{"id":264715,"date":"2025-07-14T16:53:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T16:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/264715\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T16:53:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T16:53:23","slug":"the-best-road-trips-in-the-uk-and-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/264715\/","title":{"rendered":"The best road trips in the UK and Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s nothing quite like the thrill of the open road: stunning scenery unspooling past your window, the freedom to stop wherever you like, and the ability to be completely spontaneous. <\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re doing it as a couple or as a family, a road trip is just plain fun and offers a sense of adventure that taking a flight just can\u2019t compete with. <\/p>\n<p>Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, interest in road trips is on the up: UK Google searches for \u201cbest European road trips\u201d have soared by 5,000% over the past three months, while global TikTok searches over the same timeframe show a 96% increase for terms like \u201cbest road trip route\u201d and a 33% rise for \u201croad trips\u201d overall. <\/p>\n<p>If you love the idea of a road trip but you have never done one, don\u2019t be put off by practicalities.<\/p>\n<p>How to prepare for a road trip<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s some crucial advice from expert Alison Ingram-Seal, <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saga.co.uk\/insurance\/campaign\/car-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"View page\">Saga\u2019s car insurance<\/a> product manager: \u201cWith so many accessible destinations in Europe to choose from, a little preparation goes a long way to ensure a smooth, stress-free road trip.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you\u2019re taking your own vehicle, start by checking that your car insurance covers driving in Europe, and what it covers, like loss or theft, accidental damage or medical costs following an accident.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Get in touch with your insurer if you\u2019re unsure or to add cover to your policy. You\u2019ll also need to carry some important documents, such as your driving licence, V5C logbook, and proof of insurance. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In most cases you don\u2019t need a green card any more, but a handful of European countries may require it, so check before you leave.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>        &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-solstock.jpg\" alt=\"A couple checking the map on their road trip\"\/><br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        Image credit: Getty Images&#13;<\/p>\n<p>            &#13;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Some countries also require specific safety items. For example, in France, it\u2019s compulsory to carry breathalysers, reflective vests and warning triangles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s important to familiarise yourself with local road laws, speed limits, and toll rules, but also the physical conditions and any recent travel advice.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Some scenic roads, while beautiful, can include steep gradients, narrow passes, or long rural stretches without a fuel station. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Doing your research beforehand and making sure both you and your vehicle are ready for the journey is one of the best ways to stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The top road trips in the UK and Europe<\/p>\n<p>So, where should you go? Well, a recent study from <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saga.co.uk\/insurance\/campaign\/car-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"View page\">Saga Car Insurance<\/a> revealed which destinations are trending with travellers, based on real-time Reddit buzz. <\/p>\n<p>Using a unique scoring system, combining total mentions (25%), total comment likes (50%) and analysing the average sentiment of comments (25%), Saga scoured over 73,000 Reddit responses to uncover the top 10 countries and destinations for taking the car for a spin this summer. <\/p>\n<p>And \u2013 drumroll, please \u2013 the top three best European countries for a road trip are Iceland, Ireland and Scotland. <\/p>\n<p>Feeling ready to hit the highway? Read on for our list of the most popular places to take a road trip in Europe and the UK this summer, plus our handy tips for every driver.<\/p>\n<p>1. Stokksnes Penninsula, Iceland <\/p>\n<p>        &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-stokksnes-penninsula-kruwt.jpg\" alt=\"Dirt road at Iceland near Stokksnes cape with mountain peaks covered in clouds\"\/><br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        Image credit: Getty Images &#13;<\/p>\n<p>            &#13;<\/p>\n<p>In at number one, with a score of 95\/100, is Stokksnes Peninsula in Iceland, Europe\u2019s top-rated road trip destination for this summer. <\/p>\n<p>Never heard of it before? It\u2019s a striking headland on the southeastern Icelandic coast, near the small towns of H\u00f6fn and Hornafj\u00f6rdour, nearly 300 miles from Reykjavik. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"list list--accent\">\n<li><strong>Must-sees:<\/strong> Stokksnes&#8217; dramatic black sand beaches, Vestrahorn mountain views, the Northern Lights (from late August to early April), and the Viking Village \u2013 a replica Viking settlement originally built for an unfinished film, later featured in Netflix\u2019s The Witcher: Blood Origin.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caution:<\/strong> The best time to drive F-roads (mountain roads) in Iceland is July through early September. These months offer the warmest weather, the longest daylight hours, and the highest chances that all F-roads will be open.