Detour #339: Driving Smart on the Snow Roads of Scotland, UK
In the great British Boaty McBoat Face tradition of giving things the most obvious of names, Scotland’s Snow Roads are exactly what the moniker suggests.
There’s 90 miles of them, stretching from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, passing ski resorts, castles – including a current royal residence – plus whisky and wildlife aplenty to enjoy along the way.
Today, as well as plenty of the white stuff to deal with there’s an added layer of anxiety to deal with. The Smart #5 I’m driving is fully electric and this part of Scotland isn’t exactly brimming with rapid chargers. While the situation is definitely improving, and major destinations such as Aviemore have plenty of options to add electrons, the Snow Roads have yet to fully embrace the electric revolution and you’ll only find a smattering of 50 kW chargers in the towns.
Having fully charged at 150 kW in Perth it shouldn’t be a problem, but with temperatures hovering around zero the Smart’s heater is sapping range. A realistic 160 miles seems possible, especially if the downhill sections regenerate some energy.
First, however, there’s the climb up from Blairgowrie, which is gentle at first on the A93 Balmoral Road, through woods and open farmland. It’s a pleasant road that gradually increases in elevation without you even realising it. Mostly open bends mean you could get quite a lick on, but there are well-signposted speed cameras to discourage you from doing just that. For the vast majority of the drive the speed limit is 60 mph and the Scots recently voted not to reduce it on this and other rural roads. It strikes a sensible balance between safety and the need to make progress.
As the mountains begin to loom larger the first smatterings of snow begin to appear. At the Spittal of Glenshee, after ascending rapidly through a series of tighter turns, the landscape suddenly switches from colour to monochrome as if someone just changed the film in their camera. Snow blankets the landscape, the road a dark grey line cutting a ragged course through its centre.
At the Glenshee ski resort the Cairnwell Pass is the highest paved road in the UK, rising 2,198 feet (670 metres) above sea level. There’s actually too much snow right now and only one of Glenshee’s chair lifts is delivering die-hard winter sports fans up the mountain.
If you’re expecting switchbacks like Stelvio then the Cairnwell Pass will be disappointing. Instead, it offers a more meandering approach to mountain climbing and descending, which means there’s time to enjoy the view instead of endlessly working steering, brakes and gears.
As even more snow falls I’m conscious that the Smart is shod with summer tyres, but, maybe because of the weight of its battery pack, they seem to cut through to the tarmac below and I’m able to push on.
At Braemar there’s further sport to be had on the UK’s highest 18-hole golf course, while things take a more regal turn beyond the Bridge of Dee on the approach to Balmoral. Even though the snow tends to stay only on the high ground, the Royals are known to keep away in the winter months, but visitors are welcome year-round
Reach Ballater and it’s a left on to the A939, passing the so-called Ringing Stone of Glen Gairn and the glorious birch woodlands and lochs of the Muir of Dinnet nature reserve.
From Tomintoul it’s just a short detour to discover the reserves of the Glenlivet distillery or make the final few miles to Grantown-on-Spey. Perched below the 3000-ft peak of Ben Avon it’s the highest village in the Cairngorms and busy with hikers and mountain bikers braving the weather.
As for the Smart #5 it’s acquitted itself well in the wintry conditions, proving comfortable, warm and able to go the distance. Like the Snow Roads then, the Smart name seems about right.
Words Nik Berg Instagram
Photography Jonny Fleetwood Instagram
ROADBOOK
CLASS: Mountain Passes
NAME: The Snow Roads
ROUTE: Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey
COUNTRY: SCotland
Distance:90 Miles
In the great British Boaty McBoat Face tradition of giving things the most obvious of names, Scotland’s Snow Roads are exactly what the moniker suggests.