5 Best Road Trips in UK & Ireland 

There’s something liberating about road trips. Wherever possible, take the B roads through the countryside and discover charming hamlets and pretty villages - and subsequently avoid the motorway chaos and expensive service stations. 

The UK and Ireland have loads of awesome day trips and multi-day touring opportunities to enjoy. But no matter whether you’re holidaying in the UK or planning a day trip near you, it’s a good idea to prepare your trip with a road trip planner and appropriate car insurance. 

If you’re visiting the UK from overseas, come prepared with travel insurance. And if you’re planning to hire a car, you may want to consider the Bettersafe car hire excess insurance to avoid any financial loss. 

We also recommend that you have roadside assistance cover. It’s no fun being stranded on a dark country lane at night. And if you have an electric vehicle, use a road trip planner to identify public charging points en route. 

Car/travel essentials list

What you regard as “essential items” is a personal choice and can depend on where you’re travelling and who you are travelling with. Long-distance journeys generally require a long list of car/travel essentials. But the travel essential items everybody needs in every case are: 

• Drivers licence 
• Insurance documents 
• Roadside assistance cover
• Food/Water
• Roadside emergency kit (which is obligatory in some countries)
• Spare tire
• Sat Nav (probably)
• First aid kit
• Shovel, ice scraper and defroster (if travelling to icy regions) 

If you want ideas or suggestions of other items you might find handy on a road trip in the UK, check out this extensive and useful list. 

Road Trip Planner

The more you plan a road trip the less likely you are to find the trip challenging. For example, do you know how far you want to travel each day? If you have children, you may want to make more stops to prevent the little ones from becoming bored and restless. 

There are also things to consider such as traffic and public charging points for electric car drivers. We recommend taking advantage of the RAC Route Planner. This handy tool gives you traffic updates and a Mileage Calculator so you can work out the cost of your journey in advance. 

So where are the most scenic places near you that make a great road trip? 

Lake District Loop, North-West England

The Lake District in Cumbria is arguably one of the UK’s most scenic and desirable road trips. Boasting over 200 fells and 16 lakes, the rugged terrain provides breathtaking views and a raft of walking trails to explore.

There are a number of day trips to enjoy in the Northwest of England but the best road trip is the 117-mile loop route from Ambleside to Ambleside (due to its central location). You’ll need to give yourself four or five days to complete this road trip. 

The Lake District loop tour will take some planning because there is so much to see and do. A road trip planner will make it easier and Googling the best day trips near me is bound to throw up plenty of suggestions for places to visit. 

But to give you a heads up, some of the highlights on this route are Castlerigg Stone Circle, Lake Windermere, Glenridding, Keswick, Scafell Pike, Coniston Water and Hill Top Beatrix Potter House. 

Cultural Britain Road Trip, England 

History buffs will love a cultural road trip. Starting from Milton Keynes, this enigmatic route takes in Oxford, Salisbury, Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds. 

You can be forgiven for questioning why you might want to start this trip in Milton Keynes - considered by many as rather uninspiring. But Milton Keynes has a secret agent that will pique the interest of curious minds - Bletchley Park. 

If you’re not familiar with Bletchley Park, you might be interested to know the country house and estate was home to the Government’s wartime Code & Cypher School. Bletchley Park was made famous in the 2010 film of the same name which tells the story of how Allied codebreakers helped to win the war by intercepting Nazi communication using Alan Turing’s Enigma machine. 

Oxford has a world-renowned reputation as one of the UK’s premier University cities but it's also one of the most absorbing locations in the UK. The beautiful architecture and fascinating history include the Boolean Library, the Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church College and the Bridge of Sighs.

Your next destination will be Bath, but it is well worth stopping off at the mysterious Stonehenge in Salisbury en route. Like Oxford, Bath is one of England’s most alluring and historically important cities with sights such as The Roman baths, Bath Abbey, and the infamous Thermae Spa. 

Before heading up to the Cotswolds, Bristol is worth a visit for its cultural and artistic heritage. This is the homeland of the famous yet infamous artist, Banksy, who appears to have inspired a raft of creative hubs throughout the city that are designed to inspire, excite and entertain. 

