WELCOME TO GREAT BRITAIN
Great Britain overflows with unforgettable experiences and spectacular sights . Theres the grandeur of Scotlands mountains; Englands quaint villages and country lanes; and the haunting beauty of Welsh and West Country coasts. Youll also find wild northern moors, the exquisite university colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, and a string of vibrant cities boasting everything from Georgian architecture to 21st-century art.
Our 36 drives reveal it all, leading you from gem to gem prepare to encounter royal palaces, stone circles, gourmet hot-spots, castles, stately homes, historic ships and enough literary locations to fill a book. From the world-famous to the well-hidden, our trips will help you discover all the elements that make Britain truly great.
History, cities, food, scenery, the arts weve unearthed the best experiences and crafted them into superb drives. And if youve only got time for one trip, make it one of our 10 Classic Trips, which take you to the very best of Great Britain. Turn the page for more.
Peak District National Park Winnats Pass
R A KEARTON / GETTY
GREAT BRITAIN HIGHLIGHTS
Great Britains best sights and experiences, and the road trips that will take you there.
Scottish Lochs & Mountains
Scotlands wild places abound in breathtaking views: spray-dashed coasts; glinting lochs; imposing mountains. The scenery here is truly awe-inspiring. Drive right into the views on Trip 33: Royal Highlands & Cairngorms , which delivers castles, peaks and wildlife galore and the chance to explore the Royal familys summer holiday haunts.
Trip
Loch Awe Kilchurn Castle
SWEN STROOP / SHUTTERSTOCK
Edinburgh
Famous for festivals, and especially lively in the summer, Edinburgh is a city of many moods. Glimpse them in a daffodil-framed castle silhouetted against a blue spring sky or on a chill December morning when the fog snags the spires of the Old Town. Discover your own version of the city on Trip 1: The Best of Britain , which sweeps the length of the country, from blockbuster sight to blockbuster sight.
Trip
The West Country
Britains wild western corner is well worth the trip to the very end of England. Here tawny moors roll to jagged cliffs, ancient fishing ports tuck into spectacular cliffs and sandy beaches stretch for miles. Find your favourite south west spot on Trip 14: Epic Cornwall , which loops through Arthurian ruins, surfer bays and foodie ports.
Trip
Cornwall Fish and chips at The Ship Inn, Mousehole
JUSTIN FOULKES / LONELY PLANET
Bath
Britain boasts many great cities, but Bath is the belle of the ball. The natural hot springs that bubble to the surface prompted the Romans to build a health resort here, while the Georgians turned the city into a fashionable watering hole. Soaking up Baths sumptuous architecture is a highlight of Trip 10: Winchester, Glastonbury & Bath , a route also rich in cathedrals, ancient sites and myth.
Trip
Bath Roman Baths
JUSTIN BLACK / SHUTTERSTOCK
BEST ROADS FOR DRIVING
A939 Scottish Highlands Drive beside ski slopes at rollercoaster Lecht Pass. Trip
A379 South Devon Beaches, first-gear bends and a straight-as-an-arrow coast road. Trip
A4086 Snowdonia Climb past the scree-scattered slopes of Pen-y-Pass. Trip
Off A896 Bealach na Ba Gradients of 25% and dramatic Isle of Skye views. Trip
B3157 Portland Glorious driving beside a fossil rich shore. Trip
The Cotswolds
The most wonderful thing about the Cotswolds is that no matter where you go or how lost you get, youll still end up in a village of honey-coloured stone complete with rose-clad cottages, an ancient pub and a view of the lush green hills. Find your very own slice of medieval England on Trip 15: Shakespeare & Rolling Hills , a tour of impossibly picturesque villages, with prestigious literary locations thrown in.
Trip
Stonehenge
Mysterious and compelling, Stonehenge is Britains most iconic ancient site. People have been drawn to this myth-laden ring of bluestones for the last 5000 years, and we still dont know quite why it was built. Come up with your own theories while gazing at the 50-ton megaliths on Trip 3: The Historic South , a voyage which charts a centuries-long timeline through Britains compelling past.