Great ideas for road trips with your friends

Summer

Great ideas for road trips with your friends

Driving, some days it's the last thing you want to do. Commuter traffic, road works and diversions, they're enough to leave even the most chilled out driver feeling a tad frazzled.

Some days though, driving can be brilliant, it's usually during the summer months when you pack up the car with items for every eventuality, pick-up your friends and head off into the great unknown.

A summer road trip is a rite of passage, usually first embarked upon when you and all your mates have just passed your tests, but road trips don't have an age limit. They can be just as enjoyable as you get older (it just means you'll be drinking nicer wine when you've finished driving for the day).

We thought we'd help you figure out some of the best routes to take for a Great British road trip this summer, read on to see which we've chosen as our top five.

St. Just

St. Ives to St. Just, Cornwall

This 14 mile drive between the popular tourist town of St. Ives and the equally pretty but less busy St. Just, regularly features on lists of best drives in the UK.

It is all narrow roads and hairpin bends, so maybe not one to jump into just after passing your test, but once you've been driving a while the thrilling drive will be worth it.

With the coast along side you the whole way, you may want to stop off during the journey to take in the views.

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Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Only ten miles south-west of Bristol and eight miles east of Western-Super-Mare, is Cheddar Gorge, once named as the UK's second greatest natural wonder in a poll.

The gorge is on the site of Cheddar show caves and the road has one of the most impressive backdrops of any in the UK, with massive cliff faces on either side of the road.

The drive itself requires a lot of concentration, especially early on where the road is a bit busier but it does open out and provide a few miles of long straights and plenty of great views.

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Denbigh Moors

The EVO Triangle, North Wales

Three roads, the A5, the A543 and the B4501, which meet in North Wales near the Denbigh Moors, the EVO triangle gained is name because it is a favourite car testing ground for EVO magazine (a magazine for car enthusiasts).

The roads are open, meaning the beautiful Welsh countryside is laid out in front of you as are plenty of local sheep who do like to wander, so bear that in mind.

This is an ideal drive to do on your way to a little Welsh B&B or countryside spa retreat with the girls.

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Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park

Beauty as far as the eye can see, that's what you'd be surrounded by if you found yourself slap-bang in the middle of Dartmoor. Rolling hills and golden fields line the long stretching roads allowing for leisurely drives to take in the scenery.

In this neck of the woods you're never far from somewhere to enjoy a lovely day out whether it's a day with the girls or just you and your other half.

Whether it's countryside walks or a dip ocean at Bantham beach, there's plenty to do and it's pretty enough countryside, the drive alone is worth it.

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Northumberland

Penrith to Haydon Bridge, Cumbria and Northumberland

This road has been named the best driving road in the UK in the past and it's clear to see why. It's just under Northumberland National Park which is one of the most beautiful parks the UK has to offer.

You'll drive through pretty little villages like Langwathby and Melmerby and if you fancy stopping off somewhere nice for lunch, then you can visit Alston, the highest market town in England.

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