It's easy to forget about the brilliance of your own country but there is so much to see on a UK road trip. Hike through Welsh valleys, taste whisky in the Scottish highlands and stroll along the beaches of the south coast. Heading off in a campervan is such a great way to explore - giving you lots of flexibility and adventure!
Tread the enormous rocks at the Giant's Causeway, surf on the beaches of Newquay and soak up the spectacular natural beauty this country has to offer. I’ve been on some amazing trips through the UK – here are my recommendations if you’re looking to head off on a campervan adventure. If you want to chat through some options or get a campervan quote, call us on +44 1273320580 or read more about our Europe & UK campervan holidays.
Spend a couple of nights exploring frenetic Edinburgh, which pulses with life no matter when you visit. Pick up a coffee from one of the eclectic cafes, wander the quaint streets and watch the famous military tattoo at the castle before picking up your campervan and heading off on your road trip. Drive west to the coast via Loch Lomond, where you can skim pebble across the shimmering water and hike in the Trossachs.
Arriving in Oban you can begin your Hebridean island-hopping adventure. Why not explore the lush Isle of Mull or sip whisky in the peaceful hills of Islay. I’d recommend heading right out to the edge of the country, taking the ferry to Barra, a tiny island on the very edge of the Outer Hebrides.
Here, you can kayak through turquoise waters looking for seals, stroll along perfect beaches and meet friendly locals before beginning your journey north. Look for wild ponies on Eriskay, taste locally smoked salmon in Benbecula and watch the sun set into the ocean from the pretty beaches of North Uist. Arriving on the northmost island of Lewis and Harris, you can admire the spectacular white sands of Luskentyre beach, feel the magic of the ancient standing stones of Callanish and feel the spray from the Atlantic Ocean in Great Bernera.
Taste the famous black pudding in Stornoway before hopping on the ferry back to the mainland and enjoying the scenic drive through the Scottish Highlands, stopping for a delicious lunch in quaint Inverness or for a hike in the snow-capped Cairngorms. My road trip through these islands was one of the best trips of my life – believe me, you won’t regret it.
Although there isn’t a campervan depot in Wales, the closest pick-up point is in Birmingham, which actually works perfectly if you want to explore this beautiful area. Spend a night in the city where you can enjoy dinner at one of the famous curry houses before heading off towards the border. Stop in for lunch at the pretty market town of Shrewsbury before hitting the north coast.
Explore the ancient castle in Conway, stroll along the prom in Llandudno and admire views of Anglesey from the Great Orme. Head over the Menai Bridge to explore the island more fully – strolling the vast beach in Red Wharf Bay, shopping for trinkets in the pretty boutiques of Beaumaris and looking for puffins off the wild coast of Holy Island.
Continue your journey south, exploring more castles in Caernarfon and Harlech, enjoying a pint at the Ty Coch Inn in Morfa Nefyn and looking for porpoises off the cliffs at Borth. Soon, you’ll arrive on the Cardigan Coast and the endless coves and bays of Pembrokeshire. This spectacular area has so much to offer, whether it’s boat trips to see the seal colonies, hiking the coastal paths or just enjoying a seafood feast overlooking the water.
The south coast of Wales brings you larger towns, whether you’re taking a tour of the BBC in Cardiff or tasting Welsh cakes in Swansea Market. Eventually, your time in Wales will come to end but make sure you visit the waterfalls of the Brecon Beacons and spend some time kayaking in the Wye Valley before heading back towards Birmingham.
If you’re looking for dramatic landscapes and vast lakes, then look no further. The northern part of England is a paradise for hillwalkers and wild swimmers in this lush, green region. Taste gingerbread in Ambleside, stroll along the water’s edge at Grasmere and hike between Howtown and Glenridding to enjoy views over Ullswater Lake. Take a little boat out onto Coniston Water and explore the Roman ruins at Hardknott Fort before heading to the Northumbrian coast.
Gaze up at the star-strewn sky in Northumberland National Park, admire the dramatic castle overlooking the ocean in Bamburgh and make the journey to Holy Island to visit Lindisfarne. This remote part of the country is quiet and peaceful, perfect for getting off the beaten track in your own country. You could visit this area from the London depot, stopping in the quaint city of Cambridge on your way north, or even begin in Edinburgh, looping south through the lowlands of Scotland before you hit the Northumberland coast and the spectacular lakes.
