Glorious Driving in County Durham

Teesdale is a beautiful unspoilt dale that is a perfect base for a classic driving experience with peaceful rural roads, pretty villages and plenty of attractions to see along the way. It also sits nicely between Swaledale to the south and Weardale to the north with the Lake District comfortably within reach should you wish to venture a little further afield.

Why not take your pick from our selection of classic cars? We will supply you with our tried and tested route through Teesdale and up over to Weardale or you can plan your own bespoke tour of the dales. Car hire available from 1st May - 31st October.

Aston Martin DB7 V12 Vantage Volante

One of the most iconic marques of British motoring must be Aston Martin and the DB7 is already a modern classic. Our immaculate 2002 car is finished in Aviemore blue with cream leather upholstery and has an electrically operated soft top roof to enjoy some open air motoring. It has automatic transmission making it a very relaxing car to tour around in. The DB7 has often been referred to as one of the best looking Aston Martins and with its wonderful V12 engine this is a very enjoyable drive with a great sense of occasion.

Driver's Notes: It is relaxing and comfortable with good space and headroom. The auto gearbox and power steering make it very manageable and the engine sounds fantastic.

Morris Mini Cooper

Small, nimble and great fun to drive. Our car is a 1966 mk1 Cooper in the fabulous period colour of Tweed Grey and its styling pays homage to the 'giant killing' rally pedigree of these great cars. It has a few historic rally modifications including a rear roll bar for added safety and the classic Minilite wheels. You always get a smile when driving a Mini!

Drivers Notes: They are, of course, small but can be driven by someone up to 6'2" tall in reasonable comfort. Due to the rear roll bar the back seats are not suitable for passengers. The ride is firm and because this model has the hydro-elastic suspension it has a slightly smoother ride. An involving car to drive and very rewarding on the twisty roads of the local dales.

Jaguar XK150 DHC

A quintessential luxury British sports car from the 1950s. Our example is finished in British Racing Green with tan leather interior and has the 3.4 litre, 6 cylinder engine. A few modern upgrades such as disc brakes, power steering and a 5-speed gearbox add to the enjoyment of using this fabulous classic on modern roads. A very special open-top classic motoring experience awaits for the discerning lady or gentleman classic car driver!

Driver's Notes: This model has plenty of leg-room and the power steering and 5 speed box make it quite user-friendly for a 1950s car. The clutch is rather heavy but other than that it feels at ease in modern traffic with a comfortable ride.

Rates

Available from 1st May - 31st October

 

Full day
(10am-6pm)

Half day
(10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm)

Aston Martin DB7

 

 

Monday to Friday

£350

£275

Weekend / Bank holiday

£400

£325

Mini Cooper

 

 

Monday to Friday

£200

£160

Weekend / Bank holiday

£250

£200

Jaguar XK150

 

 

Monday to Friday

£425

£325

Weekend / Bank holiday

£475

£375
     

 

Hire includes:

  • Up to 150 miles per day or 100 miles per half day (petrol included)
  • An introduction to the car and its features
  • Fully comprehensive insurance (see T&C’s)
  • Available from 1st May - 31st October

 

Terms & Conditions of Hire

  • Hire is only available to guests staying overnight at Headlam Hall or the Rose & Crown.
  • Drivers must be over 30 years of age with a valid UK license held for at least 5 years and no more than 3 penalty points currently on their license.
  • The cars have fully comprehensive insurance with a driver excess of £750 which is to be paid by the hirer in advance but which will be refunded when the car is returned in the same condition as it left.
  • There is a daily mileage limit of 150 miles (100 miles for a half day hire) and excess mileage will be charged at £3 per mile.
  • Petrol is included in the cost of hire* Due to the volatile fuel markets we reserve the right to apply an additional surcharge on hire rates if needed.
  • Dogs - a small 'lap-dog' can be taken in the cars. Please note that it is the hirer's responsibility to protect the interior trim and any marks/damage may be charged for.