With warmer and better weather hopefully on the cards, now is a great time to plan what you want to do during the spring and summer.
If finances are tight or you don’t have a holiday planned, a road trip is a great idea. It doesn’t have to mean an overnight stay, either. Here we’re looking at five great road trip ideas.
North Coast 500, Scotland
If you’re looking for a road trip that involves more nights away and is more like a holiday, one of the best road trips you can do in the UK is called the North Coast 500 (NC500). The ‘500’ references the number of miles that are covered on the trip, so this is one you need to set more time aside four – we recommend four to seven days, depending on how many stop-offs you want to have.
Starting and finishing in Inverness, the route goes all the way up to John o’ Groats and goes through some of the UK’s most picturesque landscapes. Accommodation options are quite limited, however, and the NC500 is especially popular in summer, so it’s worth planning well in advance.
Isle of Man
If you want to leave the UK mainland but don’t want to go too far, we highly recommend the Isle of Man. You could fly there and hire a car from the airport, or there are ferry services to the island from Heysham and Liverpool, both in the North West. These need to be booked in advance, too.
While the Isle of Man is best known for its bike racing, and if that’s your thing it could be worth visiting while the motorsport events are running, it has plenty more to offer, with a stunning coastline, a walk to the top of the Snaefell mountain and various castles.
North York Moors
Back on the mainland, somewhere worth visiting is the North York Moors. Depending on your location, it can be a road trip that you can do on a long day. Offering some especially pleasant scenery, the Moors offer swathes of heather, wild animals and incredible views – if you’re lucky with the weather!
There are various places worth visiting, including the market towns of Helmsley and Pickering, while at the top of the Moors, famous Whitby is worth a look, and it’s steeped in history too.
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
Heading much further south in the UK, another great day trip out is to Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. Great for photos thanks to the incredible scenery, there’s a 14-mile drive that takes in lots of twisty turns and cliff faces.
The actual ‘trip’ won’t take too long, so it’s worth stopping and taking in the fantastic environment, while nearby cities Bath and Bristol both have plenty to offer if you fancy a stop-off.
Snake Pass, Peak District
Last but not least we have the Snake Pass. It’s an especially high route, and in the winter it’s often closed for lengthy periods because of how isolated it can be. But in summer, it’s a stunning place to visit.
Stretching between Sheffield and Manchester, there are some incredible views along the route, as well as fantastic roads. There are plenty of superb places to stop too, including the postcard-worthy Ladybower Reservoir.