Log in / RegisterThe United Kingdom is not many people’s first choice when it comes to great driving roads.
If you were given the keys to a Porsche 2.7-litre RS, Ferrari F40 or even a humble Austin Mini Cooper S tomorrow, chances are you would blast straight down to Mont Ventoux in the South of France, the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps or any other European mountain pass.
However, unless you’ve been living under a boulder this past year, you’ll know that international travel is currently a pipe dream shared by every petrolhead from Lands End to John ‘O’ Groats.
So, if you can’t take your classic car abroad, where can you go?
Well, a surprising amount of places, actually.
Despite the crater-sized potholes, deteriorating driving standards and overwhelming congestion on many UK roads, there are still hidden pockets of driving nirvana to explore.
Here’s our top seven best road trips in the UK:
North Coast 500
Alright, so this is mentioned in so many road trip guides that it is a painful cliché, but to omit the North Coast 500 would be a heinous crime. It is a spectacular route, and the greatest road trip the UK has to offer.
In fact, it has been listed as one of the top five greatest driving roads on planet Earth.
Combining world-class scenery with fabulous roads and relatively little traffic, the North Coast 500 is a must-drive for any serious petrolhead.
Formed into an official route in 2015 as a means of drumming up trade for the various businesses, villages and national parks dotted along it, the North Coast 500 is a circular route that starts and ends at Inverness Castle.
If you’ve ever visited the Scottish Highlands then you’ll know how useful a mapped out route like the North Coast 500 is.
There is simply too much to see, do and drive in the Highlands without a predetermined plan, and so the Scottish authorities came up trumps with the NC500. It links many of the Highlands’ greatest hits into one coherent chunk.
These hits include stunning regions like Black Isle, Sutherland and Wester Ross, as well as newly built icons like the Kylesku Bridge near Lochinver. The latter was featured on the cover of Evo Magazine in late 2015, as part of their annual Car of the Year event. In fact, Evo Magazine is one of the North Coast 500’s biggest advocates, even going as far as creating the Evo Triangle, a series of roads incorporating the route.
Of course, Evo Magazine’s writers weren’t the only notable automotive journalists to sing Scotland’s praises. The Grand Tour trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond visited the North Coast 500 in series three, each driving a suitably superb Italian classic.
Thanks to the success of the route and the widespread publicity, the North Coast 500 has fast become a mecca of supercars, with many owners making the pilgrimage from England and beyond to savour the incredible roads.
There are no shortage of hotels and Airbnb’s dotted along the route, so you shouldn’t find it difficult to complete the trip at whichever pace suits you (and your classic) best.
The Yorkshire Dales
If you’re looking for a road trip in England, you can’t go far wrong with the Yorkshire Dales. Boasting magnificent scenery and an escape from the usual blights of modern roads, the Dales offer some of the best driving opportunities in Britain.
Notable trips to consider include Barden Road, which links Embsay to the B160, the Goat Lane – Henside Road – Cove Road route (which takes you along a tight series of switchbacks lined with limestone walls), Goat Lane/Silverdale Road route between Stainforth Ribblesdale and Halton Gill, and of course the famous Buttertubs Pass (which gained Jeremy Clarkson’s stamp of approval).
Loch Lomond to Isle of Skye
Okay, so by incorporating a second Scottish route, we are cheating slightly. However, it only goes to show the class of Scotland’s driving roads.
While this route does not boast the same world class roads as the North Coast 500, it is still a stunning route that joins many of Scotland’s greatest sights – including Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis and the Isle of Skye.
While you shouldn’t get your hopes up for high speed thrills – this is a regular through route after all – it boasts awe-inspiring views and the promise of the untouched paradise of Skye at the end of it.
Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
While not strictly UK-based, the Wild Atlantic Way is the automotive jewel in Ireland’s crown. It takes you on a coastal route along the entire Western shore of Ireland, taking in everything from Derry to Cork. Unsurprisingly, this route is one of the longest coastal driving routes in the world, and there are certainly few as consistently eye-catching.
The best part about the Wild Atlantic Way is that you can take it at whatever pace works best for you. While the speed freaks among you won’t be able to really test your machinery – these are not deserted mountain passes – for those of a more leisurely disposition, you can take as long as you like exploring endless villages, tourist spots and local traditions, enjoying your classic until you run out of land.
The Lake District
England’s Lake District may be most famous for its long walks, mint cake and drizzle, it also boasts a number of picturesque driving roads.
The pick of the bunch is arguably the Keswick Loop, which links Keswick with Buttermere with a memorable journey between rolling hills, craggy peaks and glass-like water. Another – more extreme – route winds between Windermere and Ullswater via the intimidating Kirkstone Pass, which is the Lake District’s highest mountain road. No wonder it is nicknamed ‘The Struggle’.
The Brecon Beacons
If you’re looking to branch off west towards Wales, you need to visit the Brecon Beacons. Like the Lake District, the Brecon Beacons is mostly notable for long walks and quaint weekend getaways, but it hides a handful of driving gems.
The most famous road is the A4069, better known as the Black Mountain Pass. It has long been a favourite with local petrolheads, bikers and the automotive media – with Jeremy Clarkson filming a review here for Top Gear back in the day.
The views alone are worth travelling for, but the road itself matches the scenery. It is an endless series of curves and switchbacks, and is a must drive for any classic car enthusiast.
Another great choice is the Abergwesyn Pass, which is a rough and ready route through Wales’ most dramatic topography. It even includes a section called the Devil’s Staircase, so-called because of its seemingly endless hairpin bends, complete with increasingly treacherous drops the higher you climb.
The Cotswolds
For those after a slower pace to their British road trips, the Cotswolds offers a sedate journey through its achingly gorgeous villages. One great route takes you out of Chipping Campden on the A44. As you journey between the many trees that line the route, you’ll eventually arrive in Moreton-in-Marsh, another pretty Cotswolds market town.
However, you can’t go far wrong wherever you choose to go in the Cotswolds. This road trip is not about speed or finding ‘the’ road, but rather a relaxed waft between pubs and shops in your classic car.