Birmingham might be a large and industrial city but the areas surrounding it are full of pretty villages and wild hills. Combine three beautiful regions on this route, starting in the Cotswolds, hiking through Shropshire, and finishing in the Peak District. Head south to get lost in the pretty villages of the Cotswolds, where ancient woodland, local tea rooms and winding brooks await. Stop in at the spa town of Cheltenham and the peaceful Malvern hills on your way to Shropshire.
This spectacular county is nestled against the Welsh border, with heather-strewn hills and foodie market towns aplenty. Pick up a picnic in Ludlow and take a walk through Cardingmill Valley, where you’ll find sheep grazing the hillside and wild ponies roaming across the Long Mynd. Head north to the Peak District, where you can finish your trip by hiking across The Great Ridge in Castleton, exploring the pretty grounds of Chatsworth House and tasting the famous pudding in Bakewell.
Northern Ireland might be small but its varied landscape really packs a punch. After picking up your campervan at the depot in Belfast, you've got the whole of Northern Ireland at your feet. Cycle through blooming apple orchards in County Armagh, admire the magical road through the Dark Hedges and tread the famous hexagonal rocks at the Giant's Causeway.
Taste local Irish whiskey at Old Bushmills Distillery, visit the Titanic Museum in Belfast and gaze across the ocean from the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Learn about local history in Derry, wander across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and hike through the Mourne Mountains. With a week to explore you can see most of what the region has to offer, although 10 days will give you time to linger in any hidden beauty spots you stumble across – believe me there will be plenty.
Head north from Edinburgh, exploring the snow-capped peaks of the Cairngorms on your way to the quiet city of Inverness. From here, you’ll begin the road trip through the highlands of Scotland known as the North Coast 500.
Watch the ferries and boats in the harbour from a tiny café in Ullapool and explore the sandbanks and salt marshes of Achnahaird Bay. Climb to the jagged summit of Stac Pollaidh in Wester Ross, with spectacular views across the lakes below before discovering the ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt.
Soon you’ll be reaching the very corner of Scotland – if you want to get really off the beaten track, why not make the 2-hour hike to Sandwood Bay Beach. You’ll find golden sand, a dramatic cliff face and the lonely Am Buachaille sea stack on the horizon. Head underground to discover Smoo Cave, one of the largest in Britain before strolling along the vast sands of Balnakeil Beach. Hop between tiny villages and rugged coves as you make your way through Caithness towards John O’Groats, looking for puffins and razorbills along the wild coast.
Take your photo by the famous sign before heading south for a dram of whiskey at the Pulteney Distillery. Exploring the romantic coastline of Easter Ross, you’ll find seals basking on beaches and even more whiskey along the way. Finish your journey with a couple of nights in the Black Isle, where dolphins frolic in the cold waters of the Moray Firth and sublime seafood can be found in beachside cafes.
Taking a road trip through Cornwall & Devon is surely on the bucket list of most British families. Start in Exeter, where you can visit the Cathedral before heading down the coast to pretty Teignmouth, where tiny boats bob in the cosy harbour. Stroll amongst the wildflowers in Dartmoor National Park and head into Cornwall, where fresh seafood and rugged beaches await.
Admire the turquoise water at Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula, explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan and catch a performance at the Minack Theatre. Take a day trip to the Scilly Islands, learn about tropical rainforests in the Eden Project and go back in time on a tin mine tour.
Leave Cornwall behind and explore the north coast of Devon – watch surfers ride the waves of Woolacombe Beach, stroll down the steep streets in Clovelly and look for wild ponies on the vast hills of Exmoor. Coming down from London, there are plenty of lovely stops on your way – the spectacular cathedral in Winchester, the vast sands of Bournemouth and the pretty beach at Durdle Door in Dorset.
Excited to get planning your UK road trip? Whether you want to hike through Snowdonia, island hop through Scotland, admire hidden coves of the English Coast or explore the forests of Northern Ireland, we can help. If you want to chat through some options or get a campervan quote, call us on +44 1273320580 or read more about our Europe & UK campervan holidays.
Fresh out of high school, Milly left her home comforts behind and set off to work in a school in Thailand for a year. Whilst working in Thailand she managed to explore Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and China before uni. In the breaks from her English & American Literature degree she interned for Travel Nation, eventually joining our team in 2014. Milly is fascinated by wildlife and food and weaves these elements into both her own trips and those she plans for others. Her natural instinct for building fascinating trips that take you off the beaten track inform the trips she plans and she currently works as our Product Manager sourcing great hotels and itineraries for our customers.
