Planning a UK highway journey? Questioning the place you possibly can go on a scenic drive round Nice Britain and wish some concepts and itineraries for locations to go to in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Eire? No worries- we’ve acquired you lined. Listed here are 12 of the perfect UK highway journeys and scenic drives- and easy methods to benefit from them!
Don’t neglect to seize your FREE highway journey planner beneath that can assist you keep organised.
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UK Highway Journeys- getting began
Whether or not you’re visiting the UK from elsewhere or planning a staycation, I can guarantee you that there’s LOADS to see and do on a self-drive tour of Nice Britain.
Should you’re going for a weekend, per week or perhaps a longer journey of two or 3 weeks, there will probably be a lot so that you can take pleasure in.
I’ve been exploring the UK for years, each on motorhome holidays and I’ve numerous tricks to share.
On this publish, we’re highlighting 12 of our favorite UK highway journeys of all occasions. Should you’d like extra assist truly planning the journey, you may discover these helpful:
BEST UK ROAD TRIPS- 5 English scenic drives
I really like roadtripping in England and have loved many elements of the nation, however it might probably take longer to drive round England than you may suppose.
It’s been robust to decide on, however listed here are a number of of my favourites (to see extra unmissable England highway journey concepts, click on right here)
Cotswolds highway Journey
One of many prettiest UK highway journey concepts for England must be the Cotswolds.
This whole space is filled with picturesque villages, fairly roads and unimaginable views over the rolling English countryside- so long as it’s a transparent day!
Cotswolds highway journey itinerary
I’d suggest beginning in Salisbury, an attractive cathedral metropolis with a lot to do and see. There are nice retailers and loads of bars and cafes to get you began.
While there, it’s a must to head out to Stonehenge and see the world-famous stone circle. You possibly can see it fairly effectively from the highway, however there are sometimes lengthy queues as everybody decelerate to take images. We as soon as spent an unimaginable night time wild tenting subsequent to Stonehenge with our motorhome – the dawn was among the finest we’ve ever seen!
From Salisbury, head into the Cotswolds ‘correct’. Among the finest locations to go to within the Cotswolds embody Bourton-on-the-Water and Fort Combe- each have been referred to as the prettiest villages in England. You possibly can drive round as many villages within the Cotswolds as you will have time for and there are many locations to remain within the space if you wish to probe for a number of days.
Alternatively, head to Bathtub for an in a single day keep (except you’re in a motorhome and may use Britstops or a campsite. Bathtub is one other lovely metropolis, constructed from yellow stone which seems spectacular within the night mild. I extremely suggest staying an evening (or two) and having fun with afternoon tea on the Pump rooms (an English custom), in addition to exploring the town on foot.
Devon Highway Journey
Famed for its surroundings and cream teas, Devon is without doubt one of the hottest UK highway journey locations, particularly for households. It’s not too removed from London or the remainder of the UK and there’s a lot to see and do.
Devon highway journey concepts for one-week
There are such a lot of choices for highway journeys in Devon that it’s onerous to decide on the place to begin. For me, my coronary heart lies within the south as I spent a whole lot of my early maturity there.
Picturesque cities like Salcombe and Dartmouth, Exmouth, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe all have an exquisite quiet allure. Should you actually wish to get away, park up and revel in a few of the finest hikes within the UK up on the infamous Dartmoor.
For extra life, head to Exeter or Plymouth- these cities have an enormous vary of actions and issues to do. One in all our favourites is the Dartmoor Zoo (dwelling of the REAL ‘we purchased a zoo’ story)
If you’re having fun with your UK highway journey in a motorhome or camper, watch out the place you keep overnight- motorhome wild parking will not be straightforward in lots of locations round right here. However there are many campsites and different locations you should use.
Highlights and a few of the finest locations to go to in Devon
- Dartmouth- among the finest cities within the county
- Clovelly
- The unimaginable seashores at Westward Ho! or Saunton Sands
- Paignton- the seashore with the crimson sand
- Salcombe Harbour
TOP TIP: In case you have time, prolong your vacation to incorporate a Hampshire & Dorset highway journey too- there are some wonderful locations to see on the South coast of England.
Cornwall highway journey
Should you’re in search of a UK highway journey concepts, head to Cornwall.
