Destinations
Four-day UK road trips: perfect long weekend adventures
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Found yourself with some free time on your hands? Lucky, lucky you. And believe it or not, we’re all for making the most of a long weekend by hitting the road in a campervan or motorhome. The world – or the UK, at least – is your oyster, but below you’ll find two of our favourite trips, taking in the Cotswolds and Cornwall in the south and the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland in the north. Check them out below.
The Cotswolds and Cornwall
Day 1: Bourton-on-the-Water Kick things off with an understated bang at the picturesque town of Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s classic Cotswolds here, with a model village, cosy pubs and one of the most beautiful stone bridges we’ve laid our eyes upon. The journey will take a little under two hours if you’re coming from London, though detours to Oxford and Chipping Norton – home to Clarkson’s Farm – are always encouraged.
Day 2: Bourton-on-the-Water to Torquay Wind your way south from the Cotswolds to South Devon, stopping for the evening in the seaside town of Torquay. If the weather behaves, you can stretch out below the dramatic cliffs of Babbacombe Beach, or take a stroll along the South West Coast Path. Crime buffs will be pleased to know that Torquay is the birthplace of Agatha Christie, to whom there is a gallery dedicated at Torquay Museum, while history lovers will appreciate Kents Cavern, a prehistoric cave system in which human remains dating back 42,000 years have been found.
Day 3: Torquay to Newquay via Land’s End Point your nose in the direction of Cornwall and drive ‘til you can’t drive no more. You’ll eventually reach Land’s End, the most westerly point of mainland England and a top-notch spot for a clifftop hike. Make the most of the views – we’re being optimistic with the weather here – before cruising along the coast to Newquay, the surfing capital of the UK. Fistral Beach is the town’s best-known spot, but if you do have some time up your sleeve, we recommend trying out a coasteering adventure with one of the local activity providers. They’ll have you clambering through smugglers’ caves, leaping off cliffs (in a totally safe way) and exploring the Cornish coast from an entirely new perspective.
Day 4: Newquay to the Cotswolds via Bath It’s a decent drive back to the Cotswolds but you’ll still have time to take in the beautiful town of Bath, named for its famous Roman baths. You can take a walking tour of the city, visit the Jane Austen Centre or treat yourself to a session at Thermae Spa and its jaw-dropping rooftop pool. Once you’ve done as the Romans did, continue your road trip back to the Cotswolds or wherever the road takes you.
Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland
Day 1: The Yorkshire Dales Make your way to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It doesn’t matter where, exactly, but just make sure you’re in the area because there’s no excuse for missing these rolling hills. Highlights include Hebden Bridge, a town 30 minutes south of the national park that’s known for its thriving arts scene, and Bolton Abbey estate. You can take your pick of villages to stay at – each one is bound to be beautiful – but Malham is always a good option.
Day 2: Yorkshire Dales to North Pennines Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a UNESCO Global Geopark, the North Pennines is home to open moors, swift rivers, dense woodland and so, so much more. Make the Bowlees Visitor Centre your first stop, to get the lay of the land, then proceed to soak up as much natural beauty as you possibly can – trust us when we say there’s no chance of overdosing. Cross Fell and Ashgill Force are well worth the walk, while Blanchland is an adorable village to spend a few hours in (try the Lord Crewe Arms for an ale).
Day 3: North Pennines to Northumberland Here’s one for the Potterheads, because Alnwick Castle, by the Northumberland Coast, is the OG Hogwarts. It hosted the world’s witches and wizards for the first two Harry Potter films but is more than happy to welcome muggles throughout the year. If you’re more into the natural world, however, you’ll find plenty to love in Northumberland National Park, which claims to be home to England’s cleanest rivers, clearest air and darkest skies – not bad, right? Hadrian’s Wall is a definite highlight, and if you’re looking for somewhere to call home for the night, there are plenty of camping options including Border Forest Holiday Park and River Breamish Caravan and Motorhome Club.
Day 4: Explore Northumberland and the Yorkshire Coast Tick off everything you didn’t manage yesterday, or head off on one of the many other hikes in the national park. We highly recommend cruising south down the coast via the scenic towns of Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay, which are old smuggler ports where you can almost taste the history. Whitby was also the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and if you happen to visit in April or October, you may well stumble upon Whitby Goth Weekend – it’s definitely worth Googling some images.