Scenic route

Long car journeys don’t have to be simply a necessary evil to get you to your destination. With a little research you can make the journey getting there an adventure – something to be anticipated rather than dreaded.

Leave the motorway
Motorways may be the fastest route to your destination (assuming there are no traffic jams or roadworks) but they are not exciting in terms of scenery for passengers. Moreover, the monotony of the drive along such roads makes for a dull ride for the driver.

‘A’ roads are generally more interesting. The secret is to go as far off the main roads as you can. You will be rewarded with experiences and chance encounters in the same way travellers who stay off the beaten path are. An Ordnance Survey map will give you a detailed view of the area you’re driving through.

Decide on an itinerary
The beauty of a road trip of this kind is that you are in control of where you go, how long you stay and what you visit. Unlike organised tours, you are not working to a tour company’s schedule. Even if you decide to stop off somewhere, if you do not like the look of it when you arrive, you simply drive on.

The Visit Britain website has car itineraries for the whole of Great Britain. Before embarking on your journey, study the region you’re travelling through to identify potential places of interest, be they natural areas of beauty or historical sights. You may decide to break up your journey with an overnight stay – this makes a long car journey feel more like a road trip than a chore. Use mileage charts to work out how long it will take you to drive from one place to another. The time of year will determine the sorts of places to visit. Stately homes and museums are ideal stop-offs during the colder months; while nature reserves, safari parks and gardens make more sense in the summer.

Depending on how many of you are travelling and how much of a planner you are, you will want to spend some time drawing up your itinerary in advance, including places to eat and stay if necessary. Search for one- or two-Michelin-starred restaurants, or pubs with a good write up in The Good Pub Guide that may be en route to be sure that you have a good meal. You will find it altogether more appealing than the unexciting fare at most service stations on motorways.

Get everyone involved
Passengers will be much more enthusiastic about the car journey if they are comfortable, which is why it makes sense to include pillows, snacks and books. Perhaps they can peruse guidebooks en route and recommend anything of interest you may have missed in your research. Another essential is enough music to see you through the hours on the road.

Be prepared to change your plan if you discover an interesting sight or town that merits a visit. There is nothing quite like arriving in a small village on a festival or fete day. It is such chance encounters that make road trips so rewarding.

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