The Best Scenic Drives in Britain, and Where to Camp at the End
· Updated
The best scenic drive in Britain is the North Coast 500, a 516 mile loop around the northern Highlands, and the most spectacular single road is the Bealach na Ba, which climbs to 626 metres of alpine hairpins to reach Applecross. The trick with both, and with every route below, is to end the day at a campsite rather than a hotel, so the view outside the tent in the morning is as good as the one from the windscreen.
These are eight real routes with real numbers: the roads worth driving slowly, and the sort of campsite waiting at the far end of each. This is part of our guide to camping in the UK's national parks, and every site mentioned can be found and compared on Camping Sites in Britain.
The eight best scenic drives at a glance
| Drive | Region | The road | Camp nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast 500 | Scottish Highlands | 516 mile loop from Inverness | Small crofting and coastal sites |
| Bealach na Ba | Highlands (Wester Ross) | Hairpins to 626m, then Applecross | Shoreline site at Applecross |
| Hardknott and Wrynose | Lake District | Steepest road in England, 1 in 3 | Valley sites in Eskdale |
| Snake Pass (A57) | Peak District | Pennine crossing to 512m | Farm sites in the Hope Valley |
| Cat and Fiddle (A537) | Peak District | Buxton to Macclesfield over the moor | Sites near Buxton |
| Cheddar Gorge (B3135) | Mendip Hills, Somerset | Cliffs up to 137m | Family sites at Cheddar |
| Atlantic Highway (A39) | North Devon and Cornwall | Coast road, Barnstaple to Newquay | Clifftop and surf sites |
| Black Mountain Pass (A4069) | Bannau Brycheiniog | Sweeping bends over the Black Mountain | Farm sites near Llanddeusant |
Scotland: the big-country drives
The North Coast 500
The North Coast 500 is Britain's answer to a great continental road trip, a 516 mile loop that starts and ends at Inverness Castle and traces the coast of the northern Highlands. Most people take five to seven days over it, because the point is the single-track roads, the sea lochs and the empty beaches, not the mileage. Drive it clockwise if you want the dramatic west coast in the second half.
Campsites here are small, often a croft with a few pitches and a view worth more than any facilities block. Break the loop at Durness, Achmelvich or Gairloch and book ahead in July and August, when the route is busy. Our guide to choosing a campsite in the Highlands is worth a read before you go, and you can browse pitches across the region in the Highlands campsite listings.
The Bealach na Ba to Applecross
The Bealach na Ba is the finest driving road in the country and the one that most rewards a slow approach. It leaves the A896 near Tornapress and climbs to 626 metres through a series of tight, exposed hairpins that feel more Alpine than Scottish, before dropping to the tiny coastal village of Applecross. It is not for nervous drivers, large caravans or bad weather, and the summit is often in cloud.
Your reward is a shoreline campsite at Applecross, looking across the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye, with the Applecross Inn a short walk away. This is prime campervan country, and our list of the best sites for campervanning in Scotland covers the practicalities of touring these single-track roads.
The Lake District: England's steepest passes
Hardknott and Wrynose
Hardknott is the steepest road in England, hitting a gradient of 1 in 3 (33 per cent) as it climbs out of Eskdale, and it comes linked to its neighbour Wrynose by the wild valley of Wrynose Bottom. Together they form the most demanding drive in the country: first gear, hairpin bends, blind summits and passing places that matter. Do it on a dry day, in a car with working brakes, and never when the fells are icy.
Base yourself in the Eskdale valley, where there are proper campsites within easy reach of both passes and the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam railway. The Lake District is also brilliant for children between drives, as our guide to top family activities in the Lake District shows. Find pitches across the national park in the Lake District and Cumbria listings.
The Peak District and the Pennines
The Snake Pass (A57)
The Snake Pass is the classic Pennine crossing, carrying the A57 over the moors between Glossop and Sheffield to a high point of 512 metres. It is a road of long sweeping curves through open moorland, exposed and often the first route in the country to close for snow or landslip, so check conditions before you set off in winter. In good weather it is one of the great drives in northern England.
Come off the tops into the Hope Valley and you are among some of the best farm campsites in the Peak District, handy for Edale, Mam Tor and the start of the Pennine Way. These are working farms with simple facilities and big skies, the sort of pitch you drive to for the walking.
