Britain's most beautiful driving roads are revealed
Britain’s most beautiful driving roads are revealed: Snake Pass in the Pennines, Loch Lomond to Glencoe and the Lake District are all named as Brits’ top places to go for a spin – but does YOUR favourite make the list?
- A survey of 2,000 motorists has ranked the favourite driving roads across Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- The study found that the road from Kendal to Keswick was the most inspiring and breath-taking drive
- It pipped the road between Loch Lomond to Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands into second place
- Three out of four motorists said they were more relaxed and peaceful when driving through scenery
Kendal to Keswick in the Lake District, Loch Lomond to Glencoe and the Coastal Way in Wales have been voted as Britain’s most beautiful drives, according to a new survey.
With half (48 per cent) of the nation planning to take at least two road trips this festive season, new research has revealed the country’s most awe-inspiring, breath-taking and peaceful routes to experience by car.
According to the study the glorious views from Kendal to Keswick (22 per cent) topped the poll, just beating Loch Lomond to Glencoe (22 per cent) in the Scottish Highlands into second place.
Following the A591 and stretching for 30 miles, Kendal to Keswick takes in some exceptional scenery including views of Lakeland fells and the banks of Windermere, while the scenic route from Loch Lomond to Glencoe takes in the stunning Argyll Forest Park, Loch Tulla and Loch Ba.
A new survey has named the UK’s most beautiful drives, with the A591 route between Kendal and Keswick in the Lake District – pictured above with Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance – voted number one
The scenic road from Loch Lomond to Glencoe in Scotland, above, landed in second place
The historic Coastal Way in Wales came in third place (20 per cent), with Snake Pass in the Pennines (19 per cent), the winding road through Cheddar Gorge (19 per cent) and the journey around the New Forest (18 per cent) – which known for its peaceful scenery – also making the final list.
Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia, Wales (13 per cent) – which weaves between the mountain ranges of the Glyderau and the Snowdon massif – makes an appearance alongside The Causeway Coastal route in Northern Ireland (11 per cent) which provided the backdrop for Games of Thrones.
One in ten (10 per cent) thought the 28-mile-long Grade II* listed Ribblehead Viaduct in the Ribble Valley in North Yorkshire was a slice of calming heaven, while seven per cent loved the rugged scenery from Cambridge to Hunstanton Cliffs.
As a nation half (48 per cent) are planning to take a road trip for Christmas this year, with the average Briton jumping in the car at least twice throughout the festive period
The Coastal Way, which runs the length of Wales’ Cardigan Bay, took the bronze medal in the ranking. Above is the seaside town of Aberystwyth, one of the stops along the way
The picturesque Snake Pass, pictured above, which runs through the Peak District, took fourth place
Three-quarters (74 per cent) of those surveyed agreed that the UK is home to scenic and beautiful driving routes with two-thirds (61 per cent) saying that driving is one of the best ways to explore the country.
Three in four (74 per cent) feel calm and relaxed when driving through beautiful scenery.
It’s no surprise then that over half (59 per cent) prefer to take a scenic route to their destination rather than a boring motorway, even if it meant travelling further. Seven in ten (70 per cent) say that motorway driving is completely soulless and boring.
A spokesperson for Drivalia, which commissioned the study of 2,000 drivers, said: ‘The UK is an amazing place to travel with so many beautiful driving routes on our doorstep.
The road through the Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, pictured, is ideal for a road trip according to the survey – it was fifth overall
A snow-covered Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The journey around the New Forest – which is known for its peaceful scenery – also made the final list, ranking sixth
From the amazing rugged beauty of Scotland, the outstanding vistas of Wales, iconic backdrops in Northern Ireland and the wonderful journeys that stretch across the rolling scenery of England, the research shows that there is an abundance of beautiful places to stop, take a breath and enjoy the wonderful peace when driving around the country.
Travelling by car is one of the best ways to explore the country and with Drivalia, which has prime car rental locations nationwide, customers can choose from a huge range of first-class vehicles to meet the needs of their journey.’
When it comes to the ingredients of a perfect road trip, snacks for the journey (57 per cent), great company (49 per cent), a fantastic playlist to listen to (46 per cent) and stopping at a pub for lunch (42 per cent) would all feature.
Stopping to break the journey up (41 per cent), having someone to share the driving with (38 per cent), a flask of tea or coffee (35 per cent) and a camera to capture amazing scenery (34 per cent) are also must-haves.
For a third having a clean car – inside and out (32 per cent) – is important, while a quarter (22 per cent) love a good old sing-a-long.
The drive from Loch Lomond to Lochgilphead bagged seventh place on the list. Above is the portion of the route that winds through the town of Inveraray
The route from St Ives (above) to St Just in Cornwall slid into eighth place in the ranking
Ninth place goes to the drive from Edinburgh to the breathtaking Cairngorms National Park (above)
The drive from London to Stonehenge was rated as the 10th most beautiful drive
Hardknott Pass (above) in the Lake District ranked 12th in the survey. The pass is known for its vicious gradients – which top out at 35 per cent
As a nation half (48 per cent) are planning to take a road trip for Christmas this year, with the average Briton jumping in the car at least twice throughout the festive period.
Almost half (43 per cent) admit that due to the rail strikes, they are looking to make alternative travel arrangements this Christmas, with a quarter (23 per cent) considering hiring a car.
Four in ten (43 per cent) felt that car rental would enable them to be in control of their journey, give them flexibility with their travel times (42 per cent) and allow them to avoid the crowds (41 per cent). A third (34 per cent) liked knowing that the car was clean, while a quarter (23 per cent) felt hiring a car was more eco-friendly than owning one.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s most beautiful drives
Kendal to Keswick in the Lake District, England 22%
Loch Lomond to Glencoe, Scotland 22%
The Coastal Way, Wales 20%
Snake Pass – the Pennines, England 19%
The winding road through Cheddar Gorge 19%
Journey around the New Forest, England 18%
Loch Lomond to Lochgilphead, Scotland 17%
B3306 – St Ives to St Just, Cornwall, England 16%
Edinburgh to Cairngorms National Park, Scotland 15%
London to Stonehenge, England 15%
Black Mountain Road, the Brecon Beacons, Wales 15%
Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, England 14%
The North Coast 500, Scotland 14%
Llanberis Pass, Wales 13%
Liverpool to Lake Windermere, England 12%
Cheddar to Ashwick, Somerset, Englan 12%
The Cat and Fiddle (Buxton to Macclesfield), the Peak District, England 12%
The Causeway Coastal route, Northern Ireland 11%
Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire Dales, England 11%
Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England 10%
Dundee to Loch Fyne, Scotland 10%
The Road to the Isles (Fort William to Mallaig), England 9%
Leeds to Haworth (Brontë Country), England 9%
Norwich to Cromer, Norfolk, England 9%
Edinburgh to Pettycur Bay, Scotland 8%
The Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Newquay), England 8%
Military Road, Isle of Wight 8%
Cardiff to Marloes Sand, Wales 8%
Alnmouth to Lindisfarne, Northumberland, England 7%
Wrynose and Hardknott Pass, Cumbria, England 7%
Manchester to Edale, England 7%
Cambridge to Hunstanton Cliffs, England 7%
Bristol to Blackpool Sands, England 6%
Birmingham to Harlech Beach, England 6%
Belfast to The Gobbins, Northern Ireland 6%
Source: Read Full Article
