The United Kingdom is an island nation with over 19,000 miles of coastline, and some of the finest driving experiences anywhere in the world hug those shores. From the wild, storm-battered cliffs of Scotland's far north to the gentle chalk stacks of the English south coast, Britain's coastal roads offer an astonishing range of scenery compressed into relatively short distances. Here are ten coastal drives that deserve a place on every road tripper's bucket list.
1. North Coast 500, Scotland
The NC500 has become Scotland's answer to Route 66, and for good reason. This 516-mile loop starts and finishes at Inverness Castle, tracing the coastline of the Scottish Highlands through some of the most remote and dramatic landscapes in Western Europe. The route heads north through Easter Ross to John o'Groats, west along the wild north coast to Durness, south down the rugged west coast through Ullapool and Torridon, before returning east to Inverness.
The west coast section between Lochinver and Applecross is the undisputed highlight. The Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) climbs to 626 metres with Alpine-style hairpin bends and views across to the Isle of Skye. Single-track roads with passing places are common on the western section, adding to the adventure and enforcing a wonderfully slow pace.
Essential NC500 planning tips
- Duration: Allow 5-7 days minimum to avoid rushing through the best sections
- Direction: Driving clockwise (east to north to west) puts you on the seaward side for the most scenic western section
- Fuel: Fill up at every opportunity on the west coast; petrol stations can be 60+ miles apart
- Accommodation: Book well in advance for summer (June-August); wild camping is legal in Scotland under the right of access
- Best time: May-June for long daylight hours and fewer midges; September for autumn colours
Pro tip: Don't skip the detour to Sandwood Bay near Kinlochbervie. It's a 4-mile walk each way, but the beach is regularly voted the most beautiful in Britain: a mile of pink sand backed by towering dunes and a sea stack, with virtually no one else around.
Start your NC500 adventure from Edinburgh, a scenic 3.5-hour drive south of Inverness. Plan this trip to map out the complete route.
2. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coastal Route runs for approximately 120 miles between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry along the Antrim coast, and it packs an extraordinary amount of drama into that distance. The star attraction is the Giant's Causeway itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by volcanic activity around 60 million years ago.
But the Causeway is just one highlight among many. The route passes the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (spanning a 23-metre chasm 30 metres above the sea), the atmospheric ruins of Dunluce Castle perched on a basalt outcrop, and the nine Glens of Antrim, deep valleys carved by glaciers that open dramatically to the sea.
Film location highlights
- The Dark Hedges - An avenue of beech trees used as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones
- Ballintoy Harbour - Doubled as the Iron Islands harbour in Game of Thrones
- Cushendun Caves - Another Game of Thrones filming location, formed from red sandstone 400 million years ago
- Mussenden Temple - A clifftop rotunda that has appeared in numerous films and television programmes
Begin your journey in Belfast, where you can explore the Titanic Quarter before heading north along the coast. Plan this trip for a detailed itinerary.
3. Jurassic Coast, Dorset to Devon
The Jurassic Coast stretches 96 miles from Orcombe Point in Exmouth, Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset. England's first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, it exposes 185 million years of geological history in its cliff faces, spanning the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
The driving route follows the A35 and various B-roads along the coast, passing through charming towns like Lyme Regis (where Mary Anning discovered the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton in 1811), West Bay (the filming location for ITV's Broadchurch), and the dramatically situated Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch that has become one of the most photographed landmarks in England.
Pro tip: Stop at Charmouth Beach at low tide for fossil hunting. This stretch of coast is one of the richest fossil sites in the UK, and ammonites and belemnites are genuinely easy to find. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre offers guided fossil walks that are excellent for families.
4. Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only national park in the UK designated primarily for its coastline. The driving route around the peninsula covers roughly 186 miles, but it's the constant proximity to the sea and the extraordinary variety of scenery that makes it special: towering sea cliffs, hidden sandy coves, medieval castles, and a succession of tiny harbour villages that feel frozen in time.
St Davids, with a population of around 1,600, holds city status thanks to its magnificent 12th-century cathedral, making it the smallest city in Britain. The stretch from St Davids Head south to Broad Haven passes some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Wales, with the Green Bridge of Wales, a natural rock arch, as a particular highlight.
Wildlife encounters
- Puffins: Skomer Island hosts around 40,000 breeding pairs, visible from April to July
- Seals: Grey seal pups can be seen on beaches from September to November
- Dolphins: Bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted in Cardigan Bay
- Seabirds: Guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes nest on the cliffs in vast numbers
Reach Pembrokeshire from Cardiff, approximately 2.5 hours to the east. Plan this trip for a comprehensive Welsh coastal adventure.
5. Northumberland Coast, England
The Northumberland coast is one of England's best-kept secrets. The 64-mile stretch from Amble to Berwick-upon-Tweed passes vast empty beaches, dramatic castles, and Holy Island (Lindisfarne), accessible only via a tidal causeway that floods twice daily. This is the coastline where Christianity first took root in England, where Vikings first raided in 793 AD, and where some of the most important castles in British history still stand.
Bamburgh Castle, perched on a basalt outcrop overlooking miles of golden sand, is frequently voted the most beautiful castle in England. Dunstanburgh Castle, accessible only on foot along the coastal path, is a romantic ruin whose shattered towers are silhouetted against the sea. The Farne Islands, a short boat ride from Seahouses, host enormous seabird colonies and a resident population of grey seals.
Pro tip: Check the tide times for Holy Island before you set out. The causeway is submerged for approximately five hours around each high tide, and every year cars are stranded by drivers who ignore the warnings. Safe crossing times are posted on boards at each end of the causeway.