The Cat and Fiddle (A537)
The Cat and Fiddle road runs the A537 from Buxton to Macclesfield across high moorland, named after the Cat and Fiddle Inn near its summit, one of the highest pubs in England. It is famous for its bends and its views over the Cheshire plain, and it was long treated as a proving ground by motorcyclists, so average speed cameras now police it. Drive it for the scenery, not the pace.
Buxton makes a natural overnight stop, with campsites on the edge of the spa town and easy access back onto the moors. It pairs neatly with the Snake Pass for a two-day loop of the Dark Peak.
The West Country and Wales
Cheddar Gorge (B3135)
Cheddar Gorge is the most dramatic short drive in England, a mile of the B3135 winding beneath limestone cliffs that rise to 137 metres, the highest inland cliffs in the country. Go early or late to avoid the summer crowds and the sightseers on foot, and take the road slowly, because the bends are tight and the walls are close. It is the geology that makes it, as our guide to the UK's geological wonders near campsites explains.
There are family campsites in and around Cheddar village itself, at the foot of the gorge and within walking distance of the caves. They fill quickly in the school holidays, so book ahead.
The Atlantic Highway (A39)
The Atlantic Highway is the branded stretch of the A39 that runs down the north coast of Devon and Cornwall, roughly from Barnstaple towards Newquay, with the sea on one side for much of the way. It links surf towns like Bude and Widemouth with clifftops, estuaries and a string of proper beaches, and it is at its best in the low light of early evening. This is a cruising road rather than a challenging one.
Campsites here range from simple clifftop fields to full facilities near the surf beaches. Browse them in the Devon listings and the Cornwall listings, and book early for anywhere within walking distance of a good beach.
The Black Mountain Pass (A4069)
The Black Mountain Pass carries the A4069 over the western edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) between Llangadog and Brynamman, and it is one of the finest driving roads in Wales. It climbs through open sheep country in a run of smooth, sweeping bends with long views on both sides, made famous by television and beloved of anyone who enjoys a steering wheel. There is little traffic and even less shelter, so pick a clear day.
The farm campsites around Llanddeusant and the Usk Reservoir put you right under the mountain, quiet and dark enough for proper stargazing, as this corner of the park is an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Planning a scenic drive to a campsite
Book the campsite before you commit to the road, because the best pitches on these routes go early in summer, and match the drive to your vehicle: a caravan has no business on the Bealach na Ba at all. Take a paper map or an offline route, since mobile signal fails on most of these roads, keep the fuel tank above half in the Highlands where filling stations are scarce, and carry water and a warm layer even in July. Then drive slowly, use the passing places, and let the faster traffic through.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best scenic drive in the UK?
The North Coast 500 is the best long scenic drive, a 516 mile Highland loop from Inverness, and the Bealach na Ba to Applecross is the best single road, climbing to 626 metres of hairpins. The choice depends on whether you want a week or an afternoon.
What is the steepest road in England?
Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, which reaches a gradient of 1 in 3 (33 per cent). It links to Wrynose Pass to form the most demanding drive in the country, best attempted on a dry day in a car with reliable brakes.
Can you drive the North Coast 500 with a caravan?
Yes, and many people do, but expect long stretches of single-track road with passing places. Give way readily, never park in a passing place, and avoid the tightest spur roads such as the Bealach na Ba, which is unsuitable for caravans and large motorhomes.
Which scenic drive is best for families?
Cheddar Gorge on the B3135 is short, dramatic and paired with caves, family campsites and easy walking at Cheddar village. The Atlantic Highway along the A39 is also gentle to drive and links directly to Devon and Cornwall's surf beaches.
When is the best time of year for these drives?
Late spring and early autumn give the best mix of long days, open roads and quieter campsites. The high passes like Snake Pass, Hardknott and the Bealach na Ba can close or ice over in winter, so save those for settled weather between May and October.
The short version
Britain's best scenic drives are its mountain passes and coast roads: the North Coast 500 and the Bealach na Ba in the Highlands, Hardknott in the Lakes, the Snake Pass and Cat and Fiddle in the Peak, Cheddar Gorge and the Atlantic Highway in the West Country, and the Black Mountain Pass in Wales. Pick one, book a campsite at the far end, and drive it slowly.
For the wider picture, read our guide to camping in the UK's national parks, or jump straight to the campsite listings to find your pitch.
