Planning a UK street journey? Questioning the place you possibly can go on a scenic drive round Nice Britain and wish some concepts and itineraries for locations to go to in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Eire? No worries- we’ve obtained you lined. Listed below are 12 of the most effective UK street journeys and scenic drives- and how one can profit from them!
Don’t neglect to seize your FREE street journey planner beneath that will help you keep organised.
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UK Street Journeys- getting began
Whether or not you’re visiting the UK from elsewhere or planning a staycation, I can guarantee you that there’s LOADS to see and do on a self-drive tour of Nice Britain.
When you’re going for a weekend, per week or perhaps a longer journey of two or 3 weeks, there will likely be lots so that you can take pleasure in.
I’ve been exploring the UK for years, each on motorhome holidays and I’ve plenty of tricks to share.
On this submit, we’re highlighting 12 of our favorite UK street journeys of all instances. When you’d like extra assist really planning the journey, you would possibly discover these helpful:
BEST UK ROAD TRIPS- 5 English scenic drives
I like roadtripping in England and have loved many elements of the nation, however it will possibly take longer to drive round England than you would possibly suppose.
It’s been robust to decide on, however listed below are a couple of of my favourites (to see extra unmissable England street journey concepts, click on right here)
Cotswolds street Journey
One of many prettiest UK street journey concepts for England needs to be the Cotswolds.
This whole space is filled with picturesque villages, fairly roads and unbelievable views over the rolling English countryside- so long as it’s a transparent day!
Cotswolds street journey itinerary
I’d suggest beginning in Salisbury, a ravishing cathedral metropolis with lots to do and see. There are nice retailers and loads of bars and cafes to get you began.
While there, it’s important to head out to Stonehenge and see the world-famous stone circle. You possibly can see it fairly nicely from the street, however there are sometimes lengthy queues as everybody decelerate to take photographs. We as soon as spent an unbelievable night time wild tenting subsequent to Stonehenge with our motorhome – the dawn was among the best we’ve ever seen!
From Salisbury, head into the Cotswolds ‘correct’. A number of the greatest locations to go to within the Cotswolds embody Bourton-on-the-Water and Citadel Combe- each have been referred to as the prettiest villages in England. You possibly can drive round as many villages within the Cotswolds as you’ve time for and there are many locations to remain within the space if you wish to probe for a couple of days.
Alternatively, head to Bathtub for an in a single day keep (except you’re in a motorhome and might use Britstops or a campsite. Bathtub is one other stunning metropolis, constructed from yellow stone which seems to be spectacular within the night mild. I extremely suggest staying an evening (or two) and having fun with afternoon tea on the Pump rooms (an English custom), in addition to exploring town on foot.
Devon Street Journey
Famed for its surroundings and cream teas, Devon is without doubt one of the hottest UK street journey locations, particularly for households. It’s not too removed from London or the remainder of the UK and there’s lots to see and do.
Devon street journey concepts for one-week
There are such a lot of choices for street journeys in Devon that it’s arduous to decide on the place to begin. For me, my coronary heart lies within the south as I spent a whole lot of my early maturity there.
Picturesque cities like Salcombe and Dartmouth, Exmouth, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe all have a beautiful quiet attraction. When you actually wish to get away, park up and revel in a number of the greatest hikes within the UK up on the infamous Dartmoor.
For extra life, head to Exeter or Plymouth- these cities have an enormous vary of actions and issues to do. One in every of our favourites is the Dartmoor Zoo (residence of the REAL ‘we purchased a zoo’ story)
In case you are having fun with your UK street journey in a motorhome or camper, watch out the place you keep overnight- motorhome wild parking isn’t straightforward in lots of locations round right here. However there are many campsites and different locations you should use.
Highlights and a number of the greatest locations to go to in Devon
- Dartmouth- among the best cities within the county
- Clovelly
- The unbelievable seashores at Westward Ho! or Saunton Sands
- Paignton- the seashore with the purple sand
- Salcombe Harbour
TOP TIP: When you have time, prolong your vacation to incorporate a Hampshire & Dorset street journey too- there are some wonderful locations to see on the South coast of England.
Cornwall street journey
When you’re searching for a UK street journey concepts, head to Cornwall.
