Scottish route voted UK’s prettiest drive and it’s not the North Coast 500

THE UK’S most awe-inspiring, breath-taking and picturesque routes to experience by car have been revealed – with a Scottish drive tying for the top slot.

According to the study by care hire specialists Drivalia, the glorious views along the drive from Loch Lomond to Glencoe in the Highlands was the best in Britain, gaining 22 per cent of the vote.

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The scenic 60-mile route takes in the stunning Argyll Forest Park, Loch Tulla and Loch Ba.

The 30 mile drive from Kendal to Keswick in Cumbria, along the A591, also gained 22 percent in the survey.

It takes in some exceptional scenery including views of Lakeland fells and the banks of Windermere,

The historic Coastal Way in Wales came in third place with 20 percent, with Snake Pass in the Pennines joint fourth with 19 percent, along with the winding road through Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, in Somerset.

The journey around the New Forest – which known for its peaceful scenery – also made the final list, coming sixth with 18 per cent.

Another Scottish route, this time Loch Lomond to Lochgilphead, came seventh with 17 per cent and the drive between Edinburgh and the Cairngorms National Park was voted in ninth place.

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Surprisingly the North Coast 500 only came in on joint 12th place, alongside Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, both only managing 14 per cent of the vote.

Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia, Wales, which weaves between the mountain ranges of the Glyderau and the Snowdon massif, gained 13 per cent of the vote, and makes an appearance alongside The Causeway Coastal route in Northern Ireland, which provides the backdrop for Games of Thrones, coming in with 11 per cent.

One in ten (10 percent) thought the 28-mile-long Grade II* listed Ribblehead Viaduct in the Ribble Valley in North Yorkshire was a slice of calming heaven, while seven percent loved the rugged scenery from Cambridge to Hunstanton Cliffs.

The only other Scottish routes to make the cut were Dundee to Loch Fyne, Scotland on 10 per cent, The Road to the Isles (Fort William to Mallaig) with nine per cent and Edinburgh to Pettycur Bay which gained eight per cent of the vote.

Three quarters (74 percent) of those surveyed agreed that the UK is home to scenic and beautiful driving routes with two thirds (61 percent) saying that driving is one of the best ways to explore the country.

Three in four (74 percent) said they felt calm and relaxed when driving through beautiful scenery.

So it’s no surprise then that over half (59 percent) prefer to take a scenic route to their destination rather than a boring motorway, even if it means travelling further.

A spokesperson for Drivalia, which commissioned the study, said: “The UK is an amazing place to travel with so many beautiful driving routes on our doorstep.

“From the amazing rugged beauty of Scotland, the outstanding vistas of Wales, iconic backdrops in Northern Ireland and the wonderful journeys that stretch across the rolling scenery of England, the research shows that there are an abundance of beautiful places to stop, take a breath and enjoy the wonderful peace when driving around the country.”

Travelling by car is one of the best ways to explore the country and with Drivalia, which has prime car rental locations nationwide, customers can choose from a huge range of first class vehicles to meet the needs of their journey.”

When it comes to the ingredients of a perfect road trip, snacks for the journey (57 percent), great company (49 percent), a fantastic playlist to listen to (46 percent) and stopping at a pub for lunch (42 percent) all feature.

Stopping to break the journey up (41 percent), having someone to share the driving with (38 percent), a flask of tea or coffee (35 percent) and a camera to capture amazing scenery (34 percent) are also must haves.

The survey also revealed almost halve of the nation, (48 percent), are planning to take a road trip for Christmas this year, with the average Brit jumping in the car at least twice throughout the festive period.

And almost a half (43 percent) admit that due to the rail strikes, they are looking to make alternative arrangements including hiring a car for the trip.

BRITAIN’S MOST BEAUTIFUL DRIVES, ACCORDING TO THE NATION

Loch Lomond to Glencoe, Scotland 22%

Kendal to Keswick in the Lake District, England 22%

The Coastal Way, Wales 20%

Snake Pass – the Pennines, England 19%

The winding road through Cheddar Gorge 19%

Journey around the New Forest, England 18%

Loch Lomond to Lochgilphead, Scotland 17%

B3306 – St Ives to St Just, Cornwall, England 16%

Edinburgh to Cairngorms National Park, Scotland 15%

London to Stonehenge, England 15%

Black Mountain Road, the Brecon Beacons, Wales 15%

Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, England 14%

The North Coast 500, Scotland 14%

Llanberis Pass, Wales 13%

Liverpool to Lake Windermere, England 12%

Cheddar to Ashwick, Somerset, England 12%

The Cat and Fiddle (Buxton to Macclesfield), the Peak District, England 12%

The Causeway Coastal route, Northern Ireland 11%

Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire Dales, England 11%

Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England 10%

Dundee to Loch Fyne, Scotland 10%

The Road to the Isles (Fort William to Mallaig), 9%

Leeds to Haworth (Brontë Country), England 9%

Norwich to Cromer, Norfolk, England 9%

Edinburgh to Pettycur Bay, Scotland 8%

The Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Newquay), England 8%

Military Road, Isle of Wight 8%

Cardiff to Marloes Sand, Wales 8%

Alnmouth to Lindisfarne, Northumberland, England 7%

Wrynose and Hardknott Pass, Cumbria, England 7%

Manchester to Edale, England 7%

Cambridge to Hunstanton Cliffs, England 7%

Bristol to Blackpool Sands, England 6%

Birmingham to Harlech Beach, England 6%

Belfast to The Gobbins, Northern Ireland 6%

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