Tune up: Britain’s top five drives and soundtracks
If visitors have done all their DIY holidays at home they can start dreaming about their next epic British road trip, taking in the best sights with a soundtrack to match. They’ll feel the freedom as they imagine coasting around the nations, from Scotland to Cornwall, on country roads that avoid motorway jams and instead journey into the unexpected. So, why wait? It’s time for them to crank up the volume and get dreaming with our five top drives.
1. The Great West Way with Coldplay
From London to Bath and Bristol, the 200km-long Great West Way takes visitors through idyllic countryside, quaint villages and elegant towns. From Windsor Castle to Wiltshire’s white chalk horses, Stonehenge to Bath with its incredible Roman Baths and new World Heritage Centre, ending in hip Bristol, famous for Brunel and Banksy. For such an uplifting trip, the soundtrack has to be Coldplay: Viva la Vida all the way.
Like this? Love English Gardens: Build in stops at some of the country’s most beautiful gardens, from Kew to Longleat.
2. The North Coast 500 with The Proclaimers
For an unforgettable journey, visitors can take Scotland’s North Coast 500 (NC500). This 830km route starts and ends at Inverness, where Outlander fans can visit the Culloden Battlefield. As Scotland celebrates its Year of Coasts and Waters, explorers can travel the Highlands’ wild coast roads, historic towns and seaside villages. They can even take in John O’Groats and the Black Isle, Wester Ross, as well as the exhilarating Bealach na Bà and Caithness. The soundtrack can only be Scotland’s favourite twins, The Proclaimers and I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
Like this? Love the James Bond Tour: To celebrate the highly anticipated release of No Time To Die, film fans can visit Scotland’s James Bond filming locations.
3. The Cornish Loop with The Beach Boys
At the other end of the country, travellers can motor around the stunning Cornish coast, along a 450km loop that takes in the nation’s best surfing spots like Newquay, the world-famous gardens of the Eden Project and towns including St Ives, Padstow and Fowey, with their gourmet restaurants, art galleries and hip B&Bs. Culture buffs can see the filming locations of Poldark and make time to visit St Michael’s Mount and Tintagel, rumoured to be the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. They might not be from Cornwall, but the only option for such an epic coastal adventure has to be The Beach Boys.
Like this? Love England’s Atlantic Highway: If visitors don’t fancy the whole circuit, they can just take the 113km stretch of the A39, from Barnstaple, in Devon, to Fraddon, Cornwall – known as one of the world’s best drives.
4. The Cambrian Way with Tom Jones
Those in search of epic beauty and classic soundracks can see the wonders of Wales, which is celebrating the Year of Outdoors, along The Cambrian Way. This 300km route roams coast-to-coast from Victorian seaside resort Llandudno, through Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons National Parks, to the medieval might of Caerphilly Castle and cosmopolitan capital Cardiff. Visitors should download Tom Jones’ Greatest Hits, pronto.
Like this? Love The Wales Way: This route is made up of three separate adventures – The Coastal Way, The Cambrian Way and The North Wales Way, so visitors can add on extras like the Italianate-style seaside village of Portmeirion, and Britain’s smallest city, St Davids.
5. The Lake District with Queen
The Lake District is a stunning place to drive around. Future road trippers should sStart with the 56km circular route from Keswick to Buttermere, taking in Derwentwater, Honister Pass and Borrowdale. They can then meander through the National Park to Windermere, Grasmere, Coniston Water, Ullswater and Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain. And the soundtrack? Queen’s – Don’t Stop Me Now, voted the UK’s top tune to drive to by BBC series Top Gear.
Like this? Love the North Pennines: Another stunning drive nearby is along the A686, from Penrith in Cumbria. It’s a winding 72km route that passes the North Pennines and ends at Roman Corbridge and Hadrian’s Wall.
Restrictions on travel to and around Britain are in place due to Covid-19. Visitors are encouraged to always check individual websites for the latest information, as details are subject to change.