Highland Caterham Hire - Elgin

Tim R.

I owned my own Caterham about 15 years ago and still miss it, so with my 60th birthday looming it seemed the perfect opportunity to hire one and re-live those happy times.
Nick and Neil were absolutely brilliant to deal with from start to finish. The induction video that they send in advance explains the basics really well so you don't waste time on a lengthy handover. They are also easily contactable during your hire to offer help and advice should you need it.
Their base in Elgin means that you are onto proper "Caterham roads" within a couple of miles and I was soon deep into the Cairngorms. The spec of the car is perfect for the roads roundabout, the half hood much easier to use than a full hood but still gives more than adequate weather protection and the performance and exhaust noise are intoxicating!
I had the car for 3 days and inevitably went a bit over my mileage allowance but the additional mileage charges are very reasonable.
Everyone should experience driving a Caterham at least once as there really isn't anything else like it. HCH make this really easy to experience and I can't recommend them highly enough.
I will definitely be back!

Josh B.

I rented a car from Highland Caterham Hire for 2 days over the weekend.

I initially booked a day last summer at the end of a week's holiday but had to postpone due to a family emergency. Nick was excellent with communication and allowed me to credit the day toward a future booking.

Collection was smooth and professional, and Nick showed a genuine interest in my planned trip to Durness and back in the Supersport. Clearly a man who loves cars and driving these incredible roads.

My planned trip was about 20 miles extra per day on top of the 120-mile daily allowance, and I was very pleased with the tariff for additional mileage. I ended up covering over 380 miles in 2 days, and the sub-£100 charge for the extra mileage (at 65p per mile) felt very reasonable.

The 120-mile daily allowance is actually generous — these cars are so intense that it really does feel like a lot of driving. Very fair, especially given the rental cost.

After collection, I spent some time getting used to the car and enjoying the novelty of driving such a machine, even at low speeds around town. The sense of occasion is phenomenal — the car turns heads everywhere and sparks positive comments and conversations wherever you stop.

Once I’d acclimatised, I started to appreciate the dynamics of the chassis and the absolute cracker of an engine. For a tuned motor, it pulls nicely in the lower revs — no need to constantly chase gears. The exhaust note is utterly intoxicating, acting as a constant reminder of what you’ve got under your right foot.

Performance is surprisingly usable. I approached this experience half-expecting the car to be twitchy and unforgiving but left feeling absolutely proven wrong. It’s planted and confidence-inspiring. The car rewards you for exploring its potential without punishing you — the power is just right, and the smooth delivery lets you focus on the drive without being afraid of the throttle.

Tyre and brake pad choice is spot on. The Uniroyal Rainsports suit the car perfectly and inspire confidence in all conditions — no tramlining or wandering over cambers. They handle standing water and damp roads with ease, while still offering great grip in the dry. A perfect match for the Scottish Highlands — a little rain never stops the fun.
The Ferodo DS2500 pads are my personal favourite, so I was pleased to see them fitted. I knew exactly what to expect, and they didn’t disappoint. The brakes are firm and require decent pedal pressure compared to a normal road car, but they offer great feel and longevity. I was able to really work them hard and trust them completely. Over 385 miles of spirited driving, I didn’t have a single scary moment — and that’s largely down to the confidence the brakes and tyres gave me. Pad and tyre choice can make or break a car, and Highland Caterham Hire has nailed it.

Overall, a blindingly epic experience — two of the best driving days of my life, made possible by a professional, knowledgeable, and passionate company that clearly understands its customers.

I couldn’t be happier with the experience and highly recommend Highland Caterham Hire to anyone looking for the ultimate raw driving thrill on UK roads.

I will definitely be booking again in the near future.

I will just add that at 6ft 5in I was worried I wouldn't fit, but with the seat all the way back it was actually perfect.

The provided wet weather gear is an absolute must, easy to install when necessary and quick to whip off again when the sun comes out. Priceless addition.

Many thanks to the team.

tom C.

Myself and a couple of friends rented two Caterhams from Nick and Neil for a 5 day trip around the NC500. The cars were great, perfect for the Scottish highland roads. There was mixed weather on our trip which meant we couldn’t have the roof down as much as we would have liked but that added to the adventure! They are very responsive little cars with a surprising amount of boot space if you bring a Soft shell bag and spread things out. We ended up doing 800 miles in the end which was over our allowance but the extra mileage charge is very fair so there was no issues there. Nick was very responsive via email and phone before and during the trip and the guys even met us at the train station to drop off the cars and pick them up.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use Highland Caterham Hire again. Looking forward to booking the cars again in summer 2025

Justin K.

I've just got home from a fantastic two day hire with Highland Caterham Hire. Ive been thinking about buying a Caterham for a while and thought it best to hire one to see how it is to actually live with one for a couple of days.

