12 Amazing Road Trips in the UK

I’ve always thought the UK is fairly underrated when it comes to road trips. We tend to look further afield for big, dramatic drives, but actually there’s a huge amount of variety packed into a relatively small space.

Within a couple of hours, you can go from soft countryside to rugged coastline, or from quiet villages to wide, open landscapes.

For me, it’s also the best way to explore properly. You’re not tied to train times or limited to the obvious stops. You can take the longer route on a whim, pull over when something catches your eye, or spend an extra hour somewhere you hadn’t even planned to visit.

In this guide, I’ve pulled together my pick of the best road trips in the UK. Some are well known and popular for good reason; others are a bit more under the radar.

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England road trips

1. Cotswolds towns & villages road trip

The Cotswolds villages and towns route is one of the easiest road trips in the UK to get right. The distances are short, the roads are gentle, and everything sits close together so it’s easy to plan your stops.

Starting in Chipping Campden gives you a gentler introduction, with its long high street and honey-coloured stone buildings. Before heading south towards some of the best-known villages in the area.

Broadway is usually the first proper pause, and it’s worth taking a bit of time here rather than just passing through.

From there, the route weaves through quieter countryside towards Stow-on-the-Wold, which has a slightly busier feel but makes a good base for exploring the surrounding villages.

Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter are only a short drive apart and are easily two of the prettiest stops along the way, especially if you arrive early or later in the day.

Bourton-on-the-Water tends to be the busiest, but the setting along the river is still worth seeing. If it feels too crowded, it’s easy to dip back onto the smaller lanes and find somewhere quieter within minutes.

The route finishes in Bibury, which is often described as one of the most beautiful villages in England. It’s a popular stop, but if you time it right, it still feels special.

Continuing on, Cirencester has a slightly different feel again, larger and a bit more lived-in, with a good mix of independent shops and places to stop for lunch.

From here, the drive towards Tetbury is quieter, with fewer obvious stops along the way.

The route finishes in Castle Combe, which is easily one of the most photographed villages in the Cotswolds.

2. Lake District loop

My Lake District loop is one of the most scenic drives in England, and one that feels noticeably different depending on which part of the route you’re on.

The southern lakes around Windermere and Ambleside are the busiest, particularly in peak season, with a more built-up, holiday-town feel.

As you continue north through Grasmere towards Keswick, things begin to open up slightly. The scenery becomes broader, the roads a little quieter, and the pace naturally slows.

From Keswick, the route shifts again as you head into the central fells via Honister Pass. This is one of the more striking sections of the drive, before dropping down towards Buttermere, which feels noticeably calmer than the southern lakes.

The final stretch around Ullswater and back over Kirkstone Pass brings a different perspective again, with longer views and a slightly more open feel before returning to Kendal.

3. Jurassic Coast road trip

This is one of the most varied coastal drives in the UK, with each section of the route feeling quite different from the last.

The Jurassic Coast road trip starts with the chalk cliffs and sandy beaches around Studland, before quickly shifting into something more rugged as you move west.

The stretch between Old Harry Rocks and Lulworth Cove is one of the most recognisable parts of the coastline. Durdle Door sits just along from Lulworth and is usually busy, but still worth seeing.

From here, the route flattens out slightly as you pass through Weymouth, before picking up again around West Bay, where the cliffs feel taller and more dramatic.

Lyme Regis is one of the stronger stopping points along the route, with its harbour and seafront giving it a bit more character than some of the smaller stops.

As you continue into Devon, places like Beer feel quieter and slightly less polished.

The route finishes in Exmouth, where the coastline begins to soften again.

4. Northumberland Coast route

This is one of the quieter coastal drives in England, and it feels noticeably less developed than places further south.

Starting in Amble, the route quickly settles into a steady rhythm as you move north along the coast. Warkworth is an easy first stop, with its castle set just back from the river.

From there, Alnmouth has a slightly different feel, with its colourful houses and open estuary, before the route continues on towards Craster.

This is a good place to pause before walking out to Dunstanburgh Castle, which sits just along the coastline.

Further north, Seahouses has more of a working harbour feel, while Bamburgh is one of the standout stops, with the castle set right above the beach.

Holy Island is slightly different, as you’ll need to time your visit with the tide to cross the causeway, but it’s one of the more memorable parts of the route.

The drive finishes in Berwick-upon-Tweed, right on the Scottish border.

5. Peak District scenic drive

This is one of the easier road trips to plan, with a route that naturally links together some of the Peak District’s best viewpoints and stopping points without needing to go out of your way.

Starting at Chatsworth House, you’re immediately in one of the more polished parts of the national park. Even if you’re not going inside, the surrounding estate is worth taking a bit of time over before continuing on to Bakewell.

From Bakewell, the road climbs gently towards Monsal Head, where the view over the viaduct is one of the more recognisable in the area. It’s a short stop, but one that’s worth including.

Continuing east, Hathersage has a slightly busier, more lived-in feel, before the route opens out around Ladybower Reservoir. This is one of the more scenic stretches of the drive, with the road running alongside the water and the hills rising up around it.

From here, the route turns south towards Castleton, before narrowing as you pass through Winnats Pass. This is one of the more distinctive sections of the drive, with steep limestone sides closing in on either side of the road.

The route finishes up at Mam Tor, where the views stretch out across the surrounding landscape.

6. Atlantic Highway

The Atlantic Highway is one of those routes that feels slightly under the radar compared to some of the better-known coastal drives, but it’s easily one of the most varied.

The official A39 runs inland at points, so it’s worth taking the smaller detours out towards the coast where you can.

Starting in Barnstaple, the route heads west before quickly becoming more rugged as you approach Clovelly. It’s one of the more distinctive stops along the way, with its steep cobbled street running down towards the harbour.

