With thanks to Ferrari and Aisle 8

Think of the name “Ferrari” and images of long, open roads on searing hot lanes come to mind, Bond-esque flights of fancy and you, looking and feeling like the best version of yourself. Wales, sheep and the grey skies of the UK are as far removed from the glamorous world of luxury cars as as you could get. Or so at least we thought. 

2021 saw Ferrari launched their newest model; the Roma. Let’s get something straight from the off - this is a luxury car brand, and luxury is integral to everything that they do. With that in mind, the Roma is perhaps the most user friendly of all of the models currently available, and the most acceptable for a quick trip to the shops on a Tuesday night. A recent two day driving experience was testament to this. Sure, it’s a hell of a lot faster than any other car on the road that we saw, and is so beautiful that it makes your elegant Savile Row suit look like it was a high street end of year sale purchase, but essentially, it is a car that you can drive with ease, and that combines speculator design, sports performance with an understanding of what is required for the daily lifestyles of the men that can afford to place an order for one. 

Commencing on a cold Wednesday morning in September we left the stately glamour of the Crewe Hall Hotel on a two-day trip which would take in the breathtaking sights of Snowdonia as well as provide something of an education to City based educators into what the location has to offer. It was from the off that it became clear that the Roma is, as you would probably expect, designed for the open road. In that setting, the speed and the agile way in which one could turn, take a corner and really feel comfortable all became easy and comfortable. Driving at the top end of the speed limit (that is all we can say about that) felt as natural as 30mph in your usual run-around and aside from the quiet roar at lift off, you will glide rather than drive. The hills of Snowdonia, each seeming to increase in size, including the sheep that graze on the side of the road were (all credit to Ferrari) a wonderful location to get to terms with the car, and get out of the city. Of course it is the years of work behind the scenes in Maranello that this owes thanks to. The Roma engine reaches 620 cv at 7500 rpm and is coupled with the new 8-speed DCT gearbox. The joy of driving is also partly due to the absolute pleasure to be derived from being the envy of all around you. It’s a super fun drive thanks to the fact that both the bodyshell and chassis have been redesigned to incorporate the latest technologies in weight reduction and advanced production. The mid-front engined 2+ Ferrari Roma has the best weight/ power ratio in its segment which enhances handling dynamics and responsiveness. 

In 3 hours which felt like all of 45 minutes, we arrived at the Palé Hall Hotel, a quiet countryside space with elegant tall rooms, Dickensian wallpapers in lush pink and green, and large, antique sofas to sink into. Word of warning - when driving fast cars for two days, avoid large meals in luxury hotels for fear of falling asleep at the wheel. The final destination of the day was the strange and wonderful Portmeirion Village. For anyone that has not been it can be best described as the Italian Riviera in Wales. During a year which has made travel abroad impossible, there is nothing more joyful than being able to leave your Ferrari with the valet and check into your cosy, history-laden cottage for the night. It was here that anyone with a camera phone would get it out and take a snap. From a distance, and then closer, making sure to capture all of the unique details that make Ferrari one of the undoubted luxury brands in the world.

he design of the Roma takes its notes from concept of sporty elegance celebrated in the legendary grand touring designs of the Sixties, front-engined cars with simple yet elegant forms and a 2+ fastback coupé design. Free of any superfluous details, it looks like a single block of metal made glossy liquid. 

Of course, a Ferrari is not the only thing to make your Instagram profile pop in Portmeirion. A tourist village in North Wales, it was the brainchild of extraordinary architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and his lifetimes work. Beginning in 1925 and taking up to 1975, the concept of creating a Mediterranean style village has been achieved, as the village overlooks the River Dwyryd and is full of large, colourful, each designed with unique feature cottages that range from comfortable one beds to awesome larger locations that would serve as places where the Beatles would throw a party, Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman would come and stay, and Noël Coward would write Blithe Spirit. Go for a few nights, and leave, inspired creatively fulfilled and at great speed and as the envy of all others in your Ferrari Roma. 

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