The UK’s great drives are all about the view, which is exactly what the person driving does not get to see. Winding mountain passes, coast roads and single track lanes through the Highlands demand full concentration from the driver, while everyone else enjoys the scenery. Some of these roads are also narrow, steep and challenging.
These ten are worth doing at least once, ideally looking out of the window. For each, we have included the route, the highlights and a few tips. Remember that many of these roads are busy in summer and can close in bad weather, especially in winter.
1. The North Coast 500, Scottish Highlands
The North Coast 500 is a loop of roughly five hundred miles around the far north of Scotland, starting and ending in Inverness. It was launched as a tourist route in 2015, and it has become one of the most famous road trips in the world. It passes some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in Britain.
The route heads west from Inverness to the dramatic mountains of Wester Ross, including Applecross and Torridon, then north along the coast through Ullapool to Durness, with its sandy beaches and Smoo Cave. It then runs east along the north coast to John o’ Groats, and back down the east coast past Dunrobin Castle. The views change around every bend.
Along the way there are white sandy beaches, such as Achmelvich and Balnakeil, that look almost tropical on a sunny day, as well as castles, distilleries and tiny villages. Wildlife is everywhere, from red deer and golden eagles to seals, dolphins and puffins. The night skies are some of the darkest in Britain.
Much of the route is on single track roads with passing places, where drivers must pull in to let others pass. Allow at least five to seven days to do it properly. Accommodation books up early in summer, and some places close in winter.
2. Glencoe on the A82
The drive along the A82 through Glencoe, in the western Highlands, is one of the most dramatic in Britain. The road crosses the wild, empty expanse of Rannoch Moor before descending into the glen, between towering mountains. It is breathtaking in any weather, and especially under low cloud.
At the entrance to the glen stands Buachaille Etive Mòr, a great pyramid shaped mountain that is one of the most photographed in Scotland. Further along, the Three Sisters, three huge ridges, rise above the road. Waterfalls tumble down the mountainsides after rain.
Glencoe is also a place of tragedy. In 1692, members of the MacDonald clan were killed by soldiers who had been staying as their guests, in the infamous Massacre of Glencoe. The National Trust for Scotland visitor centre tells the story.
The road continues to Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis. There are lay-bys along the way to stop and take photographs. The A82 also runs along the shores of Loch Lomond to the south, making it a spectacular route from Glasgow.
3. The Atlantic Highway, Devon and Cornwall
The Atlantic Highway is the name given to the A39 as it runs along the north coast of Devon and Cornwall. It passes through some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in England. It links towns and villages along the rugged Atlantic coast.
In north Devon, the road passes Bideford and the turning for Clovelly, a steep, car free village of cobbled streets running down to a tiny harbour. Donkeys once carried goods up and down the streets. Hartland Point, nearby, has wild cliffs.
In Cornwall, the road passes Bude, with its sandy beaches and sea pool, and the turnings for Boscastle, a pretty harbour village, and Tintagel, with its castle linked to the legends of King Arthur. It continues towards Wadebridge and Padstow, famous for its seafood. Beaches and surfing spots line the coast.
The road itself runs inland in places, so the best views come from the side roads and villages. The roads can be very busy in the summer holidays. Allow time to stop and explore.
4. The Snake Pass, Peak District
The Snake Pass, on the A57 between Manchester and Sheffield, is one of the most famous roads in England. It climbs over the moorland of the Dark Peak, reaching a height of around five hundred metres. Its name comes from the Snake Inn, named after a snake on the coat of arms of a local family, though the road’s twists and turns suit the name.
The road winds through wild, open moorland, with wonderful views across the hills. It is popular with motorcyclists and cyclists. On a clear day it is spectacular.
At the eastern end, the road passes the Ladybower Reservoir, one of a chain of reservoirs in the Derwent Valley. The Derwent Dam, nearby, was used by the Dambusters squadron to practise for their famous raid in the Second World War. The reservoirs are lovely for walks.
The Snake Pass is famous for closing in snow and ice, and it is often one of the first roads in England to close in winter. It can also close because of landslips. Check the road status before you set off.
5. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
The road through Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset, winds through England’s largest gorge. Limestone cliffs rise steeply on both sides, reaching around a hundred and forty metres at their highest. It is one of the most dramatic short drives in England.
The road descends through the gorge to the village of Cheddar, which gave its name to Cheddar cheese. At the bottom are caves, including Gough’s Cave, where the skeleton of Cheddar Man, around ten thousand years old, was found. You can visit the caves on guided tours.
