When discussing idyllic road trips boasting open roads on the horizon and Springsteen on the radio, it’s standard procedure to wax lyrical about the epic routes that can be found in the USA or Australia. But closer to home, we think that the UK is blessed with some equally thrilling scenery and some of the most spectacular drives in the world.
With its rugged mountains, picturesque countryside and long stretches of coastal roads, the UK has countless wonderful road trip destinations just waiting to be discovered. From visiting the quaint, honey hued villages in the Cotswolds and traversing the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland all the way to enjoying everything the Lake District has to offer, here’s a closer look at just four of the UK and Ireland’s best road trips to take this year.
Visit The Villages Of The Cotswolds
A cruise around the Cotswolds makes for the most quintessential English road trip imaginable. Here, you’ll find mile upon mile of lush green countryside punctuated by winding lanes and untroubled villages that seem to belong in a fairy tale.
There are many routes to take when journeying through the region. Perhaps our favourite uses Chipping Campden as a starting point and then makes its way north, taking in Broadway, Stanton and Stow-on-the-Wold along the way; the latter being home to the much-photographed north door of St Edward’s Church, flanked by two ancient yew trees that look as though Tolkien had a hand in planting them. Alternatively, you could start in Oxford, then drive to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bourton-on-the-Water, and end up in Bath. Bookending your road trip with two of the UK’s most iconic, historic cities? Sounds pretty ideal to us.
Although the region is beautiful at any time of the year, spring and autumn are arguably the best times for a road trip. Traffic is significantly lower, and there’s something to be said for catching the wisteria in bloom on Arlington Row in Bibury, or the russet tones of beech woods around Snowshill in October.
Take In Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
If you’re looking for a longer trip rather than a quick weekend break, consider exploring the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. The coastal highway stretches all the way from Donegal in the north down to County Cork in the south, and comprises around 2,500 km of road, making it one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. Among the many places worth stopping at are Sligo (which was one of Yeats’ greatest inspirations), Connemara, Galway, Kinsale, and the vertiginous Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, where the Atlantic puts on a show that needs no narration.
Along the way, the local seafood is some of the finest you’ll encounter (and hopefully eat) anywhere on the planet, with the local oysters and langoustine particularly revered. You can, in fact, base your whole road trip around eating shellfish, with the experts at The Taste Ireland recommending starting at Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Cork. When finishing up in Donegal, Killybegs Seafood Shack boasts views of the harbour and the freshest fish on the plate.
As you can expect to drive as many as 1,500 miles in total (the whole thing could take you up to three weeks to complete), you’ll need to ensure your car is in good shape before setting off.
Explore The Lake District
Another popular road trip destination is England’s Lake District, which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Windermere, the largest natural lake in England, is a great spot to start. From there, you can travel to nearby locations such as Wastwater, Nether Wasdale, and Ennerdale Water, all of which offer incredible vistas of both mountain and lake, and the opportunity to park up and take a hike, should you fancy a shift from wheels to feet for a while. Wastwater, for the record, was voted Britain’s favourite view by ITV viewers some years back, and standing on its shore with the screes plunging into the water and Scafell Pike rising behind, it’s not difficult to see why.
Depending on the time you have at your disposal, continue further north to the Lakes Distillery near Bassenthwaite Lake, where you can learn more about the production of fine whiskies and pink-grapefruit gins. Just make sure you’re not the designated driver first.
For a proper detour, the Honister Pass between Borrowdale and Buttermere is one of the most dramatic stretches of tarmac in England, climbing to gradients of 1-in-4 with views that more than reward the gear changes.
Black Mountain Pass, Wales
Although it sounds like a treacherous location straight out of the Lord of The Rings, don’t let this put you off. The Black Mountain (A4069) pass is not to be missed for road lovers.
One of Wales’ most scenic routes, it connects Llandovery with Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, it is generally considered to be one of the best roads in Wales, if not the UK. Top Gear filmed here more than once, which gives you some idea of the calibre of bend on offer.
This A-road twists and turns around the Black Mountain itself, the slaloming continuing through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and features an array of sharp corners, hairpins and switchbacks. Pull over at the summit lay-by for a panorama that takes in the Towy Valley, the Cambrian Mountains, and on a clear day the distant glint of the Bristol Channel.
One word of warning, though: although you won’t come across any orks or trolls, watch out for livestock (especially sheep) that have strayed onto the road, particularly after blind corners.
Loop The North Coast 500, Scotland
For those wanting to take on something properly epic in scale, Scotland’s North Coast 500 deserves a spot at the top of any UK road trip wishlist. Launched in 2015 by the North Highland Initiative, the 516-mile circuit starts and ends at Inverness Castle and traces a loop around the very top of mainland Britain, taking in Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness and the Black Isle along the way.
Going clockwise, you’ll head west first toward Applecross via the Bealach na Bà, a single-track mountain pass with hairpin bends and a 1-in-5 gradient that, on a clear day, opens up onto views of Skye and the Cuillin Ridge. From there, the road threads north through Torridon, Gairloch and Ullapool, where the seafood scene punches well above its remote postcode.
Push on past Lochinver (whose Larder makes a pie worth diverting half a country for), Kylesku Bridge, Smoo Cave at Durness, and out to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of mainland Britain. The east-coast leg back to Inverness via John o’ Groats and Dunrobin Castle is gentler, more rolling pasture than rugged Atlantic coast, and a welcome breather after Wester Ross.
Allow at least five to seven days; rush it and you’ll miss the point entirely. The roads are often single-track with passing places, so this isn’t a route for white-knuckle pace. It’s a route for taking your time, pulling over often, and accepting that the next layby might come with a view that ruins your phone’s camera roll for everyone else.
Road Trip Essentials: Vehicle Preparation
Even the most spectacular route can be undone by a flat battery in a Highland passing place, so a bit of preparation goes a long way; particularly if you’re heading somewhere remote where the nearest garage might be 60 miles away.
A fortnight before you set off, check tyre tread (the legal minimum is 1.6mm, though for mountain and motorway driving you’ll want more), top up oil, coolant and screenwash, and give your wipers an honest appraisal. Pack jump leads, a torch, a blanket and enough snacks to outlast a closure on a single-track road. For the NC500 in particular, download offline maps; mobile signal disappears for long stretches.
It’s also worth thinking about how you actually drive these routes. Average speeds on single-track stretches hover around 35mph once you factor in passing places, livestock and inevitable photo stops, so build in more time than you think you need. Use passing places to let faster traffic through rather than treating them as scenic lay-bys, watch for sheep on blind corners, and remember that the brown tourist signs marking the NC500 don’t override standard road rules. Treat the drive itself as the holiday rather than the connective tissue between bits of it.
If your current car isn’t quite up to the job, hire is a sensible alternative. The market has broadened in recent years, with specialist options including car hire without a credit card deposit and providers catering to younger drivers. When booking, look closely at the mileage allowance (some ‘unlimited’ deals quietly cap at 150 miles per day), the fuel policy, and whether windscreen and tyre damage are covered.
The Bottom Line
Although countries like the USA and Australia are home to world-famous road trip routes, the UK and Ireland boast almost countless drives that more than hold their own. Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend escape or a multi-week expedition, there’s a destination here to suit the journey you have in mind.