This lovely county is without doubt one of the finest locations within the UK— the climate is usually higher than elsewhere within the UK, the seashores in Cornwall are spectacular and the native meals consists of mouth-watering pasties, cream teas and ice cream (now could be NOT the time to be on a food plan!)
There may be a lot to do, you’ll by no means see all of it in a weekend or perhaps a week, however there are some highlights you must undoubtedly go to.
Highlights of a Cornwall highway journey
For a full listing of the perfect locations to go to on a Cornwall highway journey, go to our Cornwall Highway Journey Itinerary & Information
Yorkshire Highway Journey
Yorkshire is England’s largest county and the proper place for the highway journey. There are a lot of points of interest fairly shut collectively, so you possibly can discover lots in a brief time frame. You might ‘cowl’ Yorkshire in a few days however to really respect all it has to supply we suggest not less than one full week.
Highlights of a Yorkshire one-week UK highway journey
- England’s highest single-drop waterfall- Hardraw Pressure
- The longest present collapse England- White scar
- Ribblehead Viaduct
- Stand on Hogsmeade station (or not less than the station which performed it in Harry Potter!)
- Quite a few castles and ruins to go to
Yorkshire Highway Journey Itinerary concepts
Begin your highway journey within the lovely Yorkshire Dales. Go to the eleventh century Skipton Fort or descend underground to see the formations in White Scar Caves, the longest present collapse England.
Select between the waterfalls of Ingleton, Aysgarth Falls or Hardraw Pressure- England’s highest single-drop waterfall. Earlier than leaving the Dales, go to the spectacular monastic ruins and landscaped gardens of Fountains Abbey.
Remember to go to York. This beautiful metropolis is a perfect location for historical past buffs. You possibly can go to Viking, Roman, Georgian and Victorian websites all in at some point! Remember to stroll alongside the cobbled Shambles, which has been voted the ‘Finest Avenue in Britain.’
Head onto the moors to finish your Yorkshire highway journey. Cease at Goathland practice station which doubled as Hogsmeade station within the Harry Potter motion pictures. Alternatively, stretch your legs with a hike on the Gap of Horcum, an enormous historic pure amphitheatre.
Lake District Highway Journey
The Lake District Nationwide Park is an ideal UK highway journey thought. A UNESCO website, it’s superbly maintained and the surroundings is unimaginable.
Many individuals hurry previous on their UK highway journey itineraries from England to Scotland, but it surely’s effectively value making the time to cease when you can.
Finest scenic drive locations within the Lake District
The Lake District has a few of the worlds finest scenic drives and a visit alongside the Honister Go and Kirkstone Go are a should, as are the beautiful cities of Keswick and Cockermouth.
The Castlerigg stone circle can be value a cease and the views throughout Derwent Water are spectacular.
Within the South Lakes, Grasmere is pleasant. That is the area of William Wordsworth (well-known poet) and there’s a lot to see right here to recollect him. Remember to additionally take pleasure in Sarah Nelson’s pleasant gingerbread and go to one of many many tearooms.
Should you love Beatrix Potter, you possibly can be taught extra about her at her dwelling in Hawkshead and likewise at Wray Fort, the place she loved her holidays. There may be additionally Beatrix Potter World in Bowness- on- Windermere.
Should you’re not exploring in a motorhome or campervan, there are many locations to remain, from rustic B & Bs to breathtaking inns. There are additionally a great deal of outside activites to take pleasure in, regardless of the climate.
READ MORE: Uncover extra itinerary concepts for our favorite England highway journeys
NC 500- one of the well-known UK highway journeys
The NC500 has been voted one of many UK’s most scenic drives, with spectacular surroundings, unimaginable seashores and unmissable views throughout the Highlands.
The route is simply over 500 miles lengthy, will take round 3 or 4 days and takes in elements of the Highlands within the north-west of Scotland. Among the roads are very slim, however there are many passing locations, even when you’re motorhoming or campervanning in Scotland.
You can begin the route wherever you need, go clockwise or anticlockwise and do all or simply a part of it. We selected to do half of it earlier than heading off to discover different issues to do in Perthshire and the encircling areas.
