It’s simple to overlook the wonders of your own nation, yet a road trip through the UK offers a wealth of sights. Explore Welsh valleys on foot, sample whiskey in the Scottish Highlands, and stroll along the south coast’s beaches. A campervan trip is a fantastic way to travel since it gives you loads of freedom and adventure.
Visiting Various Islands in the Outer Hebrides
Spend a few nights visiting frantic Edinburgh, which is always humming with activity. Before picking up your campervan and starting your road trip, get a coffee from one of the unique cafés, explore the charming streets, and witness the renowned military tattoo at the castle. Drive through Loch Lomond to reach the coast, where you may trek through the Trossachs and skim pebbles across the water’s surface.
You can start your Hebridean island-hopping trip once you arrive in Oban. Why not visit the green Isle of Mull or enjoy a whisky in the serene Islay hills? I would suggest leaving the country entirely and traveling by ferry to Barra, a tiny island at the very edge of the Outer Hebrides.
Before starting your journey north, you can kayak across azure waters in search of seals, wander along picture-perfect beaches, and chat with welcoming people. Visit Eriskay to look for wild ponies, visit Benbecula to sample locally smoked salmon, and visit North Uist to enjoy the picturesque beaches while watching the sun set over the water. When you arrive on the northernmost island of Lewis and Harris, Luskentyre beach’s breathtaking white sands, Callanish’s magical standing stones, and Great Bernera’s Atlantic Ocean spray are all waiting for you.
Experience Stornoway’s renowned black pudding before taking the boat back to the mainland and taking in the Scottish Highlands’ breathtaking scenery while stopping for lunch in charming Inverness or a climb in the snow-capped Cairngorms. You won’t regret it, I promise. My road trip across these islands was among the best of my life.
The Ideal Road Trip in Wales
Although Wales doesn’t have a campervan depot, Birmingham is the closest pick-up location, which is actually ideal if you want to explore this lovely region. Spend the night in the city and have dinner at a renowned curry establishment before making your way to the border. Before heading to the north shore, stop for lunch in Shrewsbury, a charming market town.
Views of Anglesey can be seen from the Great Orme, while you can also explore the historic castle in Conway and stroll along the prom in Llandudno. To fully explore the island, cross the Menai Bridge and wander along Red Wharf Bay’s expansive beach, browse for treasures in Beaumaris, and search for puffins off Holy Island’s untamed shoreline.
Keep traveling south, taking in additional castles at Caernarfon and Harlech, relaxing with a pint at the Ty Coch Inn in Morfa Nefyn, and searching for porpoises off the cliffs at Borth. You will soon reach Pembrokeshire’s numerous coves and bays as well as the Cardigan Coast. Whether it’s boat tours to visit the seal colonies, strolling the coastal pathways, or simply indulging in a seafood feast while facing the water, this breathtaking place has so much to offer.
Larger towns can be found along Wales’ south coast, where you can visit Cardiff to take a tour of the BBC or Swansea Market to sample Welsh pastries. Your time in Wales will eventually come to an end, but before returning to Birmingham, make sure you see the Brecon Beacons waterfalls and go kayaking in the Wye Valley.
Tour Northumbria and the Lake District
Look no further if you’re looking for imposing vistas and sizable lakes. In this lush, green region, the northern section of England is a haven for hillwalkers and wild swimmers. Walk along the water’s edge in Grasmere, sample gingerbread in Ambleside, and trek between Howtown and Glenridding to take in views of Ullswater Lake. Before proceeding to the Northumbrian coast, take a small boat out onto Coniston Water and view the Roman ruins at Hardknott Fort.
View the starry sky in Northumberland National Park, take in the breathtaking view of the ocean from Bamburgh’s castle, and travel to Holy Island to see Lindisfarne. This isolated area of the nation is tranquil and serene, making it the ideal place to explore the local culture. You could go to this region from the London depot, stopping in the charming city of Cambridge on your way north, or you could start in Edinburgh and make a loop through the Scottish lowlands before reaching the Northumberland coast and its breathtaking lakes.