The gorge is home to wild goats and sheep, which are often seen on the cliffs and sometimes on the road. There is a clifftop walk along the top of the gorge. The views are wonderful.
The gorge is very busy on summer weekends, and parking at the bottom can be difficult. The road is narrow and winding, so it needs care. Wells and Wookey Hole are a short drive away.
6. The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coastal Route runs from Belfast along the coast of County Antrim to Derry~Londonderry. It is one of the great road trips in the world. It passes castles, glens, cliffs and some of the most famous sights in Ireland.
From Belfast, the route passes Carrickfergus Castle, then runs along the coast past the Glens of Antrim, nine green valleys running down to the sea. Glenariff, known as the Queen of the Glens, has waterfalls. The villages of Cushendall and Cushendun are lovely.
On the north coast, the route passes Ballintoy Harbour, a filming location for Game of Thrones, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the Giant’s Causeway, with its thousands of basalt columns. Dunluce Castle stands on a clifftop, and the Bushmills whiskey distillery is nearby. Mussenden Temple perches on a cliff further west.
Allow at least two days to do the route properly, stopping along the way. The roads are quiet out of season but busy in summer. See our Belfast and the Causeway Coast guide.
7. The Black Mountain Pass, Wales
The Black Mountain Pass, on the A4069 between Llangadog and Brynamman, crosses the western edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. It is one of the most thrilling roads in Wales. It has been featured on television as one of the great driving roads in Britain.
The road climbs over open mountain, with a series of hairpin bends and wide open views across the hills of south west Wales. At the top, there are views for miles. Sheep graze beside the road.
The pass is popular with drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists. It is quiet compared with many famous roads. On a clear day, the scenery is spectacular.
The road can be affected by snow and ice in winter, and fog can sit on the tops. Carreg Cennen Castle, a dramatic ruin on a clifftop, is nearby. The Brecon Beacons are to the east.
8. Kirkstone Pass, Lake District
Kirkstone Pass, on the A592 between Ambleside and Ullswater, is the highest pass in the Lake District open to traffic, at around four hundred and fifty metres. The road climbs steeply out of Windermere and drops down to Ullswater. The views from the top are wonderful.
A steeper road from Ambleside to the top of the pass is known as the Struggle, and it lives up to its name. At the summit stands the Kirkstone Pass Inn, one of the highest pubs in England. It is a welcome stop on a cold day.
From the top, the road descends past Brothers Water to Patterdale and the shores of Ullswater, often called the most beautiful of the lakes. The scenery on the descent is spectacular. Walkers can climb nearby fells from the pass.
The pass can be closed by snow in winter, and the roads are narrow and steep. It is busy in summer. A driver who knows the road makes it much more relaxing.
9. The Wye Valley
The road through the Wye Valley, on the A466 between Chepstow and Monmouth, follows the River Wye through a deep, wooded gorge along the border between Wales and England. It is one of the most beautiful river valleys in Britain. It has attracted visitors since the eighteenth century.
The highlight is Tintern Abbey, the ruins of a great Cistercian abbey beside the river. The poet William Wordsworth wrote a famous poem inspired by it. The ruins are especially beautiful in the morning mist.
At Chepstow, the road starts beside one of the oldest stone castles in Britain, standing on cliffs above the river. At the other end, Monmouth is a pretty market town. Symonds Yat, a short detour, has spectacular views over a loop of the river.
The valley is lovely in every season, and especially in autumn, when the woods turn gold. The road is winding and can be busy at weekends. There are walks and pubs along the way.
10. Applecross, Wester Ross
The road to Applecross, over the Bealach na Bà, is one of the most dramatic roads in Britain. It climbs from sea level to more than six hundred metres in a few miles, with gradients as steep as some Alpine passes and tight hairpin bends near the top. Its name means the pass of the cattle.
Signs at the bottom warn that the road is not suitable for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans. It is single track with passing places. In winter it can be closed by snow.
From the top, on a clear day, the views across to the islands of Skye and Raasay are breathtaking. The descent to the village of Applecross is spectacular. The village has a famous inn serving seafood.
Applecross is part of the North Coast 500, and it is one of the highlights of the route. Driving the Bealach na Bà requires full concentration, which is why it is best enjoyed from the passenger seat. There is also a longer coastal road for the return.
Longer trips are quoted the same way as short ones: one price for the whole route, agreed before you book.
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