From here, the coastline becomes noticeably wilder around Hartland Quay, where the cliffs feel more exposed and less developed than further south.

Crossing into Cornwall, Bude is one of the easier places to stop, with a more traditional seaside feel. The route then continues towards Boscastle and Tintagel, where the coastline becomes more dramatic again.

The final stretch towards Padstow and Newquay feels busier and more built up, but still works well as a way to round off the route.

Scotland road trips

7. North Coast 500

The NC500 is probably the UK’s most well-known road trip, and for good reason. The landscapes feel bigger and more remote than almost anywhere else in the country. 

Leaving Inverness, the route quickly moves west into the Highlands, with the drive over Bealach na Bà setting the tone early on.

It’s one of the more memorable sections of the route, with steep climbs and wide views as you reach the top before dropping down towards Applecross.

From there, the road continues north along the west coast towards Ullapool, where the landscape opens out into long stretches of coastline and lochs. This part of the route feels more remote, with fewer stops and longer distances between them.

Further north, Durness is one of the standout sections, with some of the best beaches along the route, including the area around Smoo Cave.

Turning east, the drive towards John o’ Groats feels more exposed, with a flatter landscape and big skies.

From here, the route heads south along the east coast, passing places like Dunrobin Castle, before eventually looping back to Inverness.

It’s a longer route than most on this list, but that’s part of the appeal.

8. Isle of Skye Loop

My Isle of Skye loop is a relatively compact route, but it covers a lot of what makes Skye so well known.

The distances aren’t huge, but the roads are slower and more winding than they look on a map, so it’s worth allowing more time than you think you’ll need.

Crossing the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, the route heads north towards Portree, which is usually the busiest part of the island and works well as a base.

From Portree, the road continues north along the Trotternish Peninsula, taking in some of the island’s most recognisable landscapes, including Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. This stretch tends to feel busier, particularly in peak season, but it’s also one of the highlights.

As the route loops back south via Dunvegan, things start to quieten slightly. The drive out to Neist Point is a bit of a detour, but it’s one of the more memorable sections.

The final stretch takes you past the Fairy Pools before heading back towards Kyle of Lochalsh.

9. Cairngorms Scenic Route

The Cairngorms scenic route is one of the quieter road trips in Scotland, and it has a very different feel to something like the NC500.

The landscapes are broader and more open, with long stretches of road where you can drive for a while without passing much at all.

Starting in Blairgowrie, the route climbs steadily north into the Cairngorms via Glenshee. This is one of the higher roads in the area, and the scenery shifts fairly quickly as you gain elevation.

Braemar is one of the main stopping points along the way, with a small, well-kept feel and easy access to places like Linn of Dee.

From here, the route heads north-west towards Aviemore, where the landscape opens out again around Loch Morlich, with its wide sandy shoreline and forest backdrop.

The final stretch moves into Speyside, passing through places like Rothes before finishing in Grantown-on-Spey, where the pace tends to feel a bit slower again.

Wales road trips

10. Snowdonia (Eryri) Loop

This Snowdonia loop is one of the more varied road trips in Wales, with the landscape changing quite noticeably as you move through the national park.

The distances aren’t huge, but the roads can be slow in places, particularly around the main mountain passes.

Starting in Betws-y-Coed, the route heads north-west towards Llyn Ogwen, where the scenery quickly becomes more rugged, with steep mountain sides rising up around the road.

From here, the drive continues towards Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), before turning south through Beddgelert, which is one of the more picturesque stops along the route.

As you move west towards Harlech, the landscape shifts again, opening out towards the coast, with wide sandy beaches and views out to sea.

The final stretch heads inland via Bala, where the roads feel quieter and more open, before looping back to Betws-y-Coed.

11. Pembrokeshire Coast Route

The Pembrokeshire Coast route is one of the most varied coastal drives in Wales, with a mix of sandy beaches, quieter coves, and more rugged cliff sections.

The route stays fairly close to the coastline, but you’ll often need to dip inland briefly before rejoining it again.

Starting in Tenby, the route heads west towards Stackpole, where the coastline begins to feel more open and less built up. Barafundle Bay sits just along from here and is one of the standout beaches on this stretch.

From there, the drive continues past Bosherston before reaching Broad Haven, which has a broader, more open feel compared to some of the smaller coves.

Further north, Solva is a good place to pause, with its small harbour and slightly quieter atmosphere, before continuing on to St Davids.

The final stretch out to Strumble Head feels more exposed, with fewer stops and wider views out over the sea.

Northern Ireland road trips

12. Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal route is one of the more well-known coastal drives in the UK, but it still manages to feel varied as you move along it.

Some sections are quite built up, others feel much more exposed, and the changes happen fairly quickly.

Leaving Belfast, the first part of the route is relatively straightforward, passing through places like Carrickfergus before the coastline starts to become more noticeable.

Further north, the road narrows slightly around Cushendun, and this is where the drive begins to feel a bit more distinctive. Around Ballintoy, the coastline becomes more rugged, with smaller harbours and steeper cliffs.

Giant’s Causeway is the most recognisable stop along the route, and usually the busiest. Not far from here, Dunluce Castle sits right on the edge of the cliffs and is worth including even as a short stop.

As you continue west, the landscape opens out again around Portstewart, before the route finishes near Mussenden Temple and on into Derry.

The best road trips in the UK

Having lived in the UK my whole life, I love exploring all the nooks and crannies of the country. Undertaking a UK road trip is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to experience the different landscapes, coasts, cities, and villages. 

If anything, my guide to the best road trips in the UK is more of a starting point than a fixed list. There are plenty of variations, smaller roads, and places just off-route that you’ll end up adding in yourself.

Have you completed any of these UK road trips or have any to add? Let me know in the comments below.

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