This stunning county is without doubt one of the greatest locations within the UK— the climate is usually higher than elsewhere within the UK, the seashores in Cornwall are spectacular and the native meals consists of mouth-watering pasties, cream teas and ice cream (now could be NOT the time to be on a eating regimen!)
There’s a lot to do, you’ll by no means see all of it in a weekend or perhaps a week, however there are some highlights you need to undoubtedly go to.
Highlights of a Cornwall street journey
For a full listing of the most effective locations to go to on a Cornwall street journey, go to our Cornwall Street Journey Itinerary & Information
Yorkshire Street Journey
Yorkshire is England’s largest county and the proper place for the street journey. There are a lot of points of interest fairly shut collectively, so you possibly can discover loads in a brief time period. You would ‘cowl’ Yorkshire in a few days however to actually recognize all it has to supply we suggest not less than one full week.
Highlights of a Yorkshire one-week UK street journey
- England’s highest single-drop waterfall- Hardraw Pressure
- The longest present collapse England- White scar
- Ribblehead Viaduct
- Stand on Hogsmeade station (or not less than the station which performed it in Harry Potter!)
- Quite a few castles and ruins to go to
Yorkshire Street Journey Itinerary concepts
Begin your street journey within the stunning Yorkshire Dales. Go to the eleventh century Skipton Citadel or descend underground to see the formations in White Scar Caves, the longest present collapse England.
Select between the waterfalls of Ingleton, Aysgarth Falls or Hardraw Pressure- England’s highest single-drop waterfall. Earlier than leaving the Dales, go to the spectacular monastic ruins and landscaped gardens of Fountains Abbey.
Make sure you go to York. This beautiful metropolis is a perfect location for historical past buffs. You possibly can go to Viking, Roman, Georgian and Victorian websites all in in the future! Make sure you stroll alongside the cobbled Shambles, which has been voted the ‘Greatest Road in Britain.’
Head onto the moors to finish your Yorkshire street journey. Cease at Goathland prepare station which doubled as Hogsmeade station within the Harry Potter films. Alternatively, stretch your legs with a hike on the Gap of Horcum, an enormous historic pure amphitheatre.
Lake District Street Journey
The Lake District Nationwide Park is an ideal UK street journey thought. A UNESCO web site, it’s fantastically maintained and the surroundings is unbelievable.
Many individuals hurry previous on their UK street journey itineraries from England to Scotland, but it surely’s nicely price making the time to cease should you can.
Greatest scenic drive locations within the Lake District
The Lake District has a number of the worlds greatest scenic drives and a visit alongside the Honister Move and Kirkstone Move are a should, as are the beautiful cities of Keswick and Cockermouth.
The Castlerigg stone circle can also be price a cease and the views throughout Derwent Water are spectacular.
Within the South Lakes, Grasmere is pleasant. That is the area of William Wordsworth (well-known poet) and there’s lots to see right here to recollect him. Make sure you additionally take pleasure in Sarah Nelson’s pleasant gingerbread and go to one of many many tearooms.
When you love Beatrix Potter, you possibly can study extra about her at her residence in Hawkshead and in addition at Wray Citadel, the place she loved her holidays. There’s additionally Beatrix Potter World in Bowness- on- Windermere.
When you’re not exploring in a motorhome or campervan, there are many locations to remain, from rustic B & Bs to breathtaking accommodations. There are additionally a great deal of outside activites to take pleasure in, regardless of the climate.
READ MORE: Uncover extra itinerary concepts for our favorite England street journeys
NC 500- one of the vital well-known UK street journeys
The NC500 has been voted one of many UK’s most scenic drives, with spectacular surroundings, unbelievable seashores and unmissable views throughout the Highlands.
The route is simply over 500 miles lengthy, will take round 3 or 4 days and takes in elements of the Highlands within the north-west of Scotland. A number of the roads are very slim, however there are many passing locations, even should you’re motorhoming or campervanning in Scotland.
You can begin the route wherever you need, go clockwise or anticlockwise and do all or simply a part of it. We selected to do half of it earlier than heading off to discover different issues to do in Perthshire and the encompassing areas.
Alongside the NC500, you’ll encounter stunning white sand seashores with extremely clear water, unbelievable mountain views, the Smoo Cave, one of many largest in Scotland and the Kylesku bridge.
