Road trips can be an exciting way to get out and see as much of the world as possible. However, not everyone has thousands to go and tour the globe, so it’s often a good idea to start in the UK and explore a little closer to home.
Before you set off…
With any road trip, it’s always best to be prepared for every eventuality. Checking your route for traffic, accidents and preparing for sudden changes in weather are just some of the priorities. Giving your car a once over for water levels, oil and tyre pressure is also essential, especially on longer drives. Most drivers should know the main rules of the road but when you’re heading somewhere new, it can be a little daunting and confusing. If you need to get up to speed with the latest changes or want to brush up on the Highway Code, there are plenty of resources online such as Kwik Fit’s new ebook that give you all in the information for a handy refresher.
There are plenty of breathtaking destinations to visit, so we’ve put together a list of different options for you to start planning your next adventure.
North Coast 500 Route
The first destination which we’re going to look at is the North Coast 500 Route. What you get here is a 516-mile tour of the north coast of Scotland. The route is circular, and you start at Inverness Castle can choose to arrive back there at the end.
It’s a wonderful way to see a large portion of Scotland, and one which we can heavily recommend for people who want to do something very rewarding. Experience a whole selection of different coastlines as well as many different towns and villages.
Find out more about the route here.
Cheddar Gorge
Our next location is Cheddar Gorge. Based in Somerset, this is a limestone gorge which has a cave system and also allows you the chance to go caving and rock climbing if you wanted to. There’s a lot to appreciate here. The emphasis is on exploration and seeing all that the natural world has to offer. It’s best to remember these caves and gorge developed naturally over hundreds of thousands of years, so the road through the gorge is long and winding but nonetheless spectacular, however, you might have to take it slow especially around those tight bends.
Check out this spectacular spot here.
Black Mountain Pass
Our next location to visit if you’re on a road trip in the UK is the Black Mountain Pass (or often referred to as ‘the Top Gear road’). It’s part of a road which goes through the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Filled with dips, climbing segments and hills, this is a location which offers some exceptional views and incredible moments of serenity. Just be careful of the sheep – they sometimes like to wander into the roads in the quieter areas.
Take a look at this spot and other top road trip locations in Wales on the Visit Wales website.
The Atlantic Highway
The last destination we are going to visit is the Atlantic Highway. It is a place where the road travels through a large portion of North Devon and North Cornwall. There are many places to stop and visit along the way which all offer something unique to explore. Barnstaple, Bude and Tintagel are all popular choices, offering unique charms in each. You would be wise to take a few days to travel this road, just to properly explore all that’s on offer, as there are so many top destinations along the way.
Find out more about the destinations along the Atlantic Highway with these handy Lonely Planet guides.
Overall, these are some of the most famous places that you can visit for a road trip in the UK. We might not have the weather here to enjoy a totally uninterrupted roof down driving experience, but with these stunning locations just a drive away, there’ll be plenty of spectacular sights to behold that make up for it!
Image credits: Unsplash
