Behind the wheel with Arabella Weir

Words: Danny Scott

Where has been your favourite road trip destination?

A few years ago, my children, Archie and Isabella, and I drove up to Dumfries and Galloway from London. We were in my much-loved Nissan Qashqai and we had the music on ridiculously loud, singing along to every song – my own parents would never allow music in the car! By the time we got past Carlisle, it was pitch black and some of those roads were very twisty... It was a journey with that wonderful mix of slightly terrifying and loads of fun. 

What’s on your bucket list?

My parents were Scottish and I consider myself almost Scottish, so I’m hoping you’ll let me have Scotland again. I have never been to the far northwest coast: Kyle of Lochalsh, Ullapool, all the way up to Cape Wrath. But instead of concentrating on the driving, I would prefer to be the passenger. Then I could look at all that stunning scenery. 
 

What’s your ultimate travel song?

‘Boogie Wonderland’ by Earth, Wind & Fire. Not that I would encourage anyone to do this, but over the years I’ve perfected the art of being able to disco dance behind the wheel. In traffic jams, I’ve often seen people looking over and thinking, “What has happened to that poor woman?”

What is your most dramatic road trip story?

During my childhood, my dad was the British Ambassador in Egypt. He loved a road trip and decided to drive me and my little brother from El Alamein to Cairo. A mechanic said that the car needed new tyres but, being a bit tight-fisted, Dad didn’t bother. There we were in the middle of nowhere, 90 miles an hour and we had a blowout and bounced off the road into sand dunes. For several years, my brother refused to get in a car if Dad was driving! 

What are your packing essentials? 

Same as every modern traveller, I don’t go anywhere without my headphones and laptop. And I always slip a roll of loo paper into my hand luggage... Just in case. 

Do you have any clever travel hacks? 

Pack your suitcase, then take out half and take out half again. No matter where you are in the world, you will never need as many outfits or pairs of shoes as you think you’ll need. Be brutal!

What’s your dream car? And where in the world would you most want to drive it?

I’m very taken by all these 4x4s that aren’t really 4x4s. They look like they could handle a few mountains and swamps, but you get comfy seats and loads of gadgets. A friend of mine got the Volvo XC60 recently and it was like sitting in first class on a plane. Yes, please! I’d take it on a trip through France and Switzerland, across the Tyrol and down to one of the nice beaches on the east coast of Italy. 
 

Do you think you’re a good traveller?

Because of Dad’s job, I did a lot of travelling as a child and I was often on my own. Dad was in the Middle East, Mum might be in Scotland and I was put on a BOAC plane – that’s what British Airways used to be called – with a lovely lady who would meet me at the airport and make sure I arrived safely. She was called a BOAC Auntie. I felt tremendously grown-up... sitting there with my satchel and my glass of lemonade.

What’s been your craziest travel experience to date?

This is one of those incidents that only feels crazy in hindsight. I was in my 20s, hitchhiking around Europe on my own. Somewhere in Italy, this minivan pulled up. There were half a dozen boys and a couple of girls – I had no idea who they were or where they were from. We had the most brilliant time and, 40 years later, I am still very good friends with two of them. 

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

A hot Scotland! I love spending time up there but you’re always battling against the weather. I’m not asking for much – just a couple of guaranteed decent months in the summer. 
 
Arabella Weir joins Paul Whitehouse & Friends: All Star Comedy Gala at the London Palladium on 30 March (in aid of Pact). She is also part of the cast for the Two Doors Down live shows, which kick off on 25 September

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