There are many pretty accommodations and B & Bs alongside the route, lots of which give views throughout the ocean or the Scottish highlands. Historically, the route begins in Inverness, though you possibly can be a part of and depart it wherever. We embody a part of it in our full Scotland street journey Itinerary, which is a superb possibility for many who wish to see as a lot of Scotland as potential in a restricted time.
Planning a visit to Scotland?
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Highlights of the NC 500 embody:
- Inverness- essentially the most northerly metropolis within the UK
- Smoo Cave
- Bealach Na Ba- the UK’s steepest street. Do NOT try this with a motorhome (or should you’re a nervous driver!)
- Clachtoll Seashore
- Kylesku Bridge
- John o’Groats
READ MORE about driving the NC500
Isle of Skye street journey
The Isle of Skye is without doubt one of the most well-known islands on the west coast of Scotland and attracts a whole lot of guests annually.
Highlights of an Isle of Skye street journey embody:
- Fairy Swimming pools
- Talisker Distillery
- Previous Man of Storr hike
- Dunvegan Citadel
- Neist Level
It’s potential so as to add Skye onto the NC500 and go to for the day, but it surely’s nicely price spending 3 days in a street journey right here to essentially see a number of the unbelievable sights.
READ MORE: Our full 3-day Isle of Skye itinerary and suggestions for visiting
SWC300 – hidden UK street journey gem
The south of Scotland is a superb vacation spot for a UK street journey or staycation because it’s far off the ‘in style’ vacationer monitor.
The South West Coastal 300 (SWC300) is a scenic drive across the south-west of Scotland. It passes by way of elements of Ayrshire, runs alongside the coast of Dumfries and Galloway and crosses into the Moffat and Galloway Hills.
SWC300 street journey itinerary concepts
It may possibly take 4-5 days to see all the pieces, however the most effective half is the drive across the Mull of Galloway peninsula, so focus your time right here.
Begin by exploring the southernmost level of Scotland and go to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse – from the highest, you possibly can see the coast of Northern Eire, the Lake District and the Isle of Man.
The picturesque harbour of Portpatrick provides loads of locations to take pleasure in dinner. Different highlights on the SWC300 embody Culzean Citadel on the coast and the Darkish Sky Park within the Galloway Hills.
Brecon Beacons – Good UK Street Journey thought
The Brecon Beacons is one in all three nationwide parks in Wales and is filled with scenic drives excellent for street trippers searching for an journey. It’s one of the vital under-rated street journey locations within the UK.
The Gospel Move- one of the vital scenic drives within the UK
The best driving street in Wales is known as the Gospel Move- snaking over the Black Mountains from Abergavenny to Hay-on-wye on the east of the Beacons.
From Abergavenny, flip off the A465 at Llanvihangel Crucorney and comply with indicators for the ruins of Llanthony Priory. From Hay-on-Wye, the Gospel cross is sign-posted.
CAUTION- The Move is 22 miles of typically single monitor, very steep (1/4) and isn’t cleared in winter. Motorhomes would possibly discover it robust and snow chains are important in winter.
Driving the Prime Gear Street
You may also drive to the west of the Brecon Beacons (the A4069,) That is the street made well-known by Jeremy Clarkson and Prime Gear (no, that is NOT the identical street because the Gospel Move!) The street runs from Brynamman to Llangadog.
Gower Peninsula – Wales
The Gower peninsula is an ideal cease on UK Street Journey. It’s a small peninsula on the southern Welsh coast, simply west of Swansea.
Highlights of a Gower street journey embody:
- Worm’s Head.
- Gower beaches- together with Caswell and Landland, the place you’ll find all the pieces you want for a day on the seashore: ice cream, parking and retailers.
- Additionally, don’t neglect to go on a correct coastal hike. The best of all of them is definitely the hike between the 2 aforementioned seashores.
- The Mumbles is the place we spent our very first night time ‘wild tenting off-grid’ in our motorhome. DEFINITELY price a go to.
Pembrokeshire Street Journey
The Pembrokeshire Coast is within the far south-west of Wales. The street follows the coast with quite a few little seashores, stunning castles and small cities. The additional west the smaller the roads turn into and extra rugged the panorama.
