Summer is nearly upon us and now the weather is starting to heat up, it’s time to turn up the heat on your ignition and start exploring the beautiful countryside areas the UK has to offer. In this blog, we explore the best driving routes you can visit this summer in your classic car.
Penrith to Alston
Named one of the best driving routes in Britain, this 20-mile stretch of road will see you start on the outskirts of Penrith on the M6 and driving through the picturesque village of Langwathby. There’ll be plenty of other quaint villages on our journey that you would be forgiven for thinking are out of a fairytale.
Next, you’ll climb the near two-thousand-foot summit to the top of the Hartside mountain, before your last stop, Alston, which is known as the highest market town in England at roughly 1,000 feet above sea level next to the river South Tyne.
Peaks and Passes, Peak District
The Peak District is one of the UK’s best-known national parks – and for good reason. With plenty of green spaces to explore and beautiful sights, it is perfect for a road trip.
Starting in Glossop, you will head through the wonderful Pennines along one of the most famous roads in Britain, Snake Pass, as you climb to over 500 feet above sea level along this long and winding road. From there, you can head to the reservoirs around the Derwent Dam where ramblers can stop off and go for a ramble.
Jurassic Coast, Dorset
Starting at the seaside town of Swanage, the Jurassic Coast is 96 miles of pure blissful British coastal towns and villages with some famous landmarks along the way. From Swanage, you can travel past the ruins of the famous Corfe Castle and along to the Wareham quay.
Journey further along the A352 and you will come across the crescent-shaped beauty Lulworth Cove along the B3071 before rejoining the A352 and travelling on the A353 through Osmington to see the striking 323ft White Horse, which was carved into the hillside in 1808.
The B3157 takes you past the famous Abbotsbury Swannery. Stay on the B3157/B3162 to the Furleigh wine estate, at Salway Ash, then the pretty A3066 through Beaminster, followed by the B3163 to the idyllic village of Evershot, with its traditional village shop, bakery, school, and beautiful church of St Osmund’s.
Loch Lomond to Loch Ness
What’s even longer than the 96 miles of the Jurassic Coast? Well, the 140-mile journey from Loch Lomond to Loch Ness. But don’t let the distance put you off, the A82 is home to some of the UK’s most glorious sights.
Starting at the picturesque Loch Lomond, this freshwater Scottish loch that crosses the Highland Boundary Fault is truly stunning. It is along this road that you’ll also see one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks, Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, which is surrounded by wonderful long winding roads which are a dream to drive on.
And if that’s not enough, you will soon arrive at Loch Ness, which is a breathtaking sight and where you may or may not encounter a certain famous face.
Wild Snowdonia, Wales
Starting in Portmeirion, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the middle of Italy. This enchanting village was built and designed to be an Italianate tourist attraction that is now owned by the National Trust and is the perfect place to kickstart your journey in North Wales. From there, you can visit Porthmadog and Tremadog before making your way down to Betws-y-Coed on the A5.
Before the main event of the road trip, take the A4086 to enjoy the breathtaking Mount Snowden, the crystal clear water of Llynnau Mymbyr, and the Pass of Llanberis.
New Forest
Arguably the best route for classic cars is the passage of road through the New Forest. Located in rural Hampshire, enthusiasts get to take in the sights and sounds of the New Forest National Park and its wildlife.
With so many attractions and sights, this drive can naturally turn into a long holiday as you stop off for a round of golf, the Exbury Gardens, and – of course – the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, which is filled with some of the world’s greatest classic cars.
The Cheddar Gorge
One of the shorter driving routes on our list is the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. Stretching 14 miles through the countryside in the West Country, this route includes the long and winding road around Cheddar Gorge, which is only ten miles from Bristol and eight miles from Weston-super-Mare.
The stunning scenery encapsulates you as you drive between cliff faces on either side. With a variety of different roads to take, the choice is entirely up to you. The Somerset countryside offers tight corners and sweeping bends for any enthusiast to enjoy. Classic car enthusiasts can also take time out and visit the Haynes National Motor Museum nestled in the south Somerset countryside, a perfect day out for motorheads.
Remember your car insurance
Whether you’re going for a day trip or you’re off on a staycation, make sure you’ve got the right classic car insurance in place before you travel one one of these driving routes. At Adrian Flux, we treat your vehicle like our own, offering bespoke classic car insurance policies from our range of underwriters to suit your special circumstances. Give us a call on 0800 587 5422 for a quote.