UK road trip inspiration
10 of the Best UK Road Trips — Which One Is Right for You?
From Scotland’s north coast and Welsh mountain roads to the Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire, Cornwall and the Cotswolds, these are ten standout driving routes — with practical next steps to help you choose and plan.
This page began with a 2023 survey of UK drivers. We have expanded it into an evergreen guide that connects each route to deeper regional inspiration, digital road trip guides and wider touring options.
Quick answer
What are some of the best road trips in the UK?
Strong UK road trip choices include Scotland’s north coast, Cheddar Gorge, Snake Pass, the A591 through the Lake District, Llanberis Pass in North Wales, the B3306 in Cornwall, the A169 and A170 across the North York Moors, a Cotswolds route between Cheltenham and Stratford, the Cat and Fiddle route, and the Black Mountain Pass in Wales. The best choice depends on whether you want a long touring journey, mountain roads, coast, villages, heritage or a shorter scenic break.
Choose the right kind of journey
The best UK road trip is the one that suits how you travel
A famous road is not automatically the right trip for you. Some travellers want the road itself to dominate the holiday. Others want villages, walks, castles, coast, galleries or places to stop for several hours.
That is why this page does more than repeat a ranking. The original list is useful because it highlights ten well-loved routes, but a road trip becomes much more interesting when you understand what each route is good for and how it can fit into a wider journey.
Use the route list for inspiration, then follow the links into the part of the Uncover Britain ecosystem that matches your next decision: a regional article, a complete digital guide, a bundle or the wider journey planner.
Find your kind of road trip
Which UK road trip style suits you?
Start with the experience you want. The route choice becomes much easier after that.
Big, remote adventure
Choose Scotland’s north coast if the journey itself is the holiday and you have time for a major touring route.
Explore the North Coast of ScotlandMountains with short walks
Choose the Lake District when you want classic scenery, viewpoints, valleys and easy ways to mix driving with time outside the car.
See Lake District scenic drivesShort scenic break
Choose the Peak District for dramatic passes, accessible viewpoints and a road trip that can work well over a shorter stay.
Explore Peak District scenic drivesCoast and sea views
Choose Cornwall for Atlantic scenery and a coastal journey, or North Yorkshire for a mix of Moors and east-coast atmosphere.
Explore CornwallVillages and heritage
Choose the Cotswolds for a gentler trip built around historic settlements, countryside and slower touring.
Explore the CotswoldsMountain roads in Wales
Choose North Wales or the Cambrian direction when passes, national parks and a progressive journey through Wales appeal most.
Compare Wales road tripsHow this page began
From a 2023 driver survey to an evergreen road trip guide
The original article reported on a survey of 2,000 UK drivers commissioned by National Geographic to launch series 11 of Car S.O.S. The survey ranked ten routes across England, Scotland and Wales.
We have kept that ranked list as the historical backbone of this page, but expanded it to help travellers compare the routes, understand who each one suits and move into deeper planning.
Editorial note: the ranking below reflects that original survey. Our “best for” guidance and planning pathways are Uncover Britain’s editorial additions.
The original ranked ten
10 standout UK road trip routes — and how to explore them
Use the ranking for inspiration, then choose the route that best matches your time, interests and preferred type of journey.
Scotland’s North Coast
A major Highland touring journey associated with the well-known NC500 route, with remote coast, beaches, mountain scenery and long-distance road-trip appeal.
Cheddar Gorge through the Mendip Hills — B3135
A dramatic limestone-gorge drive that works especially well as part of a broader Somerset journey rather than a stand-alone dash through the cliffs.
Snake Pass — A57, Peak District
A high moorland crossing with broad upland views and a very different feel from the limestone valleys further south in the national park.
Kendal to Keswick — A591, Lake District
A classic Lake District drive linking major scenery and useful bases, with easy opportunities to branch into valleys, viewpoints and shorter walks.
Llanberis Pass — A4086, North Wales
A dramatic mountain road through Eryri, suited to travellers who want strong landscapes, historic places and a wider North Wales journey.
St Ives to St Just — B3306, Cornwall
A rugged Penwith coast drive with Atlantic views, mining landscapes and a natural place within a larger Cornwall road trip.
Best of the Moors — A169 and A170, Yorkshire
A strong choice for travellers who want heather moorland, historic towns and the possibility of continuing towards Whitby and the coast.