The Isle of Mull, Scotland

Sporting over 30,420 square miles of geological wonders, an abundance of wildlife, glittering lochs and quaint coastal villages, to explore a drive through the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland is easily one of the most scenic road trips in the UK. 

Getting to the Isle of Mull is an adventure in itself. Once you’ve powered up the iconic North Coast 500, you’ll take the ferry over to Mull - the largest of the inner Hebridean islands. 

The road trip starts from the Isles' principal town, Tobermory, before heading south to look for Traigh a' Mhill, a tiny, secluded cove just south of Knockvologan beach.

When you’re ready to ditch the car and stretch your legs, head for Fionnphort and catch the 10-minute ferry to the miniature Isle of Iona - arguably the stand-out feature of the trip for its incredible scenery. A visit to the Iona Abbey is worth a visit as well.

Pembrokeshire Coast

Another absorbing route for its wealth of breathtaking scenery is the Pembrokeshire coast from Amroth to St. Dogmaels. The 190-mile stretch of coastal road brings you to secluded beaches, magical coves, daunting cliff edges and historical points of interest.

The order of your stops will depend on whether you’re travelling south to north or vice versa. However, some not-to-miss stops include Pembroke Castle, the birthplace of Henry VII in 1457. St.Davids, the UK’s smallest city is also well worth a visit, together with the dramatic coastal region of Marloes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon, a sea quarry with Mediterranean-like turquoise water and Pembrokeshire National Park. 

Whilst you’re travelling along the South Wales M4 corridor, take in Carmarthen, Tenby and the Gower Peninsula. Carmarthen is a great place to mingle with the locals and sample coastal pickings including mussels, crabs, clams and cockles, oysters and sea vegetables.

Known for its colourful homes, castle ruins, and pristine beaches Tenby is a favourite holiday resort for Welsh families. A 30-minute drive to Barafundle Bay brings you to an idyllic spot that has featured as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

The Gower Peninsula also lays claim to one of the best beaches in the UK. Rhossili Bay was voted the best beach in the UK in 2010 and continues to receive accolades. You may also want to pay a visit to Arthur’s Stone, a Neolithic tomb, Loughior Castle and the charming coves of Broughton Bay and Caswell Bay.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland 

Ireland’s best road trip is the widely acclaimed Wild Atlantic Way from West Cork to Donegal taking in Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sling. The 1,500 miles of coastal highway winds through awe-inspiring cities, quaint villages and craggy cliffs. 

The first recommended stop is Beara and Sheep’s Head Peninsula between Kenmare and Durrus – a 210km drive past untouched landscapes, picturesque loughs and other-worldly coastal views.

In Kerry, visit the spectacular Killarney National Park, Kayak the Lakes of Killarney, pay a visit to Daniel O’Connell’s ancestral home and photograph the wonderful panoramas of Ballybunion Beach. 

Heading to Clare you will pass the dramatic cliffs of Moher, looming 700 feet above the crashing Atlantic. To take in an unspoiled stretch of sand head to Fanore beach or if you prefer inland, Burren’s 15000 hectares is a natural wonderland of iconic limestone paving slabs and an abundance of wildlife. 

Returning to city life, Galway delivers a charming medieval feel, particularly the cobbled streets around the Latin Quarter where you will find art galleries and quirky gift shops galore.

From the Latin Quarter head to Quay Street to find local musicians and street performers putting on a show outside colourful storefronts. 

Mayo and Sling return you to coastal life where you can enjoy Irelands’ blue flag beaches and the country’s famous emerald grass hills.

When you reach your destination in Donegal, there is no shortage of things to see including Sliabh Liag, a holy mountain retreat which has been a Christian pilgrimage site for over 1,000 years. 

If you’re a fan of mythical legends, Tory Island is a magical place with a rich heritage and the megalithic sites of Grianán of Aileach which dates back to 1700BC are steeped in mystery. 

Bettersafe - Car Travel Essentials 

Road trips in the UK and Ireland promise to deliver a magical experience so don’t leave disappointed by neglecting to take out appropriate insurance. Doing so could leave you out of pocket and regretting your trip. 

For more details about the types of insurance, Bettersafe provides for a safe and carefree road trip in the UK and Ireland contact us today at +44 (0) 20 3740 4431 or email enquiries@bettersafe.com.