A friend bought an 3-type Jaguar on eBay and had it shipped all the way from Florida to Barcelona. He now explores Spain in style: I must say, I get quite jealous. So I was attracted to a package being offered by Headlam Hall, an award-winning country house hotel and spa in the north of England – a two-night Classic Car Break, which includes the use of an E-type Jag, a Porsche Carrera Targa, or an open-top Mercedes- SL380 Roadster. I’m tempted.

For me, the E-type is without doubt the most beautiful sports car ever built. Headlam Hall is offering the use of a 1972 V12 Coupe model, while the Porsche is a 1976 Carrera and the Mercedes the type driven by Bobby Ewing in Mrs Grumpy’s favourite soap of the Seventies, Dallas.

Headlam Hall is located in Teesdale, County Durham on the east side of the Pennines, a mountain range that’s often called the ‘backbone of England. Local attractions include medieval Raby Castle, scenic Hamsterley Forest and the historic city of Durham.It’s a great base to enjoy some of the best driving routes in the country, with wonderful scenery and charming villages in the nearby Yorkshire and Durham dales.

Whitby on the coast (think Bram Stoker and Dracula, and the port where Captain Cook did his early training); horse racing at Thirsk and Ripon; and the spa town of Harrogate are other attractions to take in while in the region.

The Classic Car Break includes two nights' dinner, bed and breakfast, a full day's hire a classic car (your choice), tailored driving routes (a mileage limit of 200 miles/320 kilometres per day)and a luxury picnic hamper for your day’s classic driving: an extra day's hire of the cars can be added to the package.

As I said, I am tempted.