Winter road trips UK: 5 best routes for cold weather

Can you go campervanning in Britain’s winter months? Of course! With so many varied landscapes, coastal regions and national parks are beautiful at any time of year, opting for a winter road trip in the UK makes exploring them extra special. With fewer people on the road and low season accommodation prices, winter is the perfect time to take a trip. All you need to do is choose a suitable vehicle from our campervan hire in the UK listings, wrap up warm, and hit the road!

5 best winter road trips in the UK: routes you can’t miss

From winter festivals to snow sports, there’s loads to see and do during the UK’s colder months. Hike over hills and moors, visit Christmas markets, or make it your mission to sample hearty local produce wherever you go… there’s something for everyone. Read on for our top five winter road trips in the UK.

1. The Northern Lights

Total distance: about 375 miles | Recommended days: 3 days | Best time to drive the route: December | Route on Google Maps

Wild, rugged northern Scotland is a spectacular road trip region at any time of year, but more so in winter when the world-famous northern lights or aurora borealis are in full view. A genuine atmospheric phenomenon, these waving and dancing lights are caused by the movement of charged particles against the earth’s solar wind and are a truly stunning sight.

Go as far north as you can in the UK for the best chance of seeing the lights, such as to the Shetlands, Orkney or Caithness. The Caithness peninsula Dunnet Head, one of the stops on the stunning NC500 road trip, is the most northerly point in Scotland and the destination point of our northern lights road trip. Or start in Edinburgh and follow the A9 along Scotland’s eastern coast via Aberdeen and Inverness, with a stop at John o’Groats.

To find the right van for this road trip, explore our listings for campervan hire in Scotland.

2. Christmas markets

Total distance: about 320 miles | Recommended days: 5 days | Best time to drive the route: November | Route on Google Maps

UK Christmas markets might not be as huge (yet) as many of their European counterparts, but there’s still loads of choice up and down the country! This trip takes in five UK Christmas markets on a five-day road trip from London to York. We recommend visiting in late November when the markets open, to avoid the busier crowds closer to Christmas.

The trip kicks off with Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London, a UK winter must-see, before going north to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, the biggest German-influenced Christmas market outside Germany or Austria. The festive markets of Lincoln, Leeds and York complete the trip.

For a shorter trip, head south from London instead, to visit the Christmas markets at Rochester, Winchester and Portsmouth (three days; 165 miles).Route on Google Maps.

To find the perfect van for your adventure, explore our listings for campervan hire in London

1. Narnia on the Yorkshire Moors

Total distance: about 140 miles | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to drive the route: November, December | Route on Google Maps

We’d be hard-pressed to pick our favourite national parks in Britain, but the North York Moors would definitely be near the top of our list. Designated as a national park in 1952, this expanse of moorland, woodland and valleys is a popular visitor destination for its landscapes, outdoor activities and breathtaking historic attractions.

Start a North Yorkshire winter road trip at Castle Howard, a magnificent stately home at the very edge of the North York Moors National Park. There’s a huge amount to see here, including a Christmas in Narnia attraction from mid-November to the beginning of January (double-check dates before setting out).

From there, drive to another fabulous Yorkshire Moors historic attraction at the National Trust property, temples and gardens of Rievaulx Terrace. The ancient landscapes and history of the Yorkshire coast at Whitby and Ravenscar are next; finally, make your way back to Castle Howard and go west to end up at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire’s other national park, the Yorkshire Dales.

To find the perfect van for your holiday, explore our listings for campervan hire in Yorkshire

4. Lake District – Windermere

Total distance: about 90 miles | Recommended days: 3 days | Best time to drive the route: December, January, February | Route on Google Maps

Another of our favourite UK national parks is the Lake District, a draw to artists and writers for centuries for its spectacular landscape and gorgeous waters. It’s easy to see on a short trip, using Windermere/Lake Windermere as a main base for a day or two before venturing further afield then back south.

Bolt this winter road trip onto the Yorkshire moors one above if you have time, driving from Fountains Abbey to Windermere for a journey distance of 90 miles. We also have aLondon to the Lake District road trip guide, detailing a 325-mile journey via Oxford, the Peak District and the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds.

To find the perfect van for your trip, explore our listings for campervan hire in the Lake District or Lancashire.

5. Cornwall and Land’s End

Total distance: about 140 miles | Recommended days: 5 days | Best time to drive the route: December, January, February | Route on Google Maps

With its quiet country roads, alongside its harbourside villages lit up at Christmas time, Cornwall is as pretty in winter as it is in summer. Take a Cornwall road trip around its southwestern tip to arrive at Land’s End, stopping at seaside towns for winter pasties, cream teas or fish and chips. We highly recommend a day trip to the Scilly Isles too: Skybus flights from Land’s End to St Mary’s airport run all year round.

The closest city for this winter Cornish trip is Plymouth, just over the border in Devon. From there, drive inland past Liskeard and back towards the coast at Fowey, Mevagissey and St Austell. Lizard Point and the Lizard Peninsula are next, before a drive west to Land’s End via Praa Sands, Marazion and Penzance.

Leaving from London? Discover the best road trip around southwest England.

Organising your winter road trip in the UK

Planning a winter road trip in the UK couldn’t be easier with Camplify. Plenty of our vans are suited to cold-weather driving, and our friendly owners can answer any van-specific questions you have before your trip.

You’ll find lots more inspiration in our expert road trip guides for UK trips in all seasons. Check out theCamplify blog for the latest ideas and tips on road trips and camping, like the best motorhomes for winter use in the UK and our guide on how to keep warm camping!

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