Saturday 20 November 2021

Alternative road trips around Britain

It’s no surprise Britain is home to many incredible coastal drives, city routes and scenic ways to discover – so to give you something a bit different, we’ve outlined some experiences that aren’t just your typical road trip. From sustainable ways of getting around to slow tourism and simply luxurious experiences, here are our top picks for an alternative to the traditional road trip.

1. Travel the UK sustainably in your electric car with the National Trust’s charging point map, UK-wide
The National Trust helps you to travel sustainably more easily by offering a network map of charging points at its historic and natural beauty spots across the UK. As well as a great amount in England, they have 36 charging points for electric vehicles across the castles, historic houses, beaches and valleys that they care for in Wales. It’s recommended that you plan ahead and check charging points are in operation at the place you're planning to visit first in case they are occupied. If they don’t have a charge point at the location you'd like to visit take a look at Zap Map's website for other points nearby. If you need to rent a car, Avis offer hybrid and electric hire cars.

2. Discover the beauty of Britain by train with a Britrail pass,
UK-wide
Tour Britain on scenic railway journeys and travel easily between iconic cities and stunning countryside with a BritRail pass, adding a real sense of adventure to your trip. The exclusive tourist pass offers unlimited journeys and huge savings, giving you the freedom to travel around the country at your own pace in the most cost-effective way. The rail network covers the whole country, serving more than 2,500 stations and the system is efficient and reliable: for example, you can leave London and be in Scotland in as little as four hours!

3. Get off the beaten track with the Great West Way touring route, London to Bristol
England’s Great West Way is a new touring route, stretching between London and Bristol. It follows a 125-mile route based on the one of the first Great Roads commissioned by the Kings of England. The route encourages visitors to travel by car, rail, boat, bike, or on foot and to get off the beaten track to discover the towns and villages that make up this diverse meandering path through southern England. From Cotswolds villages to exploring the Kennet and Avon Canal by narrowboat, the route joins up both key icons and lesser known destinations.

4. Cruise England’s Waterways with Great British Boating, West Midlands
Britain has thousands of miles of inland waterways where you can experience slow tourism in its finest form. The heart of England region is home to a network of canals and rivers along which visitors can gently adventure, walking the region’s towpaths or hiring a narrowboat to cruise one of the idyllic rings, punctuating their journey of discovery with truly English experiences. Hire a boat for a few days and see for yourself everything that this wonderful part of the world has to offer.

5. Cycle the Cotswolds with Cotswold Electric Bike Tours, The Cotswolds
Keep your conscience clear as you experience the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds sustainably, and meander through rolling hills, chocolate box cottages and winding country lanes. Explore England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on state-of-the-art electric bikes that use sophisticated sensors to combine your pedalling power with a responsive and powerful electric motor. The landscapes here offer some of the finest cycling in the country with magnificent views, a rich tapestry of seasonal wild flowers and ancient towns, villages and miles of dry stone walls. Your expert local guide will lead the ride at a relaxed pace the ride and help you appreciate the history and natural beauty of the area.

6. Bed down in a VW campervan and explore Bath’s rolling countryside, Bath, Somerset
Hire a fully refurbished and kitted out VW campervan and explore Bath and its surrounding villages and countryside. Each camper has been lovingly restored with bespoke styling and offers a unique alternative to your usual accommodation choice. Your holiday home on wheels couldn’t be more perfect for getting out and about and exploring beautiful countryside villages and locations. Spend a slow afternoon ambling around the picturesque Castle Combe village; be wowed by prehistoric Stonehenge; or take a walk along the clifftops at Cheddar Gorge before exploring the caves. Don’t miss a slice of delicious cake in the tea shop and admire views over the lake and the beautiful Palladian bridge.

7. Soak up the heritage, history and transformation of five cities in the North of England, as part of the new North of England City Experience, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, & NewcastleGateshead
The new North of England City Experience enables visitors to soak up the heritage, history, regeneration and transformation of five cities in the North of England: Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, & NewcastleGateshead. Centred on the development of one easy-to-buy rail ticket, which enables four day’s travel between the cities over an eight-day period, visitors no longer need choose between the vibrant culture of NewcastleGateshead, the fantastic shopping in Leeds, the music scene in Liverpool, Hull’s museums or Manchester’s redeveloped Quays – but can enjoy these and many more cultural highlights across these fantastic cities. A directory of bookable products can be downloaded here.

8. Discover amazing local produce with these delicious food tours and tastings on The North Wales Way, North Wales
Feeling hungry and want to try some local food while exploring The North Wales Way? Take a tour of local food and drink producers and farm shops and taste the very best of home grown, homemade Welsh produce with a foodie trail across North Wales. On your road trip, stop by the shop and eating areas to get a taste of the seasonal produce – from organic foods at the Rhug Estate, to the Bradgy Conwy Brewery which casks and bottles ales using the water from the Snowdonia mountains and the Snowdon Honey Farm and Winery – your taste buds will have a feast to remember!

9. Ride a luxury steam train through the Scottish countryside with Belmond’s Royal Scotland tours, across Scotland
Take a ride on board the Belmond Royal Scotsman and visit some of the most iconic sights, such as Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis, the Isle of Bute, and Mount Stuart. This will be a train journey that you’ll remember for years to come, so sit back, relax, and uncover the wonders of Scotland in peerless style. Enjoy whisky tastings in world-famous distilleries, try an exhilarating clay pigeon shoot, and mingle with fellow guests over candlelit dinners and live ceilidhs. A slow, relaxing train journey around Scotland can be one of the best ways of admiring the stunning landscapes around the country, from miles of misty mountains to glittering lochs, quaint villages and even elegant mansions. The recent addition of the Bamford Haybarn Spa carriage adds yet another addition to perfect pampering.

10. Live on the wild side and camp along the North Coast 500, Scotland
With its epic highland scenery, foodie hotspots and chic and cosy boltholes, the North Coast 500 is a dream for road trippers. Dubbed 'Scotland's answer to America's Route 66', strap yourself in as you take in some of Scotland’s finest coastal scenery and these unmissable experiences. The route is home to many awe-inspiring, remote campsites – in some sites, you’ll feel as though you’re wild camping, although you’ll have all the facilities of a fully maintained camp site. Whether you are looking to keep things minimal or stay at sites with full facilities, there is something for everyone.

For more information contact:
Kristen Anguskristen.angus@visitbritain.org

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