It’s tricky to find better roads to explore than the roads of the UK. The windy coastal roads and narrow country lanes provide a road trip experience like no other.
Whether it’s through the hills of Scotland or along the Mediterranean-like coast, you won’t be disappointed with a UK road trip experience. Below, we’ve collated a list of some of the best routes you’ll find in the UK.
The Scottish North Coast
What better way to road trip than to explore the vast and diverse beauty Scotland offers? The north coastal route is just one of the many routes to explore – during the summer, the sunkissed coastline provides views hard to beat. The Scottish north coast iconic road trip, also known as the Scottish 500, is a 500-mile stretch of open road designed to immerse drivers in the scenery and culture of Scotland. Taking roughly 5 to 7 days, depending on how long you want to spend on the route, you might like to consider hiring a motorhome for the week to travel in complete comfort – you’ll find luxurious examples at www.ariescape.co.uk.
The route starts and ends at Inverness castle – one of the most dramatic castles in Scotland – which sets the tone for the rest of the journey. You’ll then travel across six regions – Black Isle, Easter Ross, Caithness, Inverness-Shire, Sutherland, and Weste Ross. Expect lochs, highlands, beaches, and wildlife in abundance along the route.
The Atlantic Highway
Totalling over 178 miles, this iconic road trip route has cemented itself as the gem of southwest England. Spanning across the counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, road trippers are graced with the best the counties have to offer. The remote route follows the A39, making it easy to navigate, with multiple stoppage points along the way.
Unlike the Scottish 500, drivers can complete the route in 8 hours without stopping – not stopping, however, would be an injustice. Instead, plan your route and take the time to explore the likes of Cheddar Gorge, the sea at Bude, the beauty of Boscatle, and the serenity of Port Isaac. Turn your road trip into a weekend away, and you’ll create memories to last a lifetime.
Land Of The Lakes
The land of the lakes is a road trip designed to create the perfect exploration route through the Lake District. This veritable treasure trove has soaring mountains, bewildering landscapes, and traditional British villages full of character. There isn’t one set route to follow through the Lake District, with many people opting to start and finish their journey in any breathtakingly beautiful town that appeals to their desires.
Whatever route you decide to take, there are multiple stopping points along the way that you can’t miss. Lake Windermere, for example, is one of the most picture-perfect postcard locations in the Lake District – and one of the most famous. Beatrix Potter’s farm, near Sawry, isn’t too far from lake Windermere – a firm favourite with tourists, especially lovers of Peter Rabbit. Scarfel Pike, Grasmere, and Ambleside are also well worth a visit – in both Grasmere and Ambleside, you’ll find plenty of cafes, traditional British inns, and pubs to fuel the rest of your journey. In Grasmere, you’ll find the UK’s top-rated gingerbread shop. Thousands of visitors arrive each month to tuck into the unbeatable recipe, created in 1854 by a victorian cook who later turned her home into the shop that stands today.
Depending on the route, you won’t find yourself travelling for more than 50 miles. Again, don’t rush the day away. Take your time and research traditional B&Bs and turn your road trip into a weekend.
The Yorkshire Circuit
Want to travel along one of the routes voted the best in north England? Immerse yourself in the North York Moors and the north Yorkshire coast for an unbeatable experience in the north of England. To follow the top-rate route, you’ll start in York and finish in Robin Hood’s Bay. Through the journey, you’ll delve into ancient roman architecture, rolling Yorkshire countryside, and one of the most sought-after coastal destinations in 2021, Whitby.
The Lonely Planet recommend taking 4-5 days to complete the route, ensuring you take your time to explore the various stoppage points in all their glory. Take York, for example. Don’t start your journey there by racing away – meander around the historic city, in and out of the boutique shops, and tuck into some hearty northern grub. Or when you reach the Moorlands, park up and stroll along the 5-mile Levisham Moor and the Hole of Horcum route.
Thanks to the diverse landscape, beautiful coastlines, and traditional villages, the UK has, by far, some of the best road trip routes you’ll find in Europe. Whether you want to make a holiday of it or simply want to spend a weekend exploring, there are endless routes to follow not mentioned above. What part of the UK would you most like to explore by road?