handy Charge Your Car iPhone app, to a lovely Northumbrian cheese farm where a charger was thankfully was in order. While this presented me with a good excuse to sit in a warm café while the Zoe rebooted, it did mean that I lost nearly a whole working afternoon; not a practical or convenient arrangement for most.

To be fair, however, it should be noted that a home wall charger is included in the purchase price.

Clearly with its limited range, the Zoe is not going to be the average motorist’s first car. As a second urban run around it’s ideal. Available from an acceptable £13,650 and with the addition of the £5,000 government grant it’s affordable, has bags of character, drives pretty well and, in my opinion, is one of the more attractive electric vehicles on the market.

To enquire about Renault Zoe tweet @WORGC or visit www.drivebenfield.com

Greening your travel

Travelling is often an unavoidable expense of life and doing business. We all need to get about whether it’s getting to work, doing the shopping or running your kids’ social lives.

However, there are a number of ways that you can reduce this– and save yourself a bit of cash too.

Always try and optimise your route – plan out your journey so you can take the quickest route and minimise the risk of getting lost and therefore using more fuel than necessary!

Consider the kind of vehicle you drive. Older models are less efficient in terms of fuel consumption so optimise fuel consumption by driving at a sensible speed, checking your tyre pressure, removing any unnecessary weight, changing gear at the correct time, and so on.

If you’re planning to change cars you could consider purchasing a hybrid model, which combine a petrol engine with a battery so are relatively fuel efficient. Electric cars will save you money on fuel, are tax free, and are immune to congestion charges. Charge your Car is available to all owners and drivers of electric vehicles, and members can access any charging points across the UK.

The Plug-in Car Grant offers a grant of 25 per cent towards the cost of an electric or hybrid vehicle, up to a maximum of £5,000 eligible for a range of cars.

Consider if it’s really necessary to drive; could you walk, cycle, take public transport or use the telephone?

If you need to use your car to commute see how the National Car Sharing Scheme to find people who make the same journey as you and are willing to share the costs.

Although this is business-focused, you may also wish to listen in on this radio interview I took part in a little while ago on green business travel.

A trip to Dordogne

It’s been a while since I last posted on here. Suffice to say it was a long and difficult summer involving a name change (no I didn’t get married), a home move and also a lovely trip to the Dordogne.

My review was initially published on the fabulous Daisy Green website, but I could resist posting it here too as a way to get back into the blogging habit.

Here it is:

The Dordogne region of south-west France is said to be one of the most beautiful and popular destinations in the country and it’s not difficult to understand why. Flying into Brive-la-Gaillarde treated me to a scenic feast of green forests, rolling hills, glinting ponds, beautiful villages, and ancient chateaus.

Brive is the central city for the region of Limousin in Southern France and has plenty to offer for everyone. As well as a pleasant array of shops and cafés to while away a few hours in, being medieval it also has plenty of architectural beauty adorned with slate roofs and sandstone facades to admire.

It is also home to the most delightful Denoix House, a family-run distillery founded in 1839. A tour with the charming owner revealed the secrets behind the traditional distillery craft that produces beautiful quality liqueurs using herbs, nuts and other fruits. In particular, their signature liqueur distilled from the local walnuts, is well worth a sample as is their purple mustard, which should be savoured with cold meats and cheese.

The Dordogne is well known to be the gastronomic heart of France. While the town of Brive hosts a market twice a week offering the produce of local smallholdings – everything from fruit, vegetables, honey and preserves. The local land also yields delightful delicacies like truffles, walnuts, chestnuts and wild mushrooms. Our tours through the winding forest flanked lanes in the area it became evident this is serious business for many local foragers.

A short distance south west lies the eighth century village of Collages de Rouge, which is probably the most hauntingly gorgeous villages I have ever had the privilege to visit. Entirely built with red sandstone, the village is entirely unaffected by modern trappings like overhead electric wirings and street lighting. It rightly has the status as one of the most beautiful villages of France.

Local proprietors Brigitte and Pascal Monteil offer the most generous hospitality in the beautiful fifteenth century Jeanne Maison d’ Hote. The quaint and luxurious hotel boasts a Rapunzel-esque tower where my room for the night was located right at the top.

An evening spent under the stars in their charming cottage garden with my exceptional hosts was delightful. Their previous restaurant ownership in Paris shone through both with the exceptional home cooked meal that was placed before me and their charming company and conversation.

The region of Limousin is littered with interesting medieval villages all unique and all offering a rich tapestry of fascinating history.

In the village of Curemonte follow the footsteps of French author Collette who found refuge here during World War II. The village boasts a rather unusual combination of three castles with round and square towers and turrets alongside noble houses and a twelfth century Romanesque church. The region is obviously proud of its links with Collette, who is considered to be France’s best natural writer, and a visit to Les Jardins de Colette reveal more of her interesting life, interests and personality. The attraction, which is situated close to luxury hotel the Château de Castel Novel, where she once lived, includes six unique gardens each centred on an era of her life and each having inspired her books.

Equally fascinating is the village of Aubazine where Coco Chanel spent her teen years living in the village’s abbey after her mother died and her father abandoned the family. It was here she learned sewing skills and, according to local legend, took inspiration from the patterned church windows for the Chanel world-famous brand.

Of course the region is also a haven for outdoor activities. The Gimel-Les-Cascades, a succession of three waterfalls falls created by the River Montane falling down a 450 feet ravine, offers a particularly enjoyable walking route. Even better, a gastronomically-sound wining and dining treat awaits at the charming Hostellerie de la Vallée. Overlooking the waterfalls, this two-star Michelin restaurant specialises in authentic French cuisine, beautiful local wine (I had Mille et Une Pierres 2001), along with breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views.

Equally, the dramatic Dordogne Gorges is a must-see. The morning I visited, the gorges were shrouded with a magical mystical mist but I am assured they offer sweeping scenery of some of France’s most picturesque countryside. Certainly I was privileged to follow the peaceful Vallee de la Dordogne, its edges home to a pleasant scattering of restored water mills and cosy holiday retreats. Les Flots Bleus restaurant, situated by the riverside, offered a stylish venue to enjoy a perfect summer lunch and of course plenty of delicious French wine.

Cycling is also a pursuit enjoyed in this region, its terrain offering something from novices to whizzes alike. Correze Cycling Holidays offers luxurious eco-friendly accommodation, lovely home-cooked meals and expert advice and tours on cycling in the area. Run by Sam and James Parry, who traded busy city life in Britain for living the dream in rural Dordogne in 2008, offer a most welcome stay for guests. Their enthusiasm for France and cycling is infectious and to my delight their pet dogs Henri (see picture below) and Dotty are wonderfully affectionate and entertaining.

Lovely Henri dog was very entertaining and affectionate.

My visit to Dordogne was loaded with scenic and foodie delights and offered welcome relaxing respite from the bustle of everyday life. I can’t wait to return!

Thank you for the kind hospitality of Régine Chassagne of Limousin Tourism.