The World's Best Ever Road Trips
Nothing beats a road trip, whether you're off on a solo drive, heading on the road with your partner or getting ready for some time away with pals. Turn up the radio (or Spotify) and discover new sights as you drive along the open road. But where can you find the world's best-ever road trips? We've got the answers right here with this complete guide to the finest journeys in your car.
5 Best UK Road Trips
From England to Scotland, the UK has some of Europe's most scenic road trips. Drive along the Norfolk Coast and take in its tranquillity, or hit the Atlantic Highway in southwest England. And don't forget about Wild Wales in the north or Wales, where you drive through Snowdonia National Park. The Land of the Lakes drive includes Lake District National Park, while the North Coast 500 in Scotland is a legendary drive.
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5 Best Scottish Road Trips
The UK is full of fantastic road trip opportunities, but you can enjoy some of the world's most scenic drives without even leaving Scotland. The North Coast 500 is well known but is not the only route filled with sweeping views. Argyll Coastal Route is great for wildlife watchers and has several restaurants where you can stop off along the way. Then there's the Royal Deeside Tourist Route with the Cairngorms National Park. Check out filming locations for Harry Potter along the Road to the Isles, or spend a couple of weeks doing the Grand Tour of Scotland and seeing everything this beautiful country has to offer.
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What Is the Scotland Road Trip 500?
The 500 is world-famous for its beautiful views and excellent roads. But what is it? The name doesn't lend itself to one of the world's most stunning drives, but that's just what it is. If you want to experience the Highlands of Scotland, 500 is for you. It features Inverness to Dornoch, Dornoch to Wick, Wick to Tongue, Tongue to Lochinver, Lochinver to Ullapool, Ullapool to Kinlochewe and Kinlochewe to Inverness. It takes around seven days to complete the trip and lets you see all of Scotland.
Scottish Highlands Road Trip
Hop in your car and spend a week discovering the Scottish Highlands. Start your journey in Glasgow and head to Oban before moving onto the Isle of Mull via ferry. Then drive to Fort William to see the majestic mountains of Scotland. Day four is your chance to see the Isle of Skye with its quaint and beautiful islands. Next, head to Inverness and Cairngorms Park before ending your trip with a visit to Trossachs National Park and back to Glasgow.
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5 Best Road Trips in Ireland
The UK isn't the only place filled with beautiful road trips; over in Ireland, they know a thing or two about scenic drives. The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the best and covers 2,500 km of the beautiful West Coast. The Burren Loop in Kilfenora offers full stretches of amazing coastline, while the Ring of Beara has sweeping countryside and a few places where you can stop to enjoy a spot of hiking.
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The Best Roads to Drive Beyond Europe
So you've driven all the best road trips in the UK and Europe? What comes next? If you're after some of the finest drives beyond Europe, check out Route 550 in the USA. Often referred to as the Million Dollar Highway, it stretches for around 25 miles in western Colorado and forms part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. Over in Australia, Lasseter Highway takes you to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. For those feeling extra brave, the winding and bending Tian Men Shan Big Gate in China will undoubtedly test your driving skills.
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Best Road Trips in the USA
There's nothing quite like hitting the open road across the pond in the USA. Indeed, the States has some of the best road trips around, and travellers often visit the country just to experience these drives. If you're holidaying in the US and are looking for an awesome road trip, try the Musical Journey between Chicago and New Orleans or go on a nature adventure between San Francisco and Utah. The Pacific Coast between San Francisco to Los Angeles is also known for its stunning sights between two of the country's most popular cities.
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The A to Z of Road Trip Destinations
Want to know your Alton Towers from your Pennines? Then you need the A-Z of road trip destinations here in the UK. Whether it's M for Manchester, N for Newcastle or... ok, there's nothing for X. But don't let that put you off because there are thousands of great places you can drive to in Blighty, including London, Edinburgh, Oxford and, erm, Uxbridge.
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5 Best Luxury Road Trip Cars
What's the best car for luxury road trips? You want something comfortable while also looking sleek and stylish. If you've got the money, go for the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta with its 6.3-litre V12 engine capable of 730bhp. Or there's the Aston Martin DB5 if you'd like a classic drive along the English countryside. You also can't beat a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – put the top down and feel the breeze as you zip about while catching everyone's eye.
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Best Road Trip Planning Sites
Sometimes a road trip requires a bit of planning before you can be off on your merry way. Worry not, though, as there are plenty of websites out there that will help you prepare for the perfect road trip. These include Waze with its community-based traffic data, Bing Maps, TomTom MyDrive, HERE We Go and, of course, everyone's favourite, Google Maps. Where would we be without Google Maps? Lost, probably.
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5 Best Car Gadgets for Road Trips
No road trip is complete without some handy gadgets to maximise your journey. So the next time you hit the road for a long drive, ensure you're well equipped with a 9-in-1 portable digital tyre pressure gauge to check the tyre pressure on those long drives. A dual car charger is a must if you're travelling with others, while a dash camera can be great to record those scenic views you whizz by while also acting as a form of security for your vehicle. And just in case you don't have built-in Bluetooth, a wireless FM transmitter will let you listen to your favourite tunes.
