Latest news with #scenicroutes
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Britain's most scenic routes - does your favourite Sunday drive make the list?
Britain is rich in scenic routes with its rugged coastlines, dramatic cliffs and rolling hills. But the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands have been crowned as the nation's most breathtaking driving routes. The journey from Kendal to Keswick in Cumbria, which boasts glorious views of the Lakeland fells and the banks of Windermere, is the most beautiful drive in the country, according to research. A study by car manufacturer Isuzu UK found that 30 per cent of drivers ranked the 30-mile drive along the A591 in the Lake District as the most scenic in the country. It was closely followed by the peaceful roads from Loch Lomond to Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Some 29 per cent of the 2,000 drivers polled said the journey, which takes in the stunning Argyll Forest Park, Loch Tulla, and Loch Ba, was the most breathtaking in Britain. The historic Coastal Way in Wales came in third place with 23 per cent of votes. While the winding road through Cheddar Gorge in Somerset and the journey around the New Forest in Hampshire completed the top five with 21 per cent and 20 per cent of the votes respectively. The quieter Western Loop in the Lake District through Eskdale, Wast Water, and Buttermere, featuring serene lakes and stunning fell views, was ranked sixth with 18 per cent. It was followed by the Snake Pass in the Pennines in Derbyshire and Yorkshire Dales Circular in North Yorkshire which both received 18 per cent of the votes. And the Cotswolds Romantic Road across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia, Wales, were ranked ninth and tenth with a 15 per cent share each. The research also found that 92 per cent of Brits think the UK has some of the best road trips in the world with two thirds insisting a staycation can be more enjoyable than a holiday abroad. George Wallis, head of marketing at Isuzu UK, said: 'It's fantastic to see just how much Brits appreciate the incredible scenery we have right here at home, with routes like Kendal to Keswick and Loch Lomond to Glencoe topping the list.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
Five Great Summer Road Trips In America
Summer is my jam, and yours too - windows down, snacks in hand, tunes blasting. What's not to love? Here are five personally tested scenic routes across America that'll either blow the blues from your soul or help you appreciate the season anew. All are gorgeous. Don't forget to hydrate. 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, California This is wonderful road adjacent to white beaches, tall forests, stunning coastal cliffs, and it's only 17 miles. It's so exclusive that motorcycles are prohibited and there's a $10.25 cash fee per vehicle, although that can be reimbursed if you spend $36 or more at Pebble Beach Resort restaurants. (It's waived completely if you're staying at Casa Palmero, The Inn At Spanish Bay or The Lodge At Pebble Beach.) You'll behold the majesty of the Restless Sea at Point Joe, dwell amongst the gigantic trees at Cocker Grove, stroll the boardwalk above the beach at Spanish Bay, and so much more. A red line's painted on the road; follow it and you won't veer off the course. Historic Route 66 At 2,450 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 is the longest trip on this list, but a must for anyone interested in old-school America. Along the way, you'll come across must-see roadside attractions like the world's second-largest rocking chair in Fanning, Missouri, the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, the Wigwam Hotel in San Bernardino, California, and so much more. Also, familiarize yourself with these lyrics: 'If you ever plan to motor west/Take my way/That's the highway that's the best.' Then get thee to Nat 'King' Cole, The Rolling Stones or any number of artists who've recorded 'Route 66' and you'll get the urge. Independence Pass, Colorado Colorado's full of sights most everywhere you drive or motorcycle that'll make you pull over and simply gape at nature's natural wonders. But Independence Pass is Colorado on steroids. It's 32 miles long and the highest paved pass in North America; at the Continental Divide between Aspen and Leadville, you're 12,095 feet above sea level. You can drive Independence Pass in about 45 minutes if need be, but you'll want to take your time and pull over for photos of the Roaring Fork River, groves of trees and majestic, jaw-dropping gorges. There aren't any guardrails and your path is narrow and twisty at times, so follow the speed limit. At the Aspen end, consider lodging at the Limelight, with its huge lobby complete with fireplace for guests and their friends to loiter at their leisure, the magnificent mountains in sight. Their complimentary breakfast is sumptuous and plentiful, and there's an Audi Q7 available for guests' use upon check-in. Palisades Parkway, NJ/NY Beginning at its southern point at the George Washington Bridge, the Palisades parkway is a 38.25 mile 2-lane limited access highway (meaning you won't see commercial trucks) eventually connecting New Jersey to upstate New York. Not only are its north and south roads home to acres of trees with gorgeous colorful leaves in the fall, there are three scenic lookout points along the way, and soon you'll find yourself cruising alongside historic Hudson River. Make your way up to the college town of New Paltz and eat, shop, stroll and experience some of the most vivid, colorful foliage the East coast has to offer. Spend a night at Mohonk Mountain House, whose acres of forest will provide a feast for the eyes and the nose; enjoy their world-class buffet, leisurely pace and many activities for guests if you so choose. The Strait of Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway The Strait of Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway in Washington winds through an ancient, mystical, alive landscape formed millennia ago underneath the ocean, subsequently carved by glaciers and then sprinkled with forests by Mama nature. Starting in the 1800s as a series of trails winging through forests and connecting the logging and fishing communities, the modern world brought roads with it for horses and wagons, the automobile, school buses, and you. Along your way along this 100-plus mile route, you'll find a plethora of parklands, wilderness preserves and national forests as well as hot springs, pristine mountain streams, many waterfalls, temperate rain forests, a large assortment of wildlife, snow capped mountain peaks and beautiful coastal beaches. Though it's possible to travel the byway in as little as four hours, many people end up staying overnight so as to properly absorb and appreciate its many wonders and Shore Drive, Minnesota The North Shore Scenic Drive stretches along the shore from Canal Park in Duluth, Minnesota, through lovely burgs and placid woodlands and onto to the international border at Grand Portage. A few of the highlights you can expect on your north shore scenic drive include unique, agate-studded black and pink cobblestone beaches, three lighthouses, two harbors and many Lake Superