12 of the UK’s best road trips

1. The Atlantic Highway, England

Despite its “grand name”, this “stunning stretch of road”, also known as the A39, passes some “lesser known spots” in Devon and Cornwall, said Time Out. Connecting Somerset with Cornwall, the stretch between Barnstaple and Fraddon is named the Atlantic Highway thanks to the “almost-constant views of the Atlantic Ocean you can spy from the tarmac”. The route passes “photogenic places” like Bude, Padstow, Newquay, Clovelly, Boscastle and Tintagel. “Five days should do it.”

2. Ben Nevis to the Isle of Skye, Scotland

The “scenic drive” from Fort William to Mallaig has an “antique weirdness”, said Rough Guides, like “stepping back in time”. Every mountain and loch “tells a story” and the “ghosts of the Jacobite and Victorian eras are never far away”. Start in the “shadows” of the UK’s “most alluring peak”, Ben Nevis, and near the journey’s end, Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater lake in the UK, will “fill your windows with stunning views”. From here you can “stop and enjoy the surroundings”, or “continue across” to the Isle of Skye. This two- or three-day road trip is “best for” historians and “Harry Potter” fans.

3. North Coast 500, Scotland

Taking up to five days for a round trip, this rugged Scottish coastal route is well worth the 500 miles it’s named after. Road trippers can take in jagged mountains, historic fishing villages, Scottish architecture and breathtaking mountain landscapes along the way, enjoying local delicacies such as haggis and Scotch pies.

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4. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

The Causeway Coastal Route is “arguably one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland”, said TheIrishRoadTrip.com. Between the cities of Belfast and Derry, the Antrim Coast road is 195 miles in length and “fairly straightforward”. Highlights of “one of Ireland’s best drives” are the Glens of Antrim, Giant’s Causeway and Torr Head.

5. Cambrian Way, Wales

Wales is the “perfect destination” for a road trip and the Cambrian Way is “epic”, said the Emily Luxton Travels blog. Mainly following the A470, the 185-mile route runs from the capital city Cardiff in south Wales to the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno in north Wales. Recommended as a five-day trip, it’s packed with “rich heritage, fascinating history, and some truly spectacular scenic drives”.

6. Snake Pass, Peak District, England

This hill pass carries the A57 road from Manchester to Sheffield and snakes its way through the National Trust’s High Peak Estate. Vast, breathtaking moorlands can be seen by visitors as well as Manchester and beyond if the weather is favourable. As its name suggests, this is a windy route with many twists and blind turns.

7. Kintyre 66, Scotland

One of the newer road trips in the rankings, the Kintyre 66 opened in 2021 and – as the name hints – is a 66-mile circular route offering remote exploration and adventure, stunning views and beautiful beaches. Affectionately known as the “Tartan Road”, this road trip zigzags its way past various stunning Scottish islands; most notably, the Isle of Arran is reachable by ferry during the summer months and is well worth the detour.

8. The Lakes 100, Lake District, England

This circular journey – more than 150 miles – takes you through the Lake District’s most beautiful scenery. This is “not your normal 100-150 mile trip”, said the route’s official website, there are a lot of the roads that are “windy, uneven, and narrow in places with single lanes”.

9. South West Coastal 300, Scotland

Described by the South of Scotland website as “the road trip for lovers of Scotland”, the South West Coastal 300 is a circular route that hugs the southwest coast of Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire. Expect “sandy beaches, rugged clifftops, rolling hills” and many “charming” towns and villages along the way.

10. Jurassic Coast, Dorset, England

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast road drive is one of the “most strikingly scenic coastal roads” in Britain, said Dorset Camper. From Weymouth to Bridport (or vice-versa), the 18-mile B3157 coast road is the best way to see the World Heritage Jurassic Coast by car, bicycle or bus. It follows the line of the Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon offering “breathtaking, high vantage-point views of coast and countryside”.

11. Northumberland Coastal Route, England

The Northumberland Coastal Route stretches 62 miles from the village of Cresswell in the south to Berwick upon Tweed in the north, said Daniel Hall in the Hexham Courant. Drivers can see “Roman ruins, a slew of castles including the mighty Bamburgh, as well as stopping at villages such as Seahouses, Alnmouth and Craster for fish and chips or a pub lunch”.

12. North York Moors, Yorkshire, England

If you are visiting Yorkshire then “a drive across these desolate moors is a must”, said Motorhome Hobos. The A169 makes for a “pleasant meander” through the wilderness and apart from one hairpin bend – called the Hole of Horcum – it’s “pretty easy going”. This is the main route across the moors and follows close to the North York Moors Railway.