Food lovers should self-drive England
Ideal Length: 14 days
Best for: Open-minded foodies.
Renowned for its eclectic landscapes, England is well known for regional diversity, and with that, there exists a wide range of culinary difference too. Combine the best of both with a 14-day self-drive itinerary, forging a path from the south to the north (or vice versa) and dining as you go. Tours should start with a traditional English fry-up from one of London’s signature ‘greasy cafs’ before embarking along the coast to Cornwall, for high tea and scones loaded with clotted cream. Head north to Melton Mowbray; the birth place of hefty pork pies and then up towards Bakewell, famed for its delicious Bakewell Puddings. One taste of the jam pastry, bursting with custard and a sugary almond filling and we guarantee you’ll be hooked. That just leaves the Great British Sunday roast. And with this 2-week itinerary, you can enjoy it twice!
HOT tip: With 34.5 million vehicles on UK roads, traffic is congested. Avoid motorways and enjoy the laid back country roads instead.
From market towns to mountains: self-drive Wales
Ideal Length: 7 - 10 days
Best for: History enthusiasts.
Take a trip back in time with a charming self-drive across North Wales. Start on the Welsh border in the walled city of Chester. With remnants of a Roman amphitheatre, charming cobbled lanes and the Chester rows; unique in the world these half-timbered shops can only be accessed by narrow staircases. Hop across the border and you’re in Wales. Head to the coastal resort of Llandudno, complete with a Victorian promenade and pier, it’ll transport you back to the golden age of seaside holidaying. Drive inland to discover Snowdonia; home to Wales’ highest mountain, Snowdon, or stay on the coast and head south into Abersoch. A laid back surf town awaits, as do the delicious fish and chips - just watch out for thieving seagulls. Finish up in Montgomery, an historic market town with timber-framed houses, Georgian architecture and the ruins of a 13th century castle. If you have time, be sure to explore Lake Vyrnwy; serenely beautiful, this one gives Lake Como a run for its money.
HOT tip: Road markings and signs are in Welsh but the English translation is often underneath.
Scotland's craggy landscape past the dashboard
Ideal Length: 7 days
Best for: Rural adventurers.
There’s no such expression as ‘weather permitting’ in Scotland. If the sun’s shining, you’ve taken a wrong turn. And yet, within a heavy blanket of low lying cloud, wild vegetation and a seemingly perennial drizzle, there exists a magnetism that’s hard to ignore.
Leave the cobbled streets of Edinburgh and drive to Fort William, fronting the shores of Loch Linnhe it also sits beneath mighty Ben Nevis, and Britain’s highest mountain. Nip into Glen Nevis where parts of Braveheart were filmed, or travel south to Glencoe; the birthplace of James Bond. From fictional agents to fictional monsters (or is she?) say hello to Nessie at the famed Loch Ness. Moody green hillside and dark, placid water titters on eerie but is beautiful nevertheless. Schedule a stop at one of the UK’s top outdoor destinations, Ullapool. A quaint fishing town offering some of the finest walking and biking routes in Britain. Keep an eye out for the golden eagles! Round up your trip in the Isle of Skye. The scenery is Skye’s major draw card, along with castles and cosy pubs boasting beer gardens - weather permitting of course.
HOT tip: Once in the thick of Scotland’s highlands many of the roads will be single track rural lanes. Look out for passing places.
Circle Ireland with a self-drive
Ideal length: 10-14 days
Best for: History buffs with a penchant for coastal and rural scenery.
Being a small island and round in shape, Ireland is the perfect country to enjoy by self drive. Start in the wonderful city of Dublin with its beautiful heritage buildings, lively pub and restaurant scene, and long local history. Have a go at the downing a dark and heavy Guinness at their famous brewery, or make it a lunch stop on the way down the coast in one of the many unassuming fishing villages before the city of Cork, home to the Blarney Stone. The west of the island is home to dramatic landscapes, and even more dramatic weather. The massive Cliffs of Moher fall hundreds of metres to wild sea below, and with the lone castle tower overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you really do feel you’re at the edge of the world. Around Galway perhaps choose to stay in an ancient castle or grand country estate instead of city hotel. The impressive coastal scenery remains as you travel north to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Giant’s Causeway, another geological wonder. Finally in Northern Ireland, notorious names such as Sinn Fein, the IRA and Bloody Sunday remind you of Ireland’s more recent and troubled history, combined with the brand new Titanic Museum, there’s plenty of fascinating history to keep you entertained.
HOT Tip: The amount of time allowed in on street parking is denoted by painted lines on the road. Search for an info sign, or just ask a local shopkeeper.
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