5 Of The Best Road Trips In The UK

In the UK, there are over 200,000 miles of roads that are ready and waiting for you to explore. Even though there is the notorious reputation of the great British motorway to familiarise yourself with, particularly the M25, there are plenty of picturesque routes leading you to postcard-perfect locations. With an abundance of stunning c ountryside, bustling cities and coastal roads to explore, here are 5 of the best road trips to experience in the UK.

The Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Cheddar Gorge is just 10 miles south-west of Bristol, set in the heart of the famous West Country. Here is where you will find the UK's version of the Grand Canyon, where the earth looks as though it has been torn apart by a boisterous giant. There are sheer limestone cliffs, with many sliced around 400m deep by past glaciers, which hug the road on both sides for around 3 miles.

It is a fairly demanding drive, particularly if you want to admire the scenery, so it's best to take it slow. When it is summer, the road can become fairly backed up with traffic, so if you want to enjoy the road almost to yourself, then visit out of season.

North Coast 500, Scotland

This is a circular route which takes you along 516 miles of stunning Highland scenery, often on a single track road. Starting and ending at Inverness Castle, this road travels through some of the Scottish coastal highlights, including the Applecross Peninsular and John O'Groats. If you do want to travel the whole distance, accommodation on the route is very minimal, so try and book ahead. You won't need to drive all of the way in order to feel the famous Highland spirits, but you will want to!

Okehampton to Exeter, Devon

You will be able to see the two sides of South and West Devon on this route, taking in all of the quintessential British countrysides and Dartmoor's wilderness on the way. If you start in the village of Okehampton, then this 40-mile long route will take you south, through Castle Drogo and beautiful Becky Falls before you end up in Bovey Tracey, where picture-perfect hedgerows change to wooded valleys and great granite tors.

Should you want to stretch your legs, then stop off and climb up one of Dartmoor's megaliths. One a clear day, you'll be able to see as far as your eyes allow. If you keep driving, then you should reach the Roman city of Exeter, where you can enjoy a great lunch at one of the popular canalside pubs, or take a walk around the old streets.

Snake Pass, The Peak District

No matter which way you go, a drive in the Peak District will always be a treat for the eyes. But, Snake Pass is a route which takes you from Glossop and Ladybower reservoir and across the Pennines, where you will feel as though you are on top of the world.

Whilst, realistically, you are only 512 metres above sea level at the highest point, it is more than enough to offer you stunning panoramic views across the National Trust's High Peak Estate, which stretches far and wide. This short 20-mile route winds round hillsides, like the name suggests, but it is in actual fact named after The Snake Inn pub that you'll find on the route, which is popular with bikers who regularly ride the trail to experience the tight bends, elevation switch ups and adverse cambers.

Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

This is, without a doubt, Northern Ireland's more popular driving route, with good reason. This 80-mile stretch of road, which leads from Londonderry to Belfast, allows passengers to take in some of Ireland's most stunning coastal scenery of the Big Three: the Glens or Antrim, the Causeway Coast and Binevenagh cliffs. The World Heritage Site status of the Giant's Causeway also lies on this route, which features an out-of-this-world collection of 40,000 basalt columns which stretch out into the sea.

In just half an hour each way on any stretch of road, you're sure to pass photo-worthy viewpoints and tiny villages, with the roar of the ocean just a stone's throw away. There are also some shorter routes which lead off from the main one to offer a gentler experience should you need it.

If you are visiting from another country and wish to drive in the UK, then there are some things which you will need. You will need your passport or identification card and a valid drivers license. You must also ensure that you have the right motor insurance if you wish to drive your own car on any UK roads. If you are planning on in the UK for a long period of time, then you will also need to make sure that you have the right visa. If your partner or children are coming with you, then you will need to check the spouse visa requirements, too.