By William Coleman
With the tumultuous year that we’ve had, it’s hard to get excited for the year to come with the amount of uncertainty surrounding us. Don’t let the New Year be all doom and gloom by trying to put some dates in the calendar for 2021. With foreign travel someway off being a sure-fire bet, IMD Pistons have come up with its favourite British roads and trips for bike, car, caravan and motorhome.
A39 – Somerset & Devon
Connecting the South West of England with the rest of the country, the A39, runs from Bath all the way down to Falmouth in Cornwall. The road takes in landmarks like the city of Wells, Glastonbury, and Tintagel Castle, all whilst giving you stunning views of Exmoor National Park and the Devon and Cornwall coasts.
For those looking for a long drive or ride, the sweeping bends and rolling hills will keep you thoroughly entertained. This is definitely a great option for a long weekend, with a number of places to stay and stop off depending on what you are after from your trip.
A2 – County Antrim
One of the must-travel roads in the UK is the A2, which takes in the majority of the Northern Irish coastline. Filled with spectacular views of the North Channel coast on one side and swathes of rolling countryside on the other, there are miles of road and views to enjoy.
With the road following the coast, and sometimes nearly in the water, you are bound to find stretches an absolute pleasure to ride, as well as the views.
B5289 – Lake District, Cumbria
This is one of the shorter routes that you can take and is ideal for a day trip or overnight adventure. The B5289 rings a large part of the Cumbrian Lake District and is a firm favourite with motor enthusiasts for its high peaks, snaking roads and spectacular views of nature and the quaint towns.
At just over 20 miles long you are not going to be travelling for days, but it is very much a must for anyone who finds themselves in the North West of England.
A470 – Wales
Ranging from North Wales, cutting through two national parks and finding yourself in the south, this route really lets you take in all that Wales has to offer. The road is a mixture of dual carriageways, winding country roads and modern highways, so it spells exhilarating driving.
With awe-inspiring views of the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Parks, plus the Elan Valley and the Aberystwyth Mountain Road, this trip is one that can take a whole week despite only being 186 miles long.
A57 – Peak District, Derbyshire
Another short and sweet route, the A57 links Manchester and Sheffield, but has a section that is a great hill pass road located between Glossop and Ashopton. The part we are looking at is known as Snake Pass and has been used as part of the Tour of Britain bike race.
As you may have figured out, this road cuts through the hills of the Peak District and lives up to its name, with winding, narrow roads, complete with hills and moorland to take in. Another one that will not take you more than an hour to drive but is not to be missed out on.
The North Coast 500 – Scotland
We finish with one of the longer and more famous roads in the British Isles. The North Coast 500 is more or less what it says in the name, 500-ish miles of northern Scottish coastline, all navigable by caravan or motorhome. The road starts and ends at Inverness Castle and takes you all around the northern Scottish Highlands with John O’Groats, Ullapool, and Durness amongst the highlights.
This is a route that you will want to take in, so plan ahead and make sure you leave time to stop and appreciate some of the more breath-taking sights in Britain.