6. South Devon Coast, England
The South Devon coast between Exeter and Plymouth follows the English Riviera through a landscape of red sandstone cliffs, sheltered bays, and palm-tree-lined promenades. The route passes through Torquay (Agatha Christie's birthplace), Dartmouth (home to the Britannia Royal Naval College), and Salcombe (a sailing haven with some of Devon's finest beaches).
The roads here are quintessentially English: narrow lanes between high hedgerows that suddenly open to reveal stunning sea views. The section between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, accessible via the Dartmouth Higher Ferry, winds through the South Hams, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known for its gently rolling farmland tumbling down to hidden coves.
7. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Skye is connected to the mainland by a bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, and the 130-mile circuit of the island offers some of Scotland's most otherworldly landscapes. The Trotternish Peninsula in the north features the Old Man of Storr (a 50-metre pinnacle of rock visible for miles), the Quiraing (a landslip landscape of pinnacles, cliffs, and hidden plateaux), and Kilt Rock (a 60-metre sea cliff with columnar basalt that resembles a pleated kilt).
The western side of the island offers a completely different character: the Cuillin Mountains, a jagged ridge of black gabbro rock that presents the most challenging mountain traverse in Britain, rise directly from sea level to over 990 metres. Even from the road, their dramatic silhouette dominates the skyline.
8. Gower Peninsula, Wales
The Gower Peninsula, jutting out west of Swansea, was the first area in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. The 70-mile driving circuit takes in Rhossili Bay, regularly voted one of the best beaches in Europe, with its 3-mile sweep of sand overlooked by the skeleton of the shipwrecked Helvetia and the tidal island of Worm's Head.
The north coast of the Gower is completely different from the south: salt marshes, cockle beds, and wide estuarine views across to the hills of Carmarthenshire. This contrast, packed into a peninsula just 16 miles long and 7 miles wide, makes it a remarkably rewarding short drive.
9. Cornwall's Atlantic Highway, England
The Atlantic Highway (A39) runs for roughly 77 miles along the north Cornwall and north Devon coast from Fraddon to Barnstaple. The route passes some of England's finest surfing beaches, including Bude, Polzeath, and Watergate Bay, as well as the fishing village of Padstow (now a food destination thanks to Rick Stein's restaurants) and Tintagel, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur.
Must-stop beaches
- Bude - Consistent surf and a sea pool carved from natural rock
- Polzeath - A gentle beach perfect for learning to surf
- Constantine Bay - A wilder beach popular with experienced surfers
- Watergate Bay - A wide, dramatic beach with the Extreme Academy watersports centre
- Bedruthan Steps - Dramatic rock stacks accessible via steep cliff steps (National Trust)
10. East Neuk of Fife, Scotland
The East Neuk (meaning "east corner") of Fife is a string of picturesque fishing villages along the coast between St Andrews and Elie. The 30-mile route passes through Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, and St Monans, each with its own stone harbour, crow-stepped gable houses, and atmospheric charm. Anstruther is home to what many consider the best fish and chips in Scotland, served at the Anstruther Fish Bar.
This is not a drive for dramatic cliffs or adrenaline-pumping hairpins. Instead, it's a gentle, contemplative route through a landscape of lobster pots, working harbours, and the kind of quiet beauty that gets under your skin. The Isle of May, visible offshore, is a national nature reserve teeming with puffins in summer.
Planning Your UK Coastal Road Trip
The UK's compact size means you can combine several of these drives into a single holiday. Here are some practical considerations:
- Drive on the left. Obvious, but worth remembering, especially on single-track Highland roads where oncoming traffic appears from unexpected angles.
- Fuel up regularly. In remote areas of Scotland and Wales, petrol stations are sparse and may close early. Don't let your tank drop below a quarter.
- Respect single-track roads. Use passing places to let faster traffic overtake. Pull into the passing place on your left, or stop opposite one on your right. Never park in a passing place.
- Check weather and tides. Coastal conditions change rapidly. Tidal causeways (Holy Island, Worm's Head) require careful timing.
- Book ferry crossings in advance. The Dartmouth ferries and island crossings can have long queues in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best coastal drive in the UK for a weekend trip?
For a single weekend, the Jurassic Coast or the East Neuk of Fife are ideal because they're compact enough to explore thoroughly in two days. The Jurassic Coast offers more dramatic scenery and fossil hunting opportunities, while the East Neuk delivers charming villages and outstanding seafood. If you have a long weekend (three days), the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland is perfect, as the 120-mile route can be driven comfortably with time for stops at the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede, and the Glens of Antrim.
When is the best time to drive the NC500?
Late May to early June offers the best combination of long daylight hours (up to 18 hours), relatively mild weather, and fewer crowds than the peak summer months. The midges, Scotland's notorious biting insects, are at their worst from late June through August, particularly in still, damp conditions on the west coast. September brings beautiful autumn colours and fewer midges, but daylight hours shorten considerably. The NC500 can be driven year-round, but winter brings short days, possible snow on the Bealach na Ba, and many accommodation options close for the season.
Do I need a special licence to drive in the UK?
Visitors from EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, and most other nations can drive in the UK on their home licence for up to 12 months. An International Driving Permit is recommended but not legally required for most nationalities. Rental car companies may have their own requirements, so check with your chosen provider. Remember that the UK drives on the left, and most rental cars have manual (stick-shift) transmissions unless you specifically request an automatic, which typically costs more.