Alongside the NC500, you’ll encounter lovely white sand seashores with extremely clear water, unimaginable mountain views, the Smoo Cave, one of many largest in Scotland and the Kylesku bridge.
There are many beautiful inns and B & Bs alongside the route, a lot of which give views throughout the ocean or the Scottish highlands. Historically, the route begins in Inverness, though you possibly can be a part of and depart it wherever. We embody a part of it in our full Scotland highway journey Itinerary, which is a superb possibility for many who wish to see as a lot of Scotland as potential in a restricted time.
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Highlights of the NC 500 embody:
- Inverness- probably the most northerly metropolis within the UK
- Smoo Cave
- Bealach Na Ba- the UK’s steepest highway. Do NOT try this with a motorhome (or when you’re a nervous driver!)
- Clachtoll Seaside
- Kylesku Bridge
- John o’Groats
READ MORE about driving the NC500
Isle of Skye highway journey
The Isle of Skye is without doubt one of the most well-known islands on the west coast of Scotland and attracts a whole lot of guests every year.
Highlights of an Isle of Skye highway journey embody:
- Fairy Swimming pools
- Talisker Distillery
- Outdated Man of Storr hike
- Dunvegan Fort
- Neist Level
It’s potential so as to add Skye onto the NC500 and go to for the day, but it surely’s effectively value spending 3 days in a highway journey right here to actually see a few of the unimaginable sights.
READ MORE: Our full 3-day Isle of Skye itinerary and ideas for visiting
SWC300 – hidden UK highway journey gem
The south of Scotland is a superb vacation spot for a UK highway journey or staycation because it’s far off the ‘in style’ vacationer observe.
The South West Coastal 300 (SWC300) is a scenic drive across the south-west of Scotland. It passes via elements of Ayrshire, runs alongside the coast of Dumfries and Galloway and crosses into the Moffat and Galloway Hills.
SWC300 highway journey itinerary concepts
It might probably take 4-5 days to see the whole lot, however the perfect half is the drive across the Mull of Galloway peninsula, so focus your time right here.
Begin by exploring the southernmost level of Scotland and go to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse – from the highest, you possibly can see the coast of Northern Eire, the Lake District and the Isle of Man.
The picturesque harbour of Portpatrick affords loads of locations to take pleasure in dinner. Different highlights on the SWC300 embody Culzean Fort on the coast and the Darkish Sky Park within the Galloway Hills.
Brecon Beacons – Good UK Highway Journey thought
The Brecon Beacons is one in all three nationwide parks in Wales and is filled with scenic drives excellent for highway trippers in search of an journey. It’s one of the under-rated highway journey locations within the UK.
The Gospel Go- one of the scenic drives within the UK
The very best driving highway in Wales is named the Gospel Go- snaking over the Black Mountains from Abergavenny to Hay-on-wye on the east of the Beacons.
From Abergavenny, flip off the A465 at Llanvihangel Crucorney and observe indicators for the ruins of Llanthony Priory. From Hay-on-Wye, the Gospel move is sign-posted.
CAUTION- The Go is 22 miles of typically single observe, very steep (1/4) and is never cleared in winter. Motorhomes may discover it robust and snow chains are important in winter.
Driving the High Gear Highway
You can even drive to the west of the Brecon Beacons (the A4069,) That is the highway made well-known by Jeremy Clarkson and High Gear (no, that is NOT the identical highway because the Gospel Go!) The highway runs from Brynamman to Llangadog.
Gower Peninsula – Wales
The Gower peninsula is an ideal cease on UK Highway Journey. It’s a small peninsula on the southern Welsh coast, simply west of Swansea.
Highlights of a Gower highway journey embody:
- Worm’s Head.
- Gower beaches- together with Caswell and Landland, the place you will discover the whole lot you want for a day on the seashore: ice cream, parking and retailers.
- Additionally, don’t neglect to go on a correct coastal hike. The best of all of them is definitely the hike between the 2 aforementioned seashores.
- The Mumbles is the place we spent our very first night time ‘wild tenting off-grid’ in our motorhome. DEFINITELY value a go to.
Pembrokeshire Highway Journey
The Pembrokeshire Coast is within the far south-west of Wales. The highway follows the coast with quite a few little seashores, lovely castles and small cities. The additional west the smaller the roads develop into and extra rugged the panorama.
