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It’s easy to forget just how many incredible destinations there are in the UK. From the soaring mountains of Scotland down to the sunny south coast of England, you’ll find plenty of beautiful places to explore. The best way to tick off multiple destinations in one holiday is to embark on a road trip.
Taking a campervan for your road trip will allow you to combine accommodation and transport. This ensures you aren’t tied down by check-in times or constantly unpacking your bags, and you’ll always have a comfortable night’s sleep! Sharing platforms like Goboony offer campervan hire from a private owner, so you can find an affordable van for your trip.
1. Cheddar Gorge
A far shorter road trip, ideal for those looking for a day trip or something for a bank holiday. The main attraction of this road trip is, as the name would indicate, the stunning Cheddar Gorge!
The Cheddar Gorge is a national heritage, something that everyone should see once in their life. This road trip takes you through the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty, meaning you’ll always have a gorgeous view outside of your window. It’s a relatively easy drive, so perfect for people looking for a relaxing road trip.
The Cheddar Gorge road trip starts in Axbridge and ends in Ashwick, with a total driving time of about thirty minutes. We recommend camping in your campervan near Aswhick.
2. North Coast 500
Looking for something a lot longer than that? Look no further than the North Coast 500, which is one of the most famous road trips in the UK! It’s also known as the Scottish version of Route 66.
The North Coast 500 follows a sweeping loop across Scotland’s northern tip. It’s a great way to experience the untouched wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. This road trip is handy because it starts and ends in Inverness, meaning you can arrange your campervan hire there.
From Inverness, you drive all the way to John O’ Groats in the northeast, along the coastline to Durness and then down the west coast before heading inland at the Applecross peninsula. Highlights of this route include Balnakeil and other deserted beaches, the mysterious Smoo Cave, Dunrobin Castle and the finest malt at Glenmorangie and Old Pulteney distillery.
Given that this trip is 516 miles, we’d recommend about a week to complete it! You should try to organise campsites in advance, as this is a popular route and spots fill up quickly.
3. Jurassic Coast
Is the North Coast 500 just a bit too long for you? Then head way down south and explore the Jurassic Coast instead, which you can comfortably drive in three days. The Jurassic Coast gets its name from the millions of years of history captured in the towering cliffs. You never know when you’ll stumble across prehistoric fossils, so always have your camera at the ready!
But there’s more to this gorgeous route than fossil hunting. You can spend your breaks strolling on the beach, getting a delicious helping of fish and chips, visiting idyllic pubs and taking hikes along the coast. Our favourite stops along the way include Chesil Beach, Durdle Door, Charmouth and Lulworth Cove.
This road trip is well-combined with a stop to Dartmoor National Park, where you can explore open moorlands and set your eyes on the charming wild ponies that roam the lands.
4. The Cambrian Way
Time to make our way over to Wales! For this, and after much deliberation, we’ve chosen the Cambrian Way. This stunning road trip takes you from south to north, through the heart of Wales and closely following the A470. You’ll start in Cardiff and finish in Llandudno, a Victorian seaside town. For this road trip, we recommend five or six days to do it justice.
One of the highlights along the way is the Brecon Beacons National Park, where you’ll find panoramic views, extensive walking routes and a delightful tea room. This is an excellent hiking destination, so try to schedule a full day here.
Other great stops include the Elan Valley, which is best experienced during the golden hour, and Snowdonia National Park.
5. Snow Roads Scenic Route
Are you hoping to see the incredibly beautiful Cairngorms National Park while you’re in the UK? Then the Snow Roads Scenic Route is the perfect road trip for you! We recommend this route for experienced drivers, and it would be best to take a small and sturdy campervan for it.
This route spans over 90 miles of snow-capped peaks, outdoor adventures, cycling opportunities, rugged glens and tasty delicacies. Be warned, this road trip is certainly not for the faint-hearted, as it boasts some of the wildest and most dramatic scenery in the Highlands. So expect to be confronted with steep climbs, sheer summits and sharp twists and turns. Due to this, it is also one of the slower driving routes, so plan at least three days for it.
We recommend stopping along the way to enjoy the sights, such as the Royal Lochnagar whisky distillery, Corgarff castle, the Glenshee Ski Centre and The Lecht.
Now that you know the five best road trips in the UK, the hard part is going to be choosing between them! Whichever you go for, you’re guaranteed an amazing adventure with plenty of incredible sights along the way. Happy road tripping!
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I’ve always really wanted to travel cross country in a conversion van! It just seems so freeing and fun to be able to go anywhere, and just park and sleep. I’ve never gotten to do it thus far, but some day! I’m US based, so most of my daydream itinerary has been in the states, but the list of UK locations above has me wanting to get a van there! Great post, thanks for sharing!