Belgrave Square, 10am: a flock of eager drivers with their vehicles gather ahead of a 10:30 departure. The cars are varied in age, value and genre, but share a commonality in their owner’s desire to hit the road. These owners are also not cut from the same cloth, a mix of ages, professions and automotive experience, but again this common purpose unites them. Conversation turns to the next three days and our trip from London to Bordeaux taking in city, country, main roads and back roads. Before long, it’s time to move.

A hop to Portsmouth is handled quickly and we arrive at the ferry port. As the boat hits the seas, the owners hit the bar. Again, the conversation flows to the road ahead, roads travelled, and before long beyond cars into further topics and our group moves to the restaurant. This half travel day serves as a gentle start to the trip, removing the slog of many boring miles and offering a chance to rest up before the driving days ahead.

Arriving fresh in Saint-Malo the following morning, our group gathers and gets on the road. Our eclectic gaggle of motors proves captivating throughout the morning drive, with spirted flybys from the Fiat 500 cut against the metallic overrun of the 458 Speciale and seemingly silent waft of a passing Bentley Arnage. The island of Île De Ré moves into view as we traverse the famous bridge that connect this haven to mainland, and as tyres touch sand and the coastal air hits we realise we could have gladly left the cars and set up camp for some days. Local delicacies by the beach coupled with regional wine has our crew further convinced that this is a lunch stop we shan’t soon forget. Replenished, we get going – further untamed French beauty awaits.

Saint-Émilion, specifically. While one would likely struggle to declare any section Bordeaux less than pleasing on the eye, this medieval village is truly a sight to behold. And behold we do, as our table for dinner at 2 Michelin starred Hostellerie de Plaissance overlooks this World Heritage Site. Quite how this fair region commanded such a firm and finessed grasp of gastronomy, never mind the breath taking wine that accompanies, we can only begin to imagine, but needless to say cars are no longer at the forefront of our minds. Grateful though we are they brought us here, our focus is on food, wine and company – the hallmark of a beyond ordinary road trip.

The following morning spirits are high, boots are filled with wine and we’re back on the road. The prior planning of this ECC outing promised no early starts, and this is well received on this day especially. A road trip should never feel like a chore, despite a need to reach new locations. Of our pack the Mini is definitely best suited to this twisting walled town, delighting residents with its tuned engine tone and British flair. Today we move from country to city, heading to central Bordeaux to visit a building somewhat juxtaposed to the more traditional architecture that punctuates the town. Designed by Philip Stark, the contemporary setting of our lunch location at Mama Shelter offers a distinctly different environment to the day before, and the day before that – variety is the goal, and this trip is delivering. Our lunch on the rooftop gives us our second view of Bordeaux, a view we are not growing tired of.

Our final French destination is Brittany’s capital, Rennes. We leave the opulent confines of our hotel and hit the bustling streets to locate our fitting final French meal, a traditional delight from Renne’s oldest restaurant. Our pack then moves to the Penny Lane, a local late-night hotspot and for a night cap. The ferry back to reality beckons tomorrow, we reluctantly accept, though gladly only a very short distance away back at Saint-Malo.

Arriving back in London is a harsh reminder that a new journey doesn’t await tomorrow, and the trip is over. A great road trip is greater than the sum of its parts, and this trip was certainly that. After all, modern travel has lost its lustre and glamour of yesteryear and is now merely common part of life, a way of reaching a destination in a painless and often passionless manner.

Long live the road trip, then, and its ability to allow us to actually experience the places we pass through. If that’s with great cars, great friends and great food, then all the better. On to the next…