We know that this is a very difficult and challenging time for us all, and while we’re on lockdown we thought we’d share some inspiration for road trip ideas to take on after restrictions have been lifted, so you can look forward to breathing in the fresh air of the Welsh mountains, picturesque beaches that you’ve been dreaming about, outstanding scenery you’ve been imagining and much more that makes travelling so worthwhile. No matter the destination, there is something about a road trip that brings about such excitement – you can explore hidden gems, countryside back roads and plenty of sun (well, hopefully). We recommend road trips by car or by campervan – the perfect road trip companion.
The Lake District, UK
The Lake District continues to be a huge favourite and an irresistible place to many tourists, no matter the time of year. The Lake District is a region in North West England, best known for its stunning and famous lakes, mountains, and forests. It’s truly a remarkable place to escape, and explore if you’re one for nature and exceptional scenery. It is home to some remarkable driving routes all across the National Park, and if the great British weather isn’t in the mood to grace us with sunshine, your car, campervan, or motorhome seems a much better option. We’ve listed a few scenic drives below that you need to add to your Lake District road trip.
Keswick Loop via Buttermere and Borrowdale
This route is a great drive to take in some of the Lake District’s beautiful settings. It’s a 23 mile drive and takes just over an hour. Start off at Keswick, which is a jewel of a town with museums, adventure centres, and sight seeing tours available. By starting off here, it will take you along the spectacular route along the Newlands Valley. Make sure you take the views in of Grisedale Pike and Dale Head. You should also stop off at Buttermere and Crummock Water, consisting of two blue ribbon lakes which are knotted together. You’ll find the mirror like lake, and it’s definitely a great opportunity to capture this part of the Lake District in all of it’s glory.
Coniston to Eskdale via Duddon Valley
This is a more challenging drive for the thrill seekers. It consists of mountain rides and plenty of twists and turns, but in return you’ll catch breath-taking glimpses of some of the most wonderful scenery you can only find here in the UK. It is a 42 mile drive, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to stop off at many villages and hamlets.
Ambleside to Ullswater via Keswick
This is a popular route to experience the Lake District, and is one well worth taking. William Wordsworth, a famous British poet, found inspiration for his poems from the incredible scenery. This 47 mile drive might just inspire your creative senses!
Wales, UK
Wales is best known for it’s soaring mountains, long roads, rugged coastlines, and exceptional landscapes. From North to South, a road trip definitely brings you beauty like no other. From climbing Snowdonia, to finding mystical waterfalls and enchanting forests, we’ve compiled a short list of routes you need to take when road tripping through Wales.
Black Mountain Pass, Brecon Beacons
Also known as the A4069, it’s a road that has unrivalled views, but can be a challenging road across Black Mountain into the Brecon Beacons. This connects Llandovery with Gwuan-Cae-Gurwen! It’s a popular route but must be experienced when travelling in Wales. Be sure to look out for stray sheep too!
Abergwesyn Pass, Powys
If you’re a lover of long straights, hairpin bends, bridges, and everything else in between – this is a must. While this tests your driving skills, it’s a beautiful route to take in the views of mountains, forests, and stunning villages. This route is around 11 miles and takes 40 minutes, depending on if you get by sheep or not.
Somerset, UK
Somerset is filled with spectacular road trip destinations that will make you fall in love with nature even more. It’s most famous for Glastonbury, apples, cider, and the world famous Cheddar cheese of course.
B3135 – Cheddar to Ashwick
This route cuts through the Mendip Hills. Cheddar is a large village in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, and driving through Cheddar Gorge has been named the best road for driving in the UK. It’s a winding road, but you can take in the deep sliced limestone cliffs, which will only get you to pull over, park up, and stare in awe. This drive is around 15 miles and takes 30 minutes.
Scotland, UK
Scotland is known for its rolling farmland, majestic mountains, and romantic islands. It’s landscapes are beyond beautiful, and we know why it’s a popular place tourists and travellers have to experience in order to capture it’s beauty. Scotland’s scenery is extremely diverse, which makes it’s driving routes that much better.
Glen Coe
Glen Coe is one of the most scenic driving routes in the country. It features stunning valleys, incredible waterfalls and lochs, summits and much more. There is a road A82, this enables you to cross it via the Glencoe valley. Once you pass the mountain, you will see a turning to the right to Glen Etive. This road takes you down to head of Loch Etive, around 12 miles.
Find more info on this route here.
Lochcarron to Applecross, Via the Bealach Na Ba
This is an incredible route you must put on your list. If you begin at Loch Carron, you can wind your way through the stunning countryside to end up at one of the most famous roads in Scotland Bealach Na Ba which translates to Pass of the Cattle. The drive offers amazing views across Wester Ross, the Isle of Skye, and the Outer Hebrides. This route is 17 miles and takes roughly around 40 minutes.
Argyll Coast
This route is for the sea air and the sunset lovers. The Argyll coastal route is set from the banks of Loch Lomond, and give you endless opportunities to fully explore the west coast of Scotland and what it has to offer. Bask in the glory of Scotland’s best wildlife, taste some exquisite seafood, and learn more about the country’s history. There are plenty of highlights along the way, so we’ll leave that for you to decide which you want to stop off at.
Start planning your next road trip now, and build your very own itinerary using Inspirock – it’s free and is extremely helpful in planning your days.
Author
This blog was written by Dave Brown. Dave is a Director of his family business which began in 1971. He has a wealth of experience in this sector starting as a workshop apprentice straight from school in 1982. Married with two children, Dave has been an enthusiastic Rugby player since the age of 8, only retiring this year. He will now spend more time travelling in his VW Campervan and watching his favourite team, the Northampton Saints.