Best Winter Drives in the UK

When we’re not fixing cars we’re driving them and there’s just something about a winter drive when the sky’s clear blue and as crisp as a cracker. Safety is a priority, and you can read our winter driving safety tips right here.

Let’s explore some of the best winter drives across the UK.

Scotland

The North Coast 500

Scotland’s North Coast 500. The stuff of winter road trip dreams. This 516-mile circular route snakes through the Scottish Highlands. Need we say more? It’s just spectacular in winter. Snow-capped mountains might put you in the mood for ice cream, and you might also be lucky enough to spot a wild stag minding its business at the side of the road.  Keep ’em peeled for Bealach na Bà pass—a mountain road with jaw-dropping views that’s not for the faint-hearted —and the serene beauty of Loch Assynt. A winter-ready car is essential. You wouldn’t want to break down here.

Cairngorms National Park ‘Snow Roads’

For a smaller time investment, how about the Snow Roads Scenic Route? It’s a 90-mile drive from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey, taking you along the UK’s highest public road and it’s a beaut of a winter drive. These outstanding landscapes are even more so during the colder months, and more interesting with it.  The road links  Braemar, Ballater and Tomintoul with several natural and cultural attractions. Scenic Route Installations are where you can stop to stretch your legs and explore the countryside.

England

The Lake District’s Honister Pass

Like Scotland, The Lake District is magical in winter. Honister Pass, one of the steepest roads for miles, boasts dramatic views of rugged fells and gorgeous lakes. Start your journey in Keswick and follow the winding road to Buttermere where you might wish to stop for food and a cuppa in one of the tearooms en route.

 A686 Haydon Bridge, Northumberland to Penrith, Cumbria

This 45-mile drive is worth the commitment. Tree-lined in parts with swooping roads, The Allen Valleys is a particularly stunning area of natural beauty in the North Pennines. The surrounding fells and heather moors are home to the rare black grouse as well as lots of other flowers and wildlife.

Buttertubs Pass, Yorkshire

‘England’s only spectacular road’, says Clarkson. And we have to agree with him.  Crossing the high moorland between Wensleydale and Swaledale is an experience. There are places to pull in at the summit and you can visit the limestone potholes that give the pass its name. Legend has it that farmers rested at the top en route to Hawes market when it was hot. They’d keep the butter they had produced cool by lowering it into the potholes.

Northern Ireland

The Causeway Coastal Route

Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route will capture your heart in winter with its moody skies, dramatic cliffs and sense of romance. This 120-mile stretch between Belfast and Derry takes you past the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

The Mourne Mountains Drive

The Mourne Mountains is a 28-mile drive that loops through some of the most spectacular winter scenery in Northern Ireland. You’ll pass through picturesque villages like Newcastle and Rostrevor. On a clear winter’s day, the views stretch to the Irish Sea.

Wales

Snowdonia’s Llanberis Pass

Snowdonia National Park sounds like it’s made for a winter drive and it is in our humble opinion, especially the Llanberis Pass, a winding route through dramatic valleys and peaks. Start in Llanberis and head towards Capel Curig, soaking in views of Mount Snowdon along the way.

The Pembrokeshire Coast.

If coastal drives are more your bag, Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastline is a winter-drive must. Follow the A487 from St Davids to Fishguard, where cliffs plunge into wintry seas and tiny harbours. Winter storms tend to add a touch of drama to the waves.

Sources:

Wandering Bird

Camplify

Motoreasy