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"It has va-va-voom"


By Pauline Burnett



Deirdre Smyth is the property manager at Culloden Battlefield, one of the National Trust for Scotland's flagship properties. A Fort William girl, Deirdre managed Glenfinnan before moving north to Inverness nine years ago. She lives with her partner, Ronnie, and their two dogs, Lochy Mhor and Zach...

Did you love the Evoque?

"I liked the car very much, it was very nice to drive, very comfortable – quite smooth but it has va-va-voom – you definitely feel it has a bit of go in it. Great if you live a wee bit out of the way, or off the beaten track. It looks nice and has all these fancy gadgets that are absolutely brilliant."

What fancy gadgets?

"Well, you can plug your music in, if it's your iPod or your phone and it has voice control. It would take a while to get the hang of all the different features but that wouldn't be a hardship! I can imagine it'd be quite nice driving along and giving it instructions. This could well go on my coveted cars list."

Would it be a good car for your dogs?

"My partner and I have two dogs – Lochy Mhor, a rehomed Weimaraner who spent some time in Munlochy – and Zach, an old golden lab. This would end up looking like my current car which is basically a motorised kennel! They'd definitely mess it up. But my dogs are a big part of my life so they'd go in my car. I wouldn't care really. It'd be a very good car for me."

Can you see yourself nipping about town in it?

"Yeah, it's neat enough to park and wouldn't need a huge space – very important for me. For going on holiday it'd definitely be the business, it was very comfortable. When I went in at first the seat was down but goes up at the touch of a button and the visibility is good. You don't need a key. It's got lots of really cracking features, and it's easy to drive. I went out to Cawdor, came down through the back roads and back onto the A96."

Have you driven a 4x4 before?

"Yes, I won an off road experience Land Rover thing in Dunkeld in a raffle once – it was brilliant. They'd climb up things you'd think twice about walking up – and then down the other side. But it just did it all itself – I was hanging onto the steering wheel looking down a cliff, thinking 'No way', but they were saying 'just relax, take your foot off the brake and it'll do it all itself'. You didn't even have to think about it, just hold on to the steering wheel and point it in the right direction. Brilliant fun!"

What was your first car?

"A horrible mustard coloured Ford Cortina when I was 19 or 20 – I loved that car. I started learning to drive and booked my test a couple of weeks before my older sister. She sat her test the day before me and passed it – mine was the next day. I couldn't face not passing it – there was a bit of sibling rivalry – but I managed to!"

Were you worthy of being on the road?

"Hmm... when I went out on my own for the first time I was going up Alma Road in Fort William, which is quite a steep hill and I got halfway up it and I must've got into the wrong gear because the car stopped and I couldn't get the thing started again, I was revving it, hanging onto my handbrake, and it wasn't going anywhere. So not really."

Were you rescued?

"(laughs) I was there for about ten minutes and then there was this old man pushing his bike up the hill. I told him there was something wrong with the car so he got in and just drove it straight up the hill. I was left there with his bike, feeling like a fool."

But you're better at driving now...

"Oh yes – I've improved a lot, but it's funny, you can't drive when you pass your test."

Where do you head to if you want to have a good spin in the car?

"The last nice drive I had I went up to Ullapool – I hadn't made any plans, I just decided 'I'm off'. I got on the fast rib and went out to the Summer Isles then drove back and the sun was setting and the moon was out a bit – it was absolutely beautiful."

Do you drive to unwind then?

"I like driving and the places it takes you to, but I don't like driving in cities, I hate that – I just can't be bothered driving in traffic. It's just a nightmare. I like to drive in nice places."

Where are you on the speed scale?

"I've always thought that I am quite number eight from nought to granny, so quite grannyish. I'm quite a careful driver."

So it's not a white knuckle ride?

"No, people are quite complimentary about my driving, which is nice. My partner thinks I'm a good driver, and generally people seem fairly relaxed when I'm driving."

Is there anything you're rubbish at?

"Reversing! I prefer a very large parking space, but this car is great because it has cameras for reversing!"

What irks you about other road users?

"I hate people who drive at ridiculously low speeds – that's dangerous. Or people who suddenly pull out at a junction in front of you, then decide to drive about ten miles an hour. I think there should be a minimum speed."

You've stayed in some of the Highlands' most exciting buildings...

"I've been very fortunate, yes. The National Trust for Scotland looks after many of Scotland's most amazing and beautiful places. Working as a property manager I've been lucky to live in some of them: Glenfinnan – with one of the most spectacular views in Scotland – looking at the monument and right down Loch Shiel, then Culloden Battlefield, which is a very special place and also beautiful Brodie Castle. I now live not far from the battlefield."

And you oversaw the transition from old visitor centre to new...

"Yes, I worked in the old centre and it has been a real experience being part of such an exciting project as the new centre. It's a fantastic exhibition, one that everyone should visit if they want to know about their history and heritage and we have visitors from all over the world all through the year."

What do you listen to in the car?

"I like all kinds of music. The new Arctic Monkeys songs and The Eagles are great driving music – you sing to yourself don't you? It'd be terrible driving without music – a long journey would be a nightmare."

What's next at Culloden?

"Well we've got a new piece of music theatre as part of the Blas Festival – Fiona Mackenzie will be celebrating the life and Gaelic song collection of Margaret Fay Shaw on September 6th. Then the Culloden run is on for its second year on the 27th October. There are two courses – the Culloden 17.46K, which is pretty challenging, and a 10K run on a fairly flat route around the battlefield."

* Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre is open daily from 9-5:30 (times vary after October 31st). Call 08444932159 or see www.nts.org.uk/culloden.

* To register for the Culloden runs, see www.chssi.org.uk/culloden.

Beauty and brains – the Evoque has it all...

With its concept car looks, presence and immediate luxury the Range Rover Evoque has been a worldwide success for Land Rover since its launch. The car driven here is a 2.2 diesel Prestige model at £39,995.

With permanent four-wheel drive and Terrain Response the car is sure footed on all surfaces but you rarely notice the outside climate as you are cosseted in your leather, heated, electric memory seats.

You can survey the weather through the panoramic glass roof that covers the front to rear of the vehicle.

The car also becomes an extension of your smart phone; looking after calls, contacts and playing music with Bluetooth streaming through the superb Meridian entertainment system. TV and DVDs can also be viewed by passengers.

* To find out more visit Range Rover at Harbour Road, Inverness or call Ian Campbell on 01463 668974.

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