Road trips have allowed us to explore so many unique destinations and cross off much of our bucket lists. We’ve been all over the world, ready to go wherever the road may take us. Since travel isn’t as easy at the moment, we decided to highlight some of the best UK road trip destinations you can head to.
How To Best Prepare For A Long Car Journey
Since you will likely spend several hours a day on the road, make sure to prepare for the trip. Ideally, you shouldn’t drive more than 4½ hours before stopping at a petrol station or stretching your legs. Get plenty of sleep before the trip. Stock up on enough snacks and drinks to avoid having to buy anything on the road. Also, make sure that your car is ready for a longer trip. Always check your car tyres before a long journey. Tyre pressure is particularly important and will allow your vehicle to function properly. Also, make sure that the oil level is right. Depending on how old your car is, you may also have to refill the coolant before the trip.
North Coast 500 (NC500), Scotland
This famous route in Scotland allows you to explore the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands. You may pass by historic castles, take walks along high cliffs, discover long sandy beaches, hike up to waterfalls, visit some of the best golf courses, and even see wild horses and sheep roaming free on the side of the road.
Route: Most people start their journey in the city of Inverness. It is considered to be one of the happiest cities in the UK. If you have time, you could visit the castle and the Botanic Gardens. Not far from Inverness is Rogie Falls with some beautiful walking trails.
One of the many stops along the way is Dornoch. The town is located by the sea and boasts a beach, cathedral, castle and championship golf course. Other destinations include the fishing town Ullapool, the village Durness with its lovely beaches and natural sea cave Smoo, and John O’Groats with its cliffs and vast landscapes. If you love to surf, try the waves in Caithness.
Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
This may be one of the best road trips to take in the UK. Be prepared for some amazing scenery. The route is 195 miles in total and has many names, including the Northern Ireland coastal drive and Antrim coastal drive.
Route: One option is to start in Belfast and then drive north. Sites to visit along the way are the medieval Carrickfergus Castle and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge – a narrow bridge that leads over the water from the mainland to a small island, Carrickarede.
If you love castles, you shouldn’t miss Dunluce Castle. The ruins tower over dramatic cliffs overlooking the sea which makes this a great place to take pictures. Also consider stopping at the historic landmark of Torr Head, the Whiskey Distillery Old Bushmills and of course the Giant’s Causeway itself. Option 2 is the daily Giants Causeway tour with City Tours Belfast, the bus departs 7 days per week and visits all of the above.
Peaks and Passes, Peak District
If you haven’t visited the Peak District yet, now is the time. The Peak District is one of the UK’s national treasures. It boasts a diverse landscape including epic caves, green hills, pastures, and moorland.
Route: You could begin your road trip in Glossop, near Manchester, and then drive along the winding Snake pass. Stop at the Derwent Dam to enjoy a hike, if you feel like it. You can even bike around the Derwent Reservoir. From here you can reach the remarkable underground caves at Blue John Cavern in about half an hour.
An alternative route leads from the pretty town Bakewell – famous for its pudding – to the spa town of Buxton.
Other sites you should consider visiting in the Peak District are the Ridge Walk, the Alton Towers theme park, the beautiful valley Dovedale, the Monsal trail and the Pavilion Gardens.
The Dragon’s Spine, Wales
The amazingly named Dragon’s Spine route will take you from coast to coast through the spectacular landscapes that Wales is famous for. On the way, you can explore two National Parks and enjoy plenty of adventures. This route has it all: rugged mountains, wide lakes, serene beaches, deep forests and even moors.
There are even some off-road sites not too far from Snowdonia. Here you can enjoy the thrill of driving a 4×4 through mud, water, ditches and rugged terrain. Again, just make sure to check your car tyres before going on this journey.
If you enjoy hikes, consider walking up Mt Snowdon: One option is to drive up to Pen-y-Pass and then continue on the Miner’s track or the PYG track. The Brecon Beacons is also known for its great trails which are very popular with hikers.
Route: Begin in Cardiff and take the A470 up north to Conwy. This is the longest road in Wales and covers 186 miles. Although it can be busy, there are plenty of things to explore on the way.
Best of the Moors, Yorkshire
When heather covers the moorland, it creates one of the most spectacular picture opportunities that you could ask for on a road trip. Places like Rosedale and Fylingdales Moor in the North York Moors National Park are densely covered in purple flowers and are also home to many bird species and wildlife. The Moors also offer quiet walking trails that pass through forests and relaxing streams.
Route: You could begin in the town of York and then go on to Helmsley, a market town by the River Rye. The village Danby is also worth visiting, but Harry Potter fans shouldn’t miss Goathland village, where the railway station was transformed into Hogsmeade for the films. The route then ends in the fishing village Robin Hood’s Bay.
These are just some of the epic road trips to take in the UK. We hope these UK road trip destinations help you when planning your next adventure.
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