Top 10 UK Car Country Drives

UK top 10 best car road drives - forget speed cameras, roadworks and traffic jams: blow away the cobwebs with the best British country drives. Stuck in a rut of the daily commute? Leave the hustle and bustle behind and head for the British countryside. Even in these congested times, the UK has plenty to offer in terms of scenic drives and cracking roads; you just need to know where to find them. Here we show you the route to happiness with the top ten British country drives…

1. Hebrides
It may take a bit of effort to get there, but the Isle of Skye is an unspoiled haven within the Inner Hebrides.

Take the A87 from Portree - it skirts the coastline round the island and turns into the A855. There are numerous single-track roads for the really keen, while the harbour at Portree is perfect for a few snaps. There’ll be something for drivers and sightseers alike.

2. Northumberland
The North East has more than its fair share of rugged coastlines and spectacular scenery.

Start at Berwick-upon-Tweed (taking in the view of Lindisfarne) and head south to Alnwick. Pick up the B6431, which turns into the B6432, skirting Northumberland National Park. Stop for a brew at Farlam Hall in Brampton and marvel at the feat that is Hadrian’s Wall.

3. Lake District
The Lake District’s twisty country lanes are a driver’s delight - if you can avoid the peak of summer.

The B5289, just outside Cockermouth in Cumbria, loops around Derwentwater to picturesque Keswick. Stretch your legs with a walk through the Lake District National Park, then head south to Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in England. You’ll end up in the Victorian town of Ambleside for a well-deserved cuppa.

4. Peak District
Perfect for a family getaway, Britain’s first national park offers magnificent views of peaks and valleys in almost every direction.

To get the most out of them, you can’t do much better than the A57 from Glossop. Wind your way over the Moorland for miles, keeping an eye out for the Ladybower, Howden and Derwent Reservoirs. Finish up at Bakewell for, you’ve guessed it, the essential Bakewell Tart! If you’re taking little ones with you, take a look at Confused.com’s Guide to Keeping Kids Happy on Long Journeys.

5. Isle of Wight
This often-overlooked nugget of seaside delight is only half an hour from the mainland.

The Military road runs across the south coast of the island, following the sea cliffs as they look out over the English Channel. Rising and falling, they’re ideal for a slow cruise or an enthusiastic sprint. The road itself was part of the Palmerston Forts, built in the 1860s, in response to the perceived threat of French invasion.

6. Cotswolds
Burford, just 16miles west of Oxford, is one of England’s prettiest medieval towns.

The 1000 locals will welcome you as you partake in the delightful high street and quaint shops. From there, pick up the B4425. You’ll enjoy a fabulous fast and flowing open road for almost 15 miles before you reach Cirencester. Unwind and explore the weekday markets and renowned Corinium Museum.

7. Suffolk
Situated in the east of the UK, Suffolk offers some architectural delights, while the rural roads provide some challenging routes once you head off the beaten track.

Castle Hedingham

Follow the A12 south out of Ipswich, through the delightful Vale of Denham, before heading to Sudbury and picking up the B1058 towards Castle Hedingham. This, and the subsequent B1053 and B1057, loop around Saffron Walden – explore Audley End, one of the most ostentatious Jacobean houses in England.

8. North Wales
Find yourself in the right part of Wales and you can enjoy some of the best roads the UK has to offer.

Start at Bala and take the A42122 through the heart of Snowdonia. Head through Porthmadog and Pwllheli along the south coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, then back up along Caernarfon Bay. If you’re really keen, head north to Anglesey, and try out its race circuit, which looks out over the Irish sea.

9. Dorset
Take pleasure in the stunning views on offer in Dorset. Enjoy the traditional seaside town of Weymouth before following the coastal road up to the A352, visiting the iconic Lulworth Cove.

Gold Hill, Shaftsbury, Dorset

Head into Poole and explore its natural harbour, the second largest in the world, before looping back along the A35 through Tolpuddle to Dorchester - the home of Thomas Hardy and the Dorset County Museum.

10. Cornwall
A part of the UK not to be missed, head south along the coast from Bodmin to Lizard Point, and across to Land’s End. From there, drive north through the popular beaches of St Ives and Newquay.



