Ten most scenic roads
in the UK
From the Highlands to the Cornish cliffs, ten UK driving routes worth a proper road trip.
Some roads are useful and some roads are the trip. We have ranked ten UK drives where the road itself is the reason to set off, from coastal touring routes to single-track mountain passes you would never tackle in a rush.
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Cat and Fiddle Road (A537) Peak District, England
The A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, better known as the Cat and Fiddle, runs across high moorland in the Peak District. It is one of the most famous driving roads in England and a regular fixture on lists of best routes in the country.
The road climbs quickly out of Macclesfield, opening up to long views over the moors, then winds across the tops past the eponymous pub (now reopened as a distillery). Tight corners, blind summits and frequent weather changes mean it rewards patience rather than pace.
Plan a stop in either Macclesfield or Buxton at one end. The drive itself is short - around 12 miles - but easily worth half a day with a walk on the moors and lunch.
Llanberis Pass (A4086) Snowdonia, Wales
The Llanberis Pass cuts through the heart of Snowdonia between Capel Curig and Llanberis. The road is hemmed in by steep slate-grey slopes on both sides and runs directly past Pen-y-Pass, one of the main starting points for walks up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
The drive itself is short but consistently dramatic. The valley narrows as you approach the pass and then opens out toward Llanberis with views down to Llyn Padarn. Even in poor weather the scale of the landscape carries the drive.
Park up at Pen-y-Pass (book in advance during the season) for an easy walk. Pair the pass with a loop via the A4085 past Beddgelert for a longer day of driving.
Black Mountain Pass (A4069) Brecon Beacons, Wales
The A4069 climbs over the Black Mountain at the western edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is a relatively short stretch - around six miles of open road between Llandovery and Brynamman - but the combination of long sightlines, sweeping bends and a near-treeless landscape gives it the feel of something far bigger.
You drive in across rough sheep pasture, climb through a series of open hairpins and crest at over 1,500 feet with views across the Beacons. On a clear day you can see south across the Bristol Channel.
There is a roadside pull-in near the top - well worth stopping for a wider look. Refuel before you start, as services are sparse on the southern descent.
Snake Pass (A57) Peak District, England
The A57 Snake Pass connects Manchester and Sheffield across the high Peak. It runs through some of the most exposed terrain in the Peak District National Park and closes regularly in bad weather - which is part of what gives it its reputation.
The eastern side weaves through pine forest above the Ladybower reservoir, then climbs onto open moorland over Snake Summit before dropping down toward Glossop. Pull-ins along the way give you views across the Derwent valley.
The road is much loved by drivers and cyclists but is also a working route, so check conditions before you set off in winter. A loop with the A6013 past the reservoirs makes a satisfying half-day.
Hardknott Pass Lake District, England
Hardknott is the steepest road in England, with gradients hitting 1 in 3 on some sections. Combined with the neighbouring Wrynose Pass, it crosses the central Lakeland fells from the Duddon Valley to Eskdale on a single-track road with passing places.
This is more an experience than a drive. First gear, watching the temperature gauge, and knowing how to use passing places matter more than the view at any given moment. Once you stop at the summit, though, the view across to the Scafell range is exceptional.
Not for nervous drivers, towed vehicles, or any car that does not like being asked to hold a low gear under load. Open most of the year but closes occasionally in winter.
Atlantic Highway (A39) Devon and Cornwall, England
The A39 Atlantic Highway runs along the north Devon and Cornwall coast roughly between Barnstaple and Newquay. It is one of the great UK touring routes, alternating between high open clifftop sections and dropping inland through villages.
Highlights along the way include Bideford, Clovelly, Bude, Tintagel and Padstow. The road is reasonably wide and well surfaced for a coastal route, but the section between Bude and Wadebridge has plenty of slow rural stretches you have to factor in.
Worth doing in chunks rather than in one go. Two or three days with overnight stops gives you time to actually see the coast rather than only the windscreen.
A82 through Glencoe Lochaber, Scotland
The A82 through Glencoe is one of the most photographed stretches of road in Scotland. The valley narrows dramatically between Kingshouse and Glencoe village, with the Three Sisters of Bidean nam Bian rising directly above the road on the south side.
This is a busy main route to the western Highlands rather than a quiet back road, so traffic varies. Early morning or late afternoon, ideally outside summer holidays, gives you the cleanest drive and the most reliable light on the peaks.
Pair the drive with a walk into the Lost Valley or up the Pap of Glencoe. Continue north on the A82 toward Fort William and Glenfinnan for another half-day of strong scenery.
Causeway Coastal Route County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coastal Route runs roughly 120 miles between Belfast and Londonderry along the north coast of Northern Ireland. It strings together the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Glens of Antrim and Carrick-a-Rede in one of the great UK touring drives.
The road is mostly the A2 and is straightforward driving - the appeal is the landscape rather than the corners. Allow stops every 20 miles or so, because the coastline changes character constantly.
Two to three days is the sweet spot for the whole route. If you only have one, the section from Cushendall around to the Causeway and on to Portrush packs in most of the highlights.
Bealach na Bà Applecross peninsula, Scotland
Bealach na Bà - the Pass of the Cattle - climbs from sea level to over 2,000 feet via a series of single-track hairpins to reach the village of Applecross on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. It is the closest thing the UK has to an alpine pass.
The climb is steep, narrow and exposed, with passing places rather than two lanes. The reward at the top, weather permitting, is a view across Skye and the Inner Sound that justifies the journey on its own. Applecross village at the western end has a celebrated inn for a stop.
Avoid in poor visibility, snow or ice. The road can close in winter. Not suitable for caravans, large motorhomes or anyone uncomfortable reversing on a steep gradient.
North Coast 500 Northern Highlands, Scotland
Top of the list is the North Coast 500, a 516-mile circular route starting and finishing at Inverness Castle. It loops the northern Highlands via the west coast, the north coast and back down the east coast, and is the most ambitious UK road trip you can do without taking a ferry.
A week is a comfortable minimum to do it well. The west coast section through Wester Ross and Assynt is the photogenic one. The north coast around Durness and Cape Wrath is the quietest. The east coast on the way back south is gentler and faster.
The route is on standard public roads (a mix of A roads and single-track), so plan fuel stops and accommodation in advance, especially between May and September. Worth combining the drive with a hire car if your usual one is not up to a long week of fully loaded miles.
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