Driving with Volcanoes and the Hyundai Kona 10 Challenge

Last week I was invited on a car launch with a bit of a difference as Hyundai had invited me and a handful of other lifestyle bloggers to join them in Snowdonia to take part in an outdoor experience like no other to celebrate the arrival of the Kona to the UK.

Our experience coincided with the adventure athlete Sophie Radcliffe taking on a unique challenge in support of Stand Up To Cancer.  As part of the Kona’s UK launch, Sophie and the team from Hyundai tackled 10 of the UK’s volcano formed mountains.  In the space of just 72 hours (and with a little help from a Hyundai Kona), the team would make their way around the British Isles completing challenging hikes up the likes of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and of course Mount Snowdon – where we would be spending the night.

Our day started in the plush surrounds of the Abode hotel in Chester where I was partnered up with Ed Lemont (The Discerning Man) and handed the keys to a rather good-looking Kona in dark grey.  Our driving route had already been imputed into the car’s easy to use sat nav and would take us on an adventure into Wales, stopping at some spectacular spots.

The first port of call was to Dylan’s restaurant at Cricceith beach, a lovely restored art deco building that overlooks the small bay and serves up some very tasty grub.  We then made our way up the road to Black Rock Sands, which as the name suggests is a dramatic wide beach covered in dark coloured sand.  We were allowed to drive (slowly) along the beach, which was a pretty cool experience and provided the perfect backdrop for some photos.  Even in the rather wild Welsh weather, the view was stunning!  Our final challenge before settling into our home for the night was a rather daunting drive a third of the way up Mount Snowdon itself via a very narrow old miners track.  Thankfully the Kona handled the terrain with ease and before we knew it we were back at ground level on the way to base camp.

And when I say ‘camp’, I’m not joking as Hyundai had created a really cool looking tented village for us to spend the night right at the foot of the mountain.   As it was my first (ever) experience camping, I was pleased to see the setup was more glamping than anything else though.  We each had our own little wigwam tent complete with power supplies, electric blankets and that all important wifi.  Had it not been for the relentless rain (it was Wales after all) battering down all night, then I would have slept like a baby in the warmth of my own little cosy tent.

The next morning, I was glad to get behind the wheel of the Kona again as we headed back to Chester to catch the train home.  A fun and unforgettable couple of days getting to know the Kona and exploring some epically stunning parts of the UK.

#Kona