Travel UK

Travel || Road Trips in the UK

Posted on April 29, 2021

After I did part of the North Coast 500 a few summers ago, I am itching to do more UK-based road trips. Since I am not a licensed driver in the UK, I do have an easy job as a passenger. I curate the playlists, loosely making sure that we follow the right route and keep us supplied in snacks. No wonder I enjoy it so much.

As international travel is still totally up in the air, here are my suggestions of some amazing UK-based road trips.

UK-Based Road Trips:

Loch Lomond: It doesn’t necessarily have an official ring-road around it, but it’s easy to complete a full scenic loop around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Honestly, I can’t big up Scottish road trips enough. You could do it in a long weekend, but you’ll probably want another day.

Cotswolds: This part of England has the most adorable postcard villages. I love the Cotswolds, and even had Friendmas there a few years back. Start in Wiltshire’s absolutely stunning Castle Combe. You could spend a weekend driving around.

Norfolk: The coast in this part of England is stunning. This can be done in a long weekend.

Yorkshire: What a terrible former York dweller I’d be if I didn’t recommend Yorkshire. Spend time exploring the coast, then the North York Moors before spending time in Malton and York. I’d recommend 4 days.

Isle of Skye: I spent a day on Skye and I am desperate for more time there. I’d set aside at least 4 days to explore Skye.

North Coast 500: This route through the vast and imposing Scottish Highlands stretches for 500 miles on a round trip from Inverness. Set aside about 5 days for it.

The Atlanta Highway: Taking in a string of south-west England’s salty beach towns, the Atlantic Highway knots together a course through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. You’ll need at least a week.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure that you are road trip ready.

1. Make sure your car is ready to go. Check the tyres, the screenwash, the oil. The works. Perhaps most importantly, make sure your MOT is up to date! Long road trips might mean you are away from home for weeks or even months. Make sure your MOT is not invalidated during this time. After all, an MOT will last for a year so having it done a few weeks before it is actually needed won’t make much difference. Plenty of safety checks occur during an MOT which will put your mind at rest. You can book an appointment for MOT in London at Iverson Tyre’s website here, if you need one. For other local areas, you can choose a tyre garage close to you.

2. Make sure your factor in breaks. Driving can be super tiring and there are few things as dangerous as a tired driver. Also, plan your break in advance. Some of the road trips I’ve mentioned are quite remote so you’ll need to make sure you know when to stop for petrol!

3. Plan a playlist. I am a massive fan of a road trip playlist. Again, due to the remote nature of some of these locations, you might lose radio signal.

4. Always pack plenty of snacks and water. No one wants to be trapped in a small space with someone who is angry.

What road trips in the UK would you recommend?