For one final flourish, follow the A30 out of Bodmin again and head over the challenging moor roads, but be prepared for the Brown Willy effect: a localised weather phenomenon that brings heavy rain and flash flooding. Check out the amazing Cornwall Sunrise if you get the chance!

Country roads may take a bit of negotiating. Before you leave the hustle and bustle behind, make sure your car insurance is up to date and you’re covered for breakdown.

Best 4 x 4s for under £30k

Be seen in one of the best new 4x4 models on the market - these are what Confused.com consider the top five 4x4s for under £30k.

Best for looks – Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 has the distinct advantage of being fresh out of the box, but that doesn’t take anything away from this stylish 4x4.

Like a concept car that’s escaped its motorshow stand, the XC60 would look good in any manufacturer’s portfolio, never mind one with a conservative reputation such as Volvo.

Add to the fact it’s great to drive and there’s a choice of a low-emission front-wheel drive version, it also cuts fuel costs and could cut car insurance premiums. Prices start at around £25,000.

Best for practicality – Citroen C-Crosser

Many people choose 4x4s for their interior size and space, and the Citroen C-Crosser makes the best use of its cabin. Sharp on the outside, it measures up with the mid-sized competition, but thanks to a clean, uncluttered interior and some clever ideas there’s space to spare.


Under-floor storage and clever cubbies help, but the boot also has room for two fold-away seats, which means you can carry up to seven people.

Expect to pay a little over £20,000 for the cheapest models, as well as low car insurance and affordable running costs.

Best for off-roading – Jeep Wrangler

They say practice makes perfect, in which case Jeep have been plugging mud for longer than anyone else. If ultimate off-road ability is your thing, look no further. The simple chassis means big ground clearance and excellent axle articulation.

Being relatively compact also ensures it can squeeze through tricky gaps that others can’t. The downside - it’s not as refined - or as comfortable - as many of its rivals.

But if you’re knee-deep in mud, there’s not much else that will get you out again. Wranglers start at £18,000.

Best all-rounder – Land Rover Discovery 3

Land Rover also have a bit of history when it comes to the 4x4 game – and decades of experience in building nothing but off-roaders resulted in the superb Discovery 3. It has all the Land Rover touches you expect - clamshell bonnet, tough but stylish exterior and an air of class - it’s practical and good to drive too.

The fiendishly-clever Terrain Response system means it can cope with almost anything you throw at it, yet it’s smooth and refined on the road.

The cheapest model is just £190 over our budget, but you should be able to haggle below the magic £30k barrier.

Best for value – Chevrolet Captiva

Don’t think for one minute that 4x4s are the preserve of the rich. You can get the looks and practicality with the Chevrolet Captiva without emptying your bank account. This handsome beast, with optional large alloy wheels, has a decent specification and a choice of petrol or diesel engines.

Prices start at a relatively cheap £16,980, even less if you scrap your old car at the same time. The top version with all the bits and seven seats checks in at £24k.

Could the recession mean the end of style over substance for the motoring industry?

The above title may seem a little over the top, but a number of news stories have emerged in the UK press recently concerning how consumers are being deterred from buying flashier vehicles instead of those which are considered more practical, and are refraining from adding sporty extras to their existing cars. So are necessities such as car insurance and fuel economy taking the place of the look and style of the UK's vehicles?

According to an article at justgoodcars.com, industry research has found that 36 percent of motorists surveyed said that their limited budgets are the most important factor when considering the purchase of a new car. Additionally, the reliability of the vehicle was also said to be influential in the decision, with one in five buying because of their trust in the manufacturer as opposed to the style or look of the vehicle itself.

Additionally, drivers who have bought cars with the intention of modifying or ‘souping' them up in the last year have been forced to think twice as research published at myfinances.co.uk highlights the added expense to insurance costs. For example, the added cost of a new spoiler on a 2000 Ford Focus for a 17 year old will be a massive £688.84 a year, whilst something as innocuous as decals and stickers could push the yearly extra cost up by another £6225.22!

