"Very often, it's only after a brief trip to the south of England or some parts of Europe that I learn to appreciate just how deserted many of our roads are in Scotland, and how little many of them have changed since our vintage vehicles were driving on them daily. One road which I drive regularly in a vintage car is the A93 Spittal of Glenshee road, originally known as "The Devil's Elbow". It's the highest road in the UK at 2199 feet - comparatively small in comparison to the Stelvio Pass at 9043 feet! In 1907 the Scottish Reliability Trials crossed the Devil's Elbow, it was here that the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost made a significant name for itself. In memory and respect of those who tested cars around the Devil's Elbow 100 years ago, every time I cross Glenshee in a vintage car, I deliberately turn off into the layby halfway up and exit discreetly onto the old road. I've crossed it in my Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Vauxhall 30/98 and in reverse in a 1914 Renault. Yesterday I did it in my faithful old Austin 12/4. The most frightening part was hoping that the handbrake held as I took the photograph! A nostalgic drive on a forgotten road." |
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Vintage Roads in Scotland
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