The Best Driving Roads

We talk a lot about walking and hiking while on holiday, but not everyone has the ability or inclination to walk a great distance. So here we look at a few options for enjoying driving and the great scenery that goes with it.

We could fill a book with all the great driving roads that are available (I'm sure someone already has) so this is just a taster to get you thinking.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN ITALY

There it is standing proudly at the head of this page: the Stelvio, or Passo dello Stelvio one of the most famous and breathtaking mountain passes in the world. Located in the Italian Alps, the pass rises to an impressive 2,757 m above sea level, making it the second-highest paved mountain pass in the Alps. The road itself is a marvel, with 48 hairpin turns on the northern ascent, creating a dramatic and challenging route for both drivers and cyclists. Its twisty, narrow roads have earned Stelvio Pass a reputation as one of the most thrilling drives, attracting automotive enthusiasts and tourists from all over the globe.

Built originally by the Austrian Empire in the 1820s as a strategic route for military and trade purposes, Stelvio was famed in the 1950s and 60s as a part of the demanding Coupe des Alpes rally. Today it still features in many historic rallies and forms a crucial part of the Giro d'Italia, one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world. With its panoramic views, stunning alpine scenery, and rich history, Stelvio Pass is a must-visit for anyone visiting the Italian Alps.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN ENGLAND

So many to choose from, but we have picked the A39 from Porlock to Barnstaple, in North Devon. Starting in the village you climb the famous 1-in-4 incline of Porlock Hill (or you could choose the Porlock Toll Road instead) and come out at the top on wide open moorland with panoramic views over the sea. Continue on and descend Countisbury Hill into Lynmouth, where there is another choice. Stick with the A39 through Watersmeet, then climb again to the flowing roads that lead acros the edge of Exmoor to eventually arrive in Barnstaple. The alternative is to go up to Lynton, head out through the Valley of the Rocks and then just stay on the road nearest the sea. This will lead via Combe Martin to Ilfracombe and then continue on to your destination.

Another more challenging route for drivers so disposed would be the Hardknott and Wrynose Passes in the Lake District. This narrow single-track road is filled with hidden bends and dips to catch the unwary, but the sense of satisfaction is enormous.

As a final thought, there is the A57 Snake Pass, an iconic winding road that crosses the Pennines from Glossop to Sheffield.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN WALES

Whatever your mode of transport, the Horseshoe Pass offers a magnificent, serpentine A-road that unfolds to reveal the valley beneath. There are numerous lay-bys where motorists can pause and appreciate the landscape: coniferous woodland, undulating green hillsides, and dramatic skies above.The pass provides the route from Ruthin to Llangollen so on arrival it would be a shame to missout on the Llangollen vintage steam railway and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

One of the dozens of other roads competing for the title of Best Driving Road in Wales is the Elan Valley dams road near Rhayader. A sequence of dams and reservoirs supply the water for Birmingham and the impressive Victorian engineering is just one part of muti-layered attraction. There is extensive moorland, woodland and rolling sheep-grazed hills and as a special bonus the area is designated an International Dark Sky Park, perfect for astronomy and stargazing.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN SCOTLAND

Almost 40 years ago I was fortunate to drive up through Glencoe at 6am on a quiet Saturday morning and the experience remains with me to this day. It is one of the UK's most iconic scenic journeys through towering mountains, lochs, and historic landscapes, famously featured in Harry Potter and James Bond's Skyfall. I didn't have time to take the detour down to Glen Etive on the Skyfall Road, but I'm told that is a great pity. The arrival in Glencoe is not the end of the trip though, as the A82 continues on its lochside way to Fort William, and even on to Fort Augustus and Inverness if you so desire.

Glencoe is a part of the North Coast 500, a 500 mile loop around the north of Scotland that is a whole holiday in itself. Another part (actually an unofficial deviation from the main route, and all the better for that) is Bealach Na Ba where the flowing A road of Glencoe is replaced by hairpin bends and smooth narrow tarmac.

 THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN IRELAND

Phrases that spring immediately to mind: the Ring of Kerry; the Wild Atlantic Way. Great places to visit and tour, but still our favourite road is the Healy Pass, cutting across the middle of the penisula from Bantry Bay to Kenmare Bay. The scenery is everything you would expect of the west of Ireland, rock-strewn hills, green fields and occasional glimpses of the sea in the distant sunshine (sometimes!). As you leave Adrigole the road seems ordinary enough, but as soon as the white line in the middle disappears, the thrilling drive and the exciting scenery appear. After that it is just 8 miles of unadulterated pleasure for driver and passenger alike. Although narrow, the road is mostly just wide enough to pass another car with care, without resorting to finding a "passing place". And if that just leaves you wanting more, head out of Kenmare and up to Moll's Gap before turning right and rolling down to Killarney, past the famous Killarney Lakes.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN SPAIN

Taking your car to Spain on the ferry to Santander and you are perfectly set up for a driving holiday in Cantabria and Asturias. This route starts from near Colombres on the A-8 north coast motorway and heads inland on the N-621. Almost immediately you will find yourself climbing into almost Alpine scenery with the Picos de Europa dead ahead. The pass through the Picos is the Desfiladero de la Hermida with rock faces on either side rising as much as 600m, with occasional sights of climbers clinging to the precipitate walls. Eventually after about 90km you have crossed the Picos and arrived at the Riaño reservoir, a vast three-legged lake. Don't turn around! Your return route to the coast will follow the N-625 taking you through the Picos de Europa again via the Puerto de El Pontón, Oseja de Sajambre and the Beyos Gorge to arrive back at the A-8 near Ribadasella. It's a full day's drive so start out early, enjoy lots of stops to soak up the views and treat yourself to lunch in Riaño or one of the roadside bar-restaurants along the way.

THE BEST DRIVING ROAD IN FRANCE

Even the name evokes glamour: the Grande Corniche. This is the historic road that winds along the cliffs of the French Riviera from Nice to the world's most glamorous country, Monaco. It is the highest of the three corniche roads and because of its elevation it is free of run-of-the-mill traffic as it passes through quiet villages like La Turbie. The road features sharp curves, stone walls, and expansive views that reveal the contrast between the deep blue water of the Mediterranean and the pale limestone cliffs of Provence.

Links:
Stelvio
North Devon
Hardknott and Wrynose
Snake Pass
Horseshoe Pass and Elan Valley
Glencoe and Bealach Na Ba
Healy Pass
Picos de Europa
Grande Corniche

24 Dec 2025, 12:24