Highlights of Pembrokeshire highway journey embody:
- Tenby
- Caldey Island
- Pembroke and Pembroke Fort
- Manobier Fort
- Skomer Island (puffins!)
- St David’s- the smallest metropolis within the UK
Pembrokeshire highway journey itinerary concepts
Tenby is a small seaside city and has lovely seashores. In case you have time, a go to to Caldey Island is very advisable.
A brief distance from Tenby is Pembroke. This is without doubt one of the bigger cities and you’ll’t miss Pembroke Fort. Much more spectacular is the close by Manobier Fort that appears over a small bay excellent for browsing.
If seeing puffins is in your bucket listing then go to Skomer Island. This small island is dwelling to 1000’s of puffins and it’s virtually assured to see them in summer season.
The ultimate vacation spot to go to in Pembrokeshire is St David’s. That is the smallest metropolis within the UK and has an attractive cathedral and small winding streets- in addition to among the finest pasty retailers we’ve ever discovered!
Snowdonia – one of many UK’s finest highway journeys
Should you’re in search of a weekend UK highway journey thought, head to one of many prettiest Nationwide Parks within the UK- Snowdonia in Wales. Snowdonia is definitely a part of two of the Wales Method driving routes– North and Cambrian and it’s straightforward to see why.
Snowdonia is amazingly effectively related to most locations within the UK- the drive from Manchester takes round 2 hours (80 miles)
Just about the whole lot in Snowdonia entails being open air, so be sure to convey applicable clothes for the time of yr. It is best to all the time count on rain in Wales, even in mid-summer, but it surely can be surprisingly heat. There are many nice roads with spectacular surroundings and the celebrities at night time are unreal. Should you don’t have a motorhome or campervan, there are many inns or glamping spots in North Wales to take pleasure in.
Remember to add the Swallow Falls to your itinerary – it’s one of many prettiest waterfalls within the UK and effectively well worth the straightforward hike and the small payment to go to.
Need extra ideas for planning the final word UK highway journey, together with a map and easy methods to benefit from your time? Right here you go!
Northern Eire Scenic Highway Journey thought
The Causeway Coastal Route is within the north of Northern Eire. Highlights embody:
- Giants Causeway
- Carrick-a-rede rope bridge
- Dunluce Fort
- Darkish Hedges (you possibly can truly drive down this highway)
READ NEXT: Extra Eire highway journey concepts and tricks to benefit from your journey
Northern Eire highway journey itinerary thought
Head early to the well-known Giants causeway to get there at opening time. It’s a couple of 90 minute drive from Belfast.
The close by Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bride connects the mainland to the tiny Carrickarede island and crossing on foot is an exhilarating expertise. Anticipate to queue for some time to get throughout, but it surely’s well worth the wait.
One other distinctive cease on the route is the clifftop ruins of Dunluce Fort which grasp precariously above the ocean beneath.
Don’t miss the Darkish Hedges. This highway of arching 18th Century beech timber options within the HBO Sequence Sport of Thrones and is without doubt one of the most lovely roads in Eire. It may be straightforward to drive proper previous it because it was surprisingly badly signposted once we visited- and count on crowds. LOTS of crowds. You can even drive down it- when you’re motorhoming in Eire be VERY nervous about this- I’m not even positive you’ll make it in a campervan!
How lengthy does it take to drive the Causeway coastal route?
You possibly can comfortably drive the entire route in a single weekend because it’s fairly a brief route- solely 200 miles.
Planning a UK ROAD TRIP? Ideas to assist
Should you’re planning a UK highway journey, there are some things to know which is able to make your life simpler.
- It rains. Rather a lot. Everytime you’re coming, convey a coat.
- The very best climate is often Could-October. In 2018 it was blissful from April all via the summer season. In 2019 I used to be nonetheless sporting my winter coat throughout Could.
- College holidays are round Easter, throughout finish of July and all through August and per week in mid-October. Attempt to keep away from planning your UK highway journey throughout these when you can.
- We drive in ‘miles’ (imperial), however we purchase gas in litres (metric).
- Foreign money is in GBP- not Euros.
- Carry small cash (something from 10p to £1) Many automotive parks require change to pay.