Firstly, very easy to book online and the communication from Nick was first class. Very quick to answer any questions I had, and the induction video was very handy for the basics on owning one of these cars. I picked the green one for my two days.

On picking up the car, handover was slick and the car was already waiting for me. Some quick paperwork and I was off to explore. It took a few miles to get settled in the Caterham as it's just so different. Absolutely fantastic experience. I did a mini tour around the Whisky trail and headed home, I even managed the school run in it.

The cars themselves really are unique, nothing quite like them. Plenty of character and bags of road presence. Just the right amount of performance for the road and they sound great. Pretty much convinced myself I need to have one in the garage, in SV form with lowered floors. Thanks again to Nick and Neil for the hire and their help during my rental. Highly recommended.

Mike O.

Not just "any" car hire... but one of the most rewarding driving experiences, from what I can only describe as two absolute ambassadors for Scottish Tourism that without doubt, lead to the total success of our trip!

Customer service from Nick & Neil was exemplary both pre and post booking. Given a brief outline for 6 people across 3 car hires, they were able to tweak our route to ensure we took in the best roads and sightseeing, comprising of a weekend tour of the Cairngorms followed by 5 days on the iconic NC500. No amount of Google Search could have provided the amount of insight as they did to ensure we had the *best* holiday! Ranging from the insightful matter of calculating our MPG and our petrol stops, the mundane of top commuting tips from the airport, to the absurd and sending us in depth boot space measurements required for packing - no enquiry went unattended without a level of enthusiasm and in depth knowledge. It is very evident they want to ensure you make the most of your trip, as if it were there own!

It is clear from the cleanliness of their workshops that these cars want for nothing, they are meticulously cared for by these petrolheads, extremely well presented and maintained. There is only one way to travel the NC500 and Highlands that's by a Caterham! We completed 868 smiles for miles faultlessly. The hires were worth it to see the joy these machines bring to pedestrians and passing childrens faces. The cars themselves drove and handled like a dream, whether you are "enthusiastic" and have prior trackday experience, or a complete novice, as ranged in our group - everyone very quickly bonded with the cars and adapted to their driving style and got the best from them in no time at all.

Top Tips: More often than not, you want one gear below that of your conventional car to get the best from them. They *love* engine breaking, ensure you go up and down throughout the gearbox and make use of the entire rev range to experience an unworldly pop and bang from the exhaust! Each car came equipped with 12v USB, which we only discovered on day 3 as they are located differently in each car and would have prevented funny looks of hoteliers constantly recharging our devices!

The combination of beautiful scenery, breathtaking routes, *outstanding* customer service made for a truly unforgettable experience. One that is most definitely going to remain with us for a long while and very difficult to surpass. Nick & Neils passion and knowledge of the area truly made a difference to our experience of the NC500. Thank you Gentlemen!

Alex L.

Best road trip ever!

These Caterhams are the perfect way enjoy the beautiful roads of the NC500.

Lightweight, fast and fun! I had wanted to experience a Caterham for ages and I think this is the best way. Of course, they are a very raw driving experience, but you bond with the car quickly and its high levels of grip and control are incredible; perfect for the twisty narrow roads of the NC500. The sound is awesome and they are surprisingly comfortable!

The route itself is a dream, especially the snow capped mountains and empty beaches of the West Coast of the Highlands in April. The whole route was full of pleasant surprises; from great restaurants to lovely people.

Nick at Highland Caterham Hire was super helpful, recommending a tweaked route for the best driving roads, plus advice on when to go, etc., to help us prepare before the trip. We flew in to Inverness and then it’s a really easy train ride direct to Elgin, where we met at the station to collect the car.

I can’t recommend Highland Caterham Hire and the NC500 highly enough… I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat for 5 days straight! Thank you.

Skrzypo

Perfect place with near perfect location. Caterhams and roads in north of Scotland, specially some mountain twisties are just marriage made in heaven. You have included 120 miles per day, any extra miles cost 0.65GBP per mile, but it is worth every penny. Sheer experience of driving extremely light roadster with no driver aids whatsover on one of the best roads to drive is really something that is hard to describe how memorable it was. You have raw sound, close to none insulation and low seating position, but you're still quite comfy inside. Everything inside is for purpose to save weight, but you have extremely good working heater in case of colder weather. It can fit larger people as well.
Cannot recommend it enough, but with caution, as it is what it is - rear wheel drive roadster with limited slip differential that weights third of most cars on streets.

anona H.

Hired a car for 3 days... it was an amazing driving experience!   Stunning scenery to drive around... so glad we hired the car to see the Scottish Highlands!

As a larger passenger I was worried whether I'd fit and how comfortable I'd be... needn't have worried, plenty of space (even when we had the roof up)

Nick and Neil provide a fabulous service... we'll definitely book again when we're up Scotland

Anona and Graham