Highlights of Pembrokeshire street journey embody:
- Tenby
- Caldey Island
- Pembroke and Pembroke Citadel
- Manobier Citadel
- Skomer Island (puffins!)
- St David’s- the smallest metropolis within the UK
Pembrokeshire street journey itinerary concepts
Tenby is a small seaside city and has stunning seashores. When you have time, a go to to Caldey Island is extremely beneficial.
A brief distance from Tenby is Pembroke. This is without doubt one of the bigger cities and you may’t miss Pembroke Citadel. Much more spectacular is the close by Manobier Citadel that appears over a small bay excellent for browsing.
If seeing puffins is in your bucket listing then go to Skomer Island. This small island is residence to hundreds of puffins and it’s virtually assured to see them in summer time.
The ultimate vacation spot to go to in Pembrokeshire is St David’s. That is the smallest metropolis within the UK and has a ravishing cathedral and small winding streets- in addition to among the best pasty retailers we’ve ever discovered!
Snowdonia – one of many UK’s greatest street journeys
When you’re searching for a weekend UK street journey thought, head to one of many prettiest Nationwide Parks within the UK- Snowdonia in Wales. Snowdonia is definitely a part of two of the Wales Means driving routes– North and Cambrian and it’s straightforward to see why.
Snowdonia is amazingly nicely related to most locations within the UK- the drive from Manchester takes round 2 hours (80 miles)
Just about all the pieces in Snowdonia entails being outdoor, so ensure you deliver applicable clothes for the time of yr. It is best to at all times count on rain in Wales, even in mid-summer, but it surely may also be surprisingly heat. There are many nice roads with spectacular surroundings and the celebrities at night time are unreal. When you don’t have a motorhome or campervan, there are many accommodations or glamping spots in North Wales to take pleasure in.
Make sure you add the Swallow Falls to your itinerary – it’s one of many prettiest waterfalls within the UK and nicely well worth the straightforward hike and the small payment to go to.
Need extra suggestions for planning the final word UK street journey, together with a map and how one can profit from your time? Right here you go!
Northern Eire Scenic Street Journey thought
The Causeway Coastal Route is within the north of Northern Eire. Highlights embody:
- Giants Causeway
- Carrick-a-rede rope bridge
- Dunluce Citadel
- Darkish Hedges (you possibly can really drive down this street)
READ NEXT: Extra Eire street journey concepts and tricks to profit from your journey
Northern Eire street journey itinerary thought
Head early to the well-known Giants causeway to get there at opening time. It’s a couple of 90 minute drive from Belfast.
The close by Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bride connects the mainland to the tiny Carrickarede island and crossing on foot is an exhilarating expertise. Anticipate to queue for some time to get throughout, but it surely’s well worth the wait.
One other distinctive cease on the route is the clifftop ruins of Dunluce Citadel which cling precariously above the ocean beneath.
Don’t miss the Darkish Hedges. This street of arching 18th Century beech timber options within the HBO Collection Recreation of Thrones and is without doubt one of the most stunning roads in Eire. It may be straightforward to drive proper previous it because it was surprisingly badly signposted after we visited- and count on crowds. LOTS of crowds. You may also drive down it- should you’re motorhoming in Eire be VERY nervous about this- I’m not even certain you’ll make it in a campervan!
How lengthy does it take to drive the Causeway coastal route?
You possibly can comfortably drive the entire route in a single weekend because it’s fairly a brief route- solely 200 miles.
Planning a UK ROAD TRIP? Ideas to assist
When you’re planning a UK street journey, there are some things to know which is able to make your life simpler.
- It rains. Loads. Everytime you’re coming, deliver a coat.
- The perfect climate is normally Could-October. In 2018 it was blissful from April all by way of the summer time. In 2019 I used to be nonetheless carrying my winter coat throughout Could.
- College holidays are round Easter, throughout finish of July and all through August and per week in mid-October. Attempt to keep away from planning your UK street journey throughout these should you can.
- We drive in ‘miles’ (imperial), however we purchase gas in litres (metric).
- Foreign money is in GBP- not Euros.
- Carry small cash (something from 10p to £1) Many automotive parks require change to pay.
