North Coast 500
ScotlandInverness loop, Scottish Highlands
516 miles around the northern Highlands. Beaches, single-track roads, lochs and the Bealach na Bà. Allow 5–7 days. Book accommodation well in advance.
Scenic Routes
The UK's best driving roads & scenic tours.
From the North Coast 500 to the Atlantic Highway, the UK packs an extraordinary amount of great driving into a small island. Here are the routes worth planning a trip around.
Britain's geography — mountains in the north and west, sea on every side — gives drivers a huge variety of touring routes within a few hours of any major city. National Scenic Routes in Scotland and Wales are signposted; in England the best driving is along National Park edges and the coast.
Most routes here suit cars, motorbikes and small motorhomes. We've flagged sections with width, gradient or seasonal restrictions so you don't get caught out — Hardknott Pass and the Bealach na Bà are not for the inexperienced.
Where & what to know
Bealach na Bà
Mountain PassApplecross, Wester Ross
One of the UK's most dramatic mountain passes. 626 m summit, hairpin bends, 20% gradients. Not suitable for caravans or large motorhomes.
Snake Pass (A57)
Peak DistrictPeak District, Derbyshire
Sheffield to Glossop over the Pennines. Sweeping bends, frequent winter closures for snow. A biker favourite.
Cat & Fiddle (A537)
Peak DistrictMacclesfield ↔ Buxton
Famous twisty road over the moors. Average-speed cameras the full length — enjoy the view, not the speed.
Hardknott & Wrynose Pass
Lake DistrictLake District, Cumbria
England's steepest road at 33% gradient. Narrow, unforgiving and stunning. Avoid in winter and in anything larger than a small car.
Atlantic Highway (A39)
CornwallBarnstaple ↔ Fraddon, North Devon & Cornwall
Around 70 miles of coastal driving with surf beaches, clifftop villages and easy access to Exmoor.
Cheddar Gorge (B3135)
South WestMendip Hills, Somerset
Limestone cliffs rising 137 m on either side. Short, dramatic and busy in summer — go early.
Evo Triangle
WalesDenbighshire, North Wales
A roughly triangular loop of the A5, A543 and B4501 across the moors. Lightly trafficked, sweeping bends — popular with car magazines.
Black Mountain Pass (A4069)
WalesBrecon Beacons, Carmarthenshire
The 'Top Gear road'. Open moorland, fast sweepers and hairpins above Llangadog.
Buttertubs Pass
YorkshireYorkshire Dales
Hawes to Thwaite. Narrow, steep, with deep limestone potholes ('the buttertubs') beside the road.
Causeway Coastal Route
Northern IrelandBelfast ↔ Derry, Northern Ireland
120 miles past the Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges and the Glens of Antrim. One of the great European coast drives.
Jurassic Coast (A35/B3157)
South CoastExmouth ↔ Studland, Dorset & Devon
England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage coast. Best driven east–west with frequent stops at Lulworth, Durdle Door and Lyme Regis.
Snowdonia Loop (A4086 / A498)
WalesGwynedd, North Wales
Llanberis Pass and the Pen-y-Pass. Mountain scenery to rival anywhere in Britain, packed into a short loop.
Glen Coe (A82)
ScotlandScottish Highlands
The most photographed glen in Scotland. The road runs right through it — pull over at the Three Sisters viewpoint.
Yorkshire Moors (A169 / A171)
YorkshirePickering ↔ Whitby
Across the North York Moors past Goathland (Heartbeat / Harry Potter station). Sweeping heather moorland in late summer.
Practical tips
Fuel up early
Rural petrol stations close early and Sundays can be sparse, especially in the Highlands and west Wales. Top up when you can.
Mind the passing places
On single-track roads, passing places are for letting oncoming traffic past or for faster vehicles to overtake. Never park in them.
Check seasonal closures
Hardknott, Wrynose, Snake Pass and several Highland routes close in snow. Check Traffic Scotland / National Highways before setting off in winter.
Respect the locals
Many of these roads pass through working farms and small communities. Keep noise down at night, and don't block gates or driveways.