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rules of the road<\/strong>: F-roads are highland routes with gravel surfaces, river crossings and breathtaking scenery, but they\u2019re only accessible with a 4\u00d74 vehicle during the summer months. Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2. North Coast 500, Scotland <\/p>\n<p>        &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-north-coast-500-peter-burnett.jpg\" alt=\"Kylesku Bridge, North Coast 500, Scotland\"\/><br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        Image credit: Getty Images&#13;<\/p>\n<p>            &#13;<\/p>\n<p>With a score of 90\/100, the North Coast 500 was number two on the list. A 516-mile scenic route around Scotland\u2019s north coast, it officially starts and ends in Inverness. <\/p>\n<p>Celebrating ten years since its launch in 2015, it\u2019s designed to showcase the highlights of the Scottish Highlands, including coastal drives, castles, and charming villages. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"list list--accent\">\n<li><strong>Must-sees: <\/strong>Stunning coastal views, Dunnet Head, Durness, Handa Island, Ardvreck Castle, and the Applecross Peninsula.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Be prepared for long stretches of road without petrol stations in rural highlands.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rules of the road:<\/strong>\u00a0Pavement parking is illegal in Scotland, which also bans double parking and parking on dropped kerbs. Offenders can be fined \u00a3100 by local authorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>3. Ring of Kerry, Ireland <\/p>\n<p>        &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-ringofkerry-guvenozdemir.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of Gap of Dunloe, County Kerry in Ireland,\"\/><br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        Image credit: Getty Images&#13;<\/p>\n<p>            &#13;<\/p>\n<p>The picturesque Ring of Kerry route in Ireland was number three on the list, having scored an impressive 85\/100. <\/p>\n<p>A circular drive of 111 miles around the the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland, it\u2019s known for its rugged coastal landscapes, charming towns and villages, and historical sites, offering a quintessential Irish experience. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"list list--accent\">\n<li><strong>Must-sees:<\/strong> Killarney National Park, Gap of Dunloe Mountain Pass, the towns of Kenmare and Waterville, Derrynane Beach, Skellig Ring, Kerry Cliffs and Sneem Falls.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Lack of street lighting and white stripes or cat\u2019s eyes, especially in the countryside and narrow roads that lead to cliffs, ravines and bogs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rules of the road:<\/strong> In Ireland, speed limits are in kilometres per hour (km\/h), differing to the UK\u2019s standard miles per hour (mph).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also in the top 10 were a trip around the Dolomites in Italy (number 6), the Lake District (number 8), and beautiful Provence in France (number 9).<\/p>\n<p>Whichever route you choose, make sure you drive safely; and \u2013 trust us on this \u2013 always keep some snacks in the glove box\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Road trip tips<\/p>\n<p>Alison Ingram-Seal shares her top road trip tips.<\/p>\n<p>Check your insurance<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your policy covers driving in Europe and check how long you\u2019re covered for. Many insurers charge extra for EU cover or limit the number of days you can drive abroad.\u00a0Only one in 10 policies offer unrestricted travel, but Saga\u2019s Plus and Select levels include up to 365 days of EU cover as standard.<\/p>\n<p>Know the local laws<\/p>\n<p>Speed limits, toll systems and road signs vary by country, and some have strict drink-driving rules or require extra safety equipment.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget your documents<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll need your UK driving licence, vehicle logbook (V5C), and proof of insurance.<\/p>\n<p>Get your car road-trip ready<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your vehicle is well-maintained and suitable for the terrain. <\/p>\n<p>Research your route in advance<\/p>\n<p>Especially if it includes mountain roads or rural stretches, and pack essentials like a UK sticker (a legal requirement in most EU countries), reflective jackets, warning triangles, and headlight beam adjusters to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers.<\/p>\n<p>Plan fuel stops and breaks<\/p>\n<p>Scenic and rural routes can have long stretches without petrol stations or rest stops.<\/p>\n<p>                 Daniel Couglin<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Coughlin is a freelance health and wellbeing writer.<\/p>\n<p>                        <a class=\"button button--tertiary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saga.co.uk\/magazine\/authors\/laura-millar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s nothing quite like the thrill of the open road: stunning scenery unspooling past your window, the freedom&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264716,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[101118,748,393,4884,1144,712,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-264715","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-best-road-trips-in-the-uk-and-europebrhow-to-prepare-for-a-road-trip","11":"tag-britain","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-northern-ireland","15":"tag-scotland","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom","18":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114852633471289302","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264715\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}