Top UK drives this summer

Many of us long to drive iconic roads, such as Australia’s Great Ocean Road, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, or America’s Route 66. As splendid as these are, the UK has some of the most stunning natural landscapes to enjoy, with each season bringing its own beauty and unique driving experience. In fact, there are so many to choose from that’s it’s hard to pick out just a few, but we’ve given it our best shot and here’s our list of the best scenic drives in the UK.

Snake Pass

Opened all the way back in 1821, Snake Pass is aptly named as it twists and turns across the Pennines between Glossop and Sheffield. The stunning landscape is spread over a 20-mile route that takes about 30 minutes to drive. The heather blooms of late summer, the golden leaves in autumn and the snow that regularly falls during winter all create their own unique feel that’s loved by drivers, bikers, and cyclists alike.

Loch Carron to Applecross

If you fancy a little adventure, the 40-minute drive from the shores of Loch Carron to Bealach Na Bà makes for an incredible journey. You’ll climb to over 2,000 ft and take in panoramic view of the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Skye, and Wester Ross. You’ll be facing stretches of single-track road as you navigate your way along this famous drive through the hills, but the stunning Highlands scenery is well worth it.

Cheddar to Ashwick

The limestone cliffs and winding roads that spread from Cheddar to Ashwick create a stunning backdrop for a journey through the Mendip Hills. At just 14 miles, it’s not the longest of drives but there’s plenty to explore, including the word famous Cheddar Gorge with its subterranean stalactite show caves that transport you to another world.

Stornoway To Luskentyre

You’ll start your driving adventure in the Outer Hebrides by taking the car ferry to Stornoway before joining the A859 and driving down through the Isle of Lewis to the Isle of Harris. Once you’ve taken in the glorious vistas, you can set about discovering the secrets of the local distillery at Tarbert before continuing to the white sandy beaches of Luskentyre.

Circle around Snowdon

To get the best views of the mountain you’ll want to tackle this circular route anti-clockwise, by heading out from Caernarfon on the A4085, past Llyn Cwellyn and Snowdon Base Camp. If you’ve got time to spare, it’s well worth taking a detour on the A498 down to Porthmadog where you can jump on the Welsh Highland Railway and travel through the Aberglaslyn Pass and the western flanks of Snowdonia. When you return, you’ll want to re-join the A498 back towards the rugged but beautiful Llanberis Pass before heading back down to Llanberis and Caernarfon once more.

Dumbarton to Glencoe

As the A82 takes you along the western banks of Loch Lomond you’ll be experiencing one of the best drives in Scotland. It’s a busy road, so you’ll want to plan some stops to take in the view and maybe even a boat out on to the Loch before heading towards the beautiful village of Glencoe. Along the way, you’ll enjoy some breath-taking scenery, including waterfalls and the peaks of Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada, and Gearr Aonach, known collectively as The Three Sisters of Glencoe.

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