Four of the best driving roads in Britain

The best roads in Britain will provide motorhomers with breathtaking views, making the drive to your chosen campsite an enjoyable start to your tour.

After all, you’re meant to be on holiday and looking forward to pitching up at one of the best motorhome campsites. Opt for a route which provides good driving conditions and beautiful views, and suddenly, the drive is something to look forward to.

Here, we’re taking a look at four of our favourite roads in Britain for driving.

If you are looking for ways to avoid any overly tight roads or sharp bends when you’re on tour, you can also consider the best motorhome sat nav, which will let you input your ‘van’s dimensions and take these into account when providing a route.

The A591 – Cumbria

An aerial view of the A591 and the surrounding countryside
Image: Alamy Stock Photo – the A591

The Lake District is renowned for its beauty, but also its steep and narrow roads. The A591 is arguably the best route in the Lakes for balancing stunning scenery with reasonable driving conditions for motorhomers.

Running north-south, anyone leaving the M6 at junction 36 will join the A591 near Sizergh Castle (well worth a visit, especially for National Trust members). A stretch of dual carriageway bypasses Kendal, before the A591 becomes a busy single carriageway route as it enters the Lake District National Park.

The road skirts along the edge of Windermere on the way to Ambleside. Take care through the town, because by A-road standards the road is narrow here. Further on, the long climb of Dunmail Raise will test your ’van’s engine! As the road continues north it’s narrow in places, but the drive is well is worth the effort and concentration.

The Atlantic Highway (A39) – Devon and Cornwall

A campervan driving along the Atlantic Highway
Image: Alamy Stock Photo – the Atlantic Highway

There are lots of superb driving roads in Cornwall, but many are tight on width for bigger sizes of motorhome. Although it’s not a large road for the volume of traffic it carries in summer, the Atlantic Highway can be enjoyed in a motorhome without the constant worry that you are moments away from scratching the side of your ’van.

Running 70 miles from Barnstaple to Newquay, many campsites are just a short distance from the A39, so there’s a good chance you won’t need to make a lengthy detour to enjoy it. Highlights include the wonderful beach at Bude, the ruined castle at Tintagel, and the seafood delights of Padstow – a good excuse to enjoy the Atlantic Highway all over again, even once you’ve initially reached your campsite.

The North Wales Expressway (A55) – Cheshire and Wales

The North Wales Expressway
Image: Getty Images – the North Wales Expressway

The historic A55 connects Chester with North Wales, running all the way to Anglesey, with much of it along or near the coast.

These days most of the road is dual carriageway, which makes for easy driving, even in a large motorhome. It’s straightforward enough to navigate, with the highlights being the wonderful views for your passengers to enjoy.

The road crosses the River Dee and enters Wales, soon followed by a steep and demanding hill between Broughton and Dobshill.

Much of the route is picturesque, but the views become even more breathtaking as the road climbs up the sides of Halkyn Mountain. The road travels inland for a few miles, before hugging the coast from Abergele.

Colwyn Bay’s sandy beach is worth a visit once you’re in the area, while the Britannia Bridge offers spectacular views across the Menai Strait.

A82 and A85 – Scotland

A motorhome parked along a stretch of the A82 and A85
Image: Shutterstock / casavellafoto

Few keen drivers would disagree that many of Britain’s best roads are to be found in Scotland. The drive from Glasgow to Fort William is a highlight for motorhomers.

Mile for mile, this route is absolutely stunning. Heading north from Glasgow, the A82 runs alongside Loch Lomond, Britain’s second largest lake by water volume after Loch Ness. Care is needed here because the road has some tight bends and limited visibility, but it’s worth the effort and concentration.

The route climbs high over Rannoch Moor, before descending through Glencoe. This dramatic valley is famous for the steep-sided mountains on either side, and for the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan. The final miles take you along the shore of Loch Linnhe to Fort William.

Before setting off on tour, don’t forget to familiarise yourself with the motorhome speed limits in the UK, either.

Lead image: Alamy Stock Photo


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