Cheltenham to Stratford through the Cotswolds
A gentler road trip style built around villages, historic towns and rolling countryside rather than dramatic mountain passes.
Cat and Fiddle route — Peak District
A well-known upland drive that reinforces why the Peak District works so well for a shorter scenic road trip with multiple route choices.
Black Mountain Pass — A4069, Wales
A sweeping mountain-road experience in South Wales, useful for travellers who want a more landscape-led route and a reason to explore beyond one headline destination.
Scotland: build a bigger Highlands and Islands journey.
Peak District: combine famous roads with viewpoints and valleys.
Wales: link coast, mountains and national routes.
Move from inspiration to planning
What should you do next?
Choose the next step based on how certain you already are about the trip.
I know the region
Go straight into a regional guide or support cluster and start shaping the journey in more detail.
Browse all digital road trip guides →I want a longer journey
Compare regional and cross-border bundles when one guide is not enough for the trip you are planning.
Browse road trip bundles →I still need help choosing
Use the journey chooser to narrow the options by region, travel style and the kind of experience you want.
Choose your journey →Compare at a glance
Which of these UK road trips best fits your trip?
| Route | Best for | Trip feel | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland’s North Coast | Big adventure | Remote coast and Highlands | North Coast guide |
| Cheddar Gorge | Short dramatic drive | Limestone gorge and Somerset | Mendips route |
| Snake Pass | Moorland scenery | High upland crossing | Peak scenic drives |
| A591 Lake District | Mountains + stops | Classic lakes and fells | Lake District guide |
| Llanberis Pass | Welsh mountain scenery | High pass and Eryri | North Wales guide |
| B3306 Cornwall | Atlantic coast | Cliffs and Penwith | Cornwall guide |
| A169/A170 Moors | Variety | Moors, towns and coast | Compare Yorkshire |
| Cotswolds | Villages + heritage | Gentler slow touring | Cotswolds guide |
| Cat and Fiddle | Driving roads | Peak District uplands | Peak guide |
| Black Mountain Pass | Mountain roads | South Wales uplands | Wales routes |
Use the wider ecosystem
Go deeper into the regions that interest you
These are the pages that turn a broad road-trip idea into a more useful journey.
Lake District
Peak District
Yorkshire
Scotland
Wales
Southern England
Scotland: extend a mainland route into island scenery.
Yorkshire: combine Dales, Moors, coast and heritage.
Wales: choose mountain roads or link several national routes.
Looking for a different kind of list?
Choose road trip inspiration by intent
Each page has a different job, so you can move deeper without reading the same article again.
Want pure driving scenery?
Use the scenic drives page when roads, viewpoints and the driving experience matter most.
Explore Top UK Scenic Drives →Want overlooked routes?
Use Road Trips to Watch for quieter and emerging journey ideas beyond the obvious names.
See 5 Road Trips to Watch →Want a trip around an interest?
Use the themed road trips page for heritage, food, culture and other interest-led journeys.
Explore Themed Road Trips →FAQs
Best UK road trip FAQs
What is the best UK road trip for a first-time visitor?
A first-time visitor often benefits from a focused region with strong variety, such as the Lake District, North Wales, Yorkshire or the Cotswolds, rather than attempting a very long national route.
What is the best UK road trip for dramatic scenery?
Scotland’s north coast, the Lake District, North Wales and parts of the Peak District all offer strong mountain or upland scenery, but they suit different trip lengths and driving styles.
Which UK road trip is best for a short break?
The Peak District, Cotswolds, Mendips and a focused Lake District route can all work well for shorter breaks when you keep the journey concentrated.
Which UK road trip is best for coast?
Cornwall is a strong choice for Atlantic scenery, while Scotland’s north and west coasts offer a much larger touring journey. North Yorkshire also combines moorland with coastal towns.
How do I choose between an individual guide and a bundle?
Choose an individual guide for one focused region. Choose a bundle when your trip naturally spans several connected areas or when you want more route options over a longer holiday.
Are these routes suitable for motorhomes and campervans?
Suitability varies. Some routes include narrow, steep or exposed roads, so always check current road conditions, restrictions and vehicle suitability before travelling.
Ready to turn an idea into a journey?
Choose your next UK road trip
Browse the full guide library, compare bundles or use the journey chooser to narrow the options.