The UK may not have the name brand of a drive like the famous Route 66 however you’d be wrong in thinking that there aren’t amazing drives right on your doorstep. Having been up and down the UK in our campervan we have experienced all that the UK has to offer and have pieced together the best campervan driving routes in the UK. So pack up your van, fill your tank and get some inspiration.
The Atlantic Highway, Cornwall
Stretching 170 miles Cornwall’s Atlantic Highway, or as it’s better known on your maps as the A39, takes in the beautiful sandy beaches and coastal views of the area. From the A39 you can stop off in hot spots such as Bude, Padstow and Newquay. Stop off at Tintagel Castle and take in some of Cornwall’s rich history and Arthurian Legends of knights and round tables. You can finish your route by heading down to Lands End, once considered the end of the world for sailors. Pepper your trip with plenty of stops for cliff top walks as well as a hike in Exmoor National Park and you have the makings of a fantastic campervan holiday.
Recommended Length of Trip: 7 days
Reasons to Go: Beautiful costal scenery, easy driving, Cornish clotted cream.
The North Coast 500, Scotland
It’s easy to see why the NC500 is considered one of the best campervan driving routes in the UK. Taking in a little over 500 miles of the Scottish Highlands you get to drive up and down epic mountains, across stretches of barren coastline and rolling hills. You start and finish this circular route in Inverness, your last built up area for the whole drive, before you head straight for the mountains, passing the famous Loch Ness and you’re on your way. The driving highlight has to be the Bealach na Ba which is the road leading into Applecross. It’s not for the faint hearted as it hairpins up the pass on a single track road, but the views during and once you reach it’s summit make it a drive worth doing. Stop off at Durness and enjoy and get to experience the town where John Lennon once owned a holiday home and hop along the NC500 to Dunnett Head which is the most northerly point on the mainland UK. With so much to do and see on route you can’t help but be blown away by one of the best campervan driving routes in the UK
Recommended Length of Trip: 10 days
Reasons to Go: Mountainous views, plenty of wild camping spots, Rock Rose Gin Distillery
Snowdonia and North Wales, Wales
North Wales offers fantastic campervan driving routes thanks in no small part to the wonderful Snowdonia National Park. Avoid the most direct route and instead head down the A494 so you can take in the watersports mecca that is Lake Bala. Take your kayak, your paddleboard or at least your swimming costume and enjoy a day on the water. Carry on the A494 towards Snowdonia National Park where you will find not only breath-taking views but also plenty of camping and caravan sites to set up your base while you explore all the park has to offer. Follow the directions to Llanberis and you will be able to climb Snowdon itself, a relatively easy climb but one you can expect to take all day doing. Finish the drive in Anglesea before taking the coastal A55 home. That is just touching the surface of the things you can do and see in North Wales, there is something for everyone and views at every turn.
Recommended Length of Trip: 7 days
Reasons to Go: Mountainous views, organised activities (watersports, mountain biking, climbing, hiking).
The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
Often considered one of the best in the world let alone one of the best campervan driving routes in the UK; the Causeway Coastal Route covers the vast majority of the small but often overlooked Northern Ireland. You can easily get a ferry from Glasgow, Liverpool or Holyhead to Belfast where you can start your route in the nations capital city. Head along the A2 until you hit the coastal route which you can follow all the way to the Giant’s Causeway, perhaps the most famous destination on this trip. Stop along the way at one of the many Game of Thrones locations where filming took place and enjoy the fantasy like views the country has to offer. If you’re feeling adventurous and have another 2 weeks to add to your trip you can always continue down to the Republic of Ireland where you can drive the Wild Atlantic Way all the way down the west coast of Ireland (not strictly a UK drive but one of our favourite drives).
Recommended Length of Trip: 5 days
Reasons to Go: Game of Thrones scenery, Giant’s Causeway, great pubs.
Winnat’s Pass, Peak District
It may be short but it certainly is sweet; Winnat’s Pass takes you through a steep gorge flanked by limestone peaks on either side, it is a fantastic drive that is over far too soon. But what makes Winnat’s Pass one of the best campervan driving routes in the UK is everything there for you to do all within touching distance. Lying a short distance west of the village of Castleton you have an array of pubs and restaurants to enjoy after you have been out walking around the local area. There are two cave systems to see at the start and finish of the pass itself and you are able to walk up Mam Tor, one of the highest peaks in the district all from a 5 minute drive from the pass itself. For those looking for a longer holiday you can extend your campervan route out further into the Peak District but for those looking for a weekend adventure look no further.
Recommended Length of Trip: 2 days
Reasons to Go: Stunning drive through a gorge, caves to explore, local pubs and restaurants in Castleton
Have we missed your favourite campervan driving route? Let us know and it might find it’s way onto the list next time!
