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Bagging A Munro: A Tesla Adventure

Bagging A Munro: A Tesla Adventure

written by David Simpson

So, last weekend I decided to ditch my EV evangelism hat and take my Model 3 Performance on a mega 1,200-mile long weekend break from the S&P factory near Kemble in the Cotswolds to the Kyle of Lochalsh in the Scottish Highlands.  The goal of the trip was five-fold:

 

1. Fully test the efficiency and practicality of the Tesla Supercharger network.
2. Catch up with two friends I’ve known for over 25 years.
3. Drink whisky (for, uh, “research purposes”).
4. Test out the S&P holiday home destination charging
5. Climb a Munro (because why not?).

 

Day 1: 7th Feb 

14:30 Kemble, Glos – Crewe – Gretna

After a mad dash around my house, stuffing some useful items of clothing into Waitrose bags, I did a final bit of paperwork at the factory before embarking on my epic journey at 14:30. As I was leaving, I realised my first rookie mistake: I had forgotten to fully charge my Tesla.

With the charge at 75%, I set off to meet my mate Matt at Crewe Station. According to ChatGPT, this was the most convenient meeting location between Cambridge and Kemble. After battling through the Friday afternoon M5 Birmingham traffic, I headed to the Tesla Superchargers at Trentham, near Stoke-on-Trent.

Finding plenty of chargers free, I grabbed a flat white and settled in to watch YouTube in Tesla Cinema while I got 36 kWh in 20 minutes at a fair 48p/kWh. Then I met Matt in Crewe around 18:15.

With an abundance of excitement and enthusiasm, we head north on the M6, with the Tesla sat nav suggesting a pit stop at Charnock Richard Superchargers near Chorley. The Tesla’s pre-conditioning magic is doing its thing as we roll into the service station, and we leave the car charging while we head off for a “gourmet” Burger King dinner in the restaurant intriguingly perched over the northbound carriageway.

 

The charging was a bit too efficient, though, meaning we had to wolf down our burgers and dash back to the car before the Tesla decided to start charging us for just hanging around. With the battery at a solid 98% and 38kW @ 48p/KWH  we once again set off into the night.

Matt takes the wheel for the first time ever in a Tesla, and it doesn’t take him long to discover the wonders of autosteer on a quiet, dark motorway. Cue the “Look, Ma, no hands!” moment.

Friday 21:35 Gretna – Dumbarton

At this point, we’re buzzing with excitement, thinking we’ve made it to Scotland. Spoiler alert: we’re not quite there yet—only 265 miles to go. No biggie!

We pull into Gretna Caledonia Park at 21:35, greeted by a gleaming fleet of Gen 3 Tesla superchargers in the car park. It’s just us, so charge times are looking pretty sweet. With nothing open, we kick back in the car and get 32 kWh in just 13 minutes. Not too shabby.

Since its deserted, charge costs  drop down to 38p/KWH, which I reckon is pretty reasonable for public charging.

 

Now, it’s time for an interesting fact! Did you know Gretna, Scotland, is most famous for Gretna Green? It’s renowned as the “marriage capital of the UK.” Since 1754, young couples have flocked to Gretna Green to get married “over the anvil” in the Famous Blacksmiths Shop, often to dodge stricter marriage laws in England and Wales. The village’s blacksmiths became known as “anvil priests” for conducting these ceremonies.

So there you have it—a bit of romance with your supercharging.

 

So, where to stop next?

Tesla assures us we have enough charge to reach our overnight stop at the oh-so-luxurious Dumbarton Premier Inn. Who can resist a £52 twin room? I see on the sat nav there are two 60 kW chargers at our destination. Should I use these or top up at Tesla before we arrive? Here’s my cunning plan: at an overnight stop, slow charging is better than fast charging. Waiting for an hour and a half late at night or first thing in the morning isn’t my idea of fun. Oversleeping and getting stuck with a sitting charge is a nightmare.

I opt to keep things simple and head to the Tesla Superchargers just before Glasgow to get enough juice for the next day’s grand adventure to Fort William. The Superchargers were conveniently located at the Radstone Hotel, so we popped in for a cheeky late-night pint while getting another 40 kWh at a very fair 38p/kWh.

Day 2: 8th Feb

Saturday 07:20 Dumbarton – Syke

After a solid overnight stop at Dumbarton, we were up bright and early to start our journey over the Highlands.

The sun was shining, and Loch Lomond looked stunning as we cruised towards Glen Coe.

We arrived in Fort William just in time to witness the grand entrance of The Caledonian Sleeper from London. We parked the car at the Fort William Tesla Superchargers and ventured into town for a Scottish vegan breakfast. Keeping an eye on the clock, we devoured our breakfast and got back to the car just before it hit 96% battery. Despite the bay being quite busy, we managed to snag another 53 kWh at 38p/kWh.

After our all-important pit stop for wilderness essentials (think After Eights, beer, and wine— the trifecta of survival), we embarked the final voyage to our destination Kyle of Lochalsh, near the bridge to Skye.
We rolled up to my buddy Simon’s majestic holiday abode Coillemore House , around 11 a.m. This place is the perfect retreat if you and your pals fancy a week of lording it up like nobility.

Time to unwind and soak in the splendour! We made our way to Plockton for a well-deserved pint of Guinness, gazing over the picturesque bay. Simon, ever the early adopter, has been test-driving our spanking new holiday home series charger. I juiced up my car using the ultra-convenient Tap Electric app, hitting 80% charge in anticipation of the next day’s escapades.

Sunday greeted us with rare Highland sunshine and clear skies—pure magic in February. Breakfast was a hearty non-vegan spread of Scotland’s finest haggis, bacon, and eggs, prepping us for our Skye adventure.

We conquered the Bruach na Frìth mountain from Sligachan to Am Basteir (the Dragon’s Tooth) on the Cuillin Ridge. It took some effort, but the jaw-dropping view was worth every step. Exhausted yet satisfied, we retreated to dine at the Plockton Hotel, fueling up for our early morning departure.

Monday morning, 6:00 a.m., my iPhone blared. I set defrost and preheat on the Tesla app (because who says electric cars are useless in the cold?). With a full battery from the Coillemore House S&P destination charger, Matt and I hit the road at 6:30 a.m.

 

Our first rendezvous was in Fort William, where we enjoyed another sublime drive as the sun pierced through the clouds. We grabbed a 29.6 kWh top-up at 38p/kWh and a McMuffin and flat white combo. Onward we journeyed, cruising over Glencoe back toward Glasgow, and landed at Larkhall for another top-up and caffeine fix.

We lunched on a piping hot pie at Tebay Services, dropped Matt at Crewe station, and I gave my car one last charge at Trentham Gardens. Finally, I rolled back home to Kemble, Gloucestershire, at 6:15 p.m.

So, what did my 1,200-mile weekend escapade teach me? The Tesla Supercharger network is still top-notch—every charger worked flawlessly, and the costs were fair. I shelled out £147.31 for a 1,200-mile trip in a 465bhp beast, which I’d call a steal.

While on-route Supercharging is fabulous, this trip underscored the necessity of destination charging. Skye’s fast-charging options were dismal. Having Coillemore House’s charger for our local jaunts and the epic homeward drive was invaluable.

Craving a slice of adventure? The Highlands beckon for a weekend getaway. Ring up my pal Simon and snag a stay at the luxurious Coillemore

House—it’s a lavish sanctuary complete with Simpson & Partners Holiday Home charging..