According to Gerry Bucke of Adrian Flux Insurance there is an intriguing irony with the latter. He stated: "Young drivers of modified cars are on average 20 per cent less likely to have an accident and make a claim than young drivers in cars with a standard specification. The truth is, guys who modify their cars tend to be involved in fewer accidents. They invest heavily in their cars and take more care of them."

So what does this say for the motoring industry? Are we likely to see an end, or at least a pause, of people spending money on car style? The reports in the press would certainly suggest so, but whilst we might be gradually letting superficial aspects of our vehicles slide, with credit crunch cut-backs we will no doubt see individuals opting for cheaper cars rather than greener ones also. If manufacturers really want to sell new cars they will need to be able to offer cheap simplicity in order to match those that can be bought second hand.

Top 4 Things to Remember when Buying a Second-Hand Car

Despite Labour's recently announced ‘Scrappage Scheme', in which car owners can get a discount on a brand new vehicle due to contributions from the seller and the government itself, many UK motorists are still eager to purchase a second-hand vehicle. However, the process of buying and owning a second-hand car is renowned for its pitfalls and difficulties, so how can you be sure paying less now will be worth it in the long run. Here are my top 4 things to remember when buying a second hand vehicle.

4. Web Research
Researching online does not stop at searching for the perfect wheels, however this is becoming even more efficient as we are now able to browse by manufacturer, cost, size - as well as information that details how much value your vehicle is likely to lose over time. Additionally, it is now easier than ever before to compare prospective car insurance prices via comparison websites, before you hand over your cash.

3. AA check
After you have found a vehicle you like, there are extra tools online that can help you confirm whether the car has had a shady past or not. The car data checks at theaa.com will provide you with a background history of a vehicle: including whether any finance agreements have been recorded, whether the car has been written off, registration details and past owners, vehicle identification number and a mileage check. They charge £20 for a single vehicle and £25 for up to five.

2. Consider running costs
Aside from the cost of the vehicle and its insurance, be sure to consider running costs such as tax and petrol consumption. In the wake of the credit crunch, finance assistance such as personal loans and ‘higher purchase deals' via the dealership may well be harder to acquire as lenders are now more stringent when it comes to credit checks etc. Work out a budget that relates to all the aforementioned costs of your new vehicle.

1. Take someone along with you
Additionally, one way you can be sure that you are getting the best price is to be confident when it comes to negotiating a price with the seller. If you don't relish the challenge of haggling, take someone along with you who does. Having a friend with you is also good for a second opinion and better still if they have some expertise when it comes to second-hand cars too.

Cars may no longer be status symbols, but they may still be the key to the heart of some women

As petrol prices increase past the £1 mark, and drivers consider cheaper vehicles and cutting back on car insurance, it might seem like the days when the majority of UK motorists cared about the look and model of their vehicles are behind us. However, research from used car specialists, motors.co.uk, suggests that men should not be so quick to put car style to the back of their minds – at least, not if they are hoping to be at all popular with the opposite sex.

A survey conducted in May revealed that, in comparison to men, three times more women are concerned about what type of car their prospective partner owns. Additionally, when asked, a third of women admitted that they were likely to turn down a man if the car they drove did not live up to their expectations in terms of style and status.

The research also showed some interesting findings regarding how much people really care when it comes to the opinions of loved ones about their vehicles. One in fifty claimed they love their car more than their partner.

Although the findings of this particular survey might seem humorous, it follows similar research conducted earlier in the year by a car insurance specialist that suggested the credit crunch had killed the notion of the car as a status symbol. In a survey of UK motorists, 36 percent of those asked claimed that having limited budgets affected what car they would buy. Additionally, reliability was said to be a much more important factor compared to style or look, with one in five drivers buying certain vehicles because they trust the manufacturer.

Such research is risky, primarily because it tends to lead anyone who analyses it down routes of gender generalisation. However, it does seem to suggest some intriguing things about the automotive market currently. Whilst more drivers are seemingly less eager to focus on the superficial aspects of a new car, those who are impressed by a type or style of vehicle seem more likely to make car-based assumptions because it is now more likely that a nicer car will belong to an owner with considerable financial security.