The Birmingham Loop
Despite being a sizable, industrial metropolis, Birmingham is surrounded by a number of charming villages and uninhabited hills. This journey begins in the Cotswolds, continues through Shropshire, and ends in the Peak District, combining three stunning regions. To get lost in the Cotswolds’ charming villages, head south where you’ll find winding brooks, tiny tea shops, and ancient woodland. On your way to Shropshire, make a pit stop at the tranquil Malvern Hills and the resort town of Cheltenham.
This breathtaking region, which borders Wales, is home to numerous gastronomic market towns and hills covered in heather. Pick up a picnic in Ludlow and go for a stroll through Cardingmill Valley, where you can see wild ponies prancing across the Long Mynd and sheep grazing on the hillside. Travel to the Peak District in the north to wrap up your excursion with a hike across The Great Ridge in Castleton, a stroll through Chatsworth House’s picturesque grounds, and a taste of Bakewell’s world-famous pudding.
Take in Northern Ireland’s natural beauty
Despite being small, Northern Ireland has a very diverse landscape. You may explore all of Northern Ireland once you take up your campervan at the Belfast depot. Cycle past apple orchards that are in full bloom in County Armagh, marvel at the enchanted path through the Dark Hedges, and walk on the renowned hexagonal rocks at the Giant’s Causeway.
Visit Belfast’s Titanic Museum, sample some of the regional Irish whiskey at Old Bushmills Distillery, and take in the view from the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Explore the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, learn about local history, and go on a hike across the Mourne Mountains. The majority of what the area has to offer can be seen in a week of exploration, but 10 days will allow you enough time to linger in any hidden gems you come across—and trust me, there will be plenty.
Scotland’s North Coast 500
From Edinburgh, travel north, taking in the snow-capped Cairngorms on your way to the peaceful city of Inverness. You’ll start the North Coast 500, a drive through Scotland’s highlands, from here.
Explore the sandbanks and salt marshes of Achnahaird Bay while sitting in a modest café in Ullapool and watching the ferries and boats in the harbor. Discover the ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the banks of Loch Assynt after ascending the craggy summit of Stac Pollaidh in Wester Ross, which offers breathtaking views across the lakes below.
You’ll soon be in Scotland’s most remote area; if you want to venture off the main path completely, consider making the two-hour journey to Sandwood Bay Beach. On the horizon, you can see a magnificent cliff face, a lone sea stack named Am Buachaille, and golden sand. Before wandering down the huge dunes of Balnakeil Beach, explore Smoo Cave, one of the biggest in Britain. While traveling from Caithness to John O’Groats, seek for puffins and razorbills along the wild coast as you pass through quaint towns and rocky bays.
Before traveling south to the Pulteney Distillery for a sip of whiskey, take a picture by the well-known sign. You can find more whisky and seals lounging on beaches when exploring the picturesque coastline of Easter Ross. Spend a couple of nights at the Black Isle to cap off your trip, where dolphins play in the chilly Moray Firth and exquisite seafood is served at coastal cafes.
Beach hopping in Devon and Cornwall
Most British families undoubtedly have a road trip through Cornwall and Devon on their bucket lists. Before traveling down the coast to the charming Teignmouth, where small boats bob in the cozy harbour, start in Exeter so you may check out the cathedral. Take a stroll among the wildflowers in the Dartmoor National Park before traveling to Cornwall, where you may find delicious seafood and rocky beaches.
Explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan, take in a performance at the Minack Theatre, and marvel at the turquoise ocean at Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula. Visit the Scilly Islands for a day trip, discover lush rainforests at the Eden Project, and journey back in time with a tin mine tour.
Leave Cornwall behind and discover Devon’s north coast. At Woolacombe Beach, watch surfers battle the waves. In Clovelly, take a stroll through the little towns. On Exmoor, search for wild ponies. There are many charming places to see en route from London, including the magnificent Winchester cathedral, Bournemouth’s huge dunes, and Dorset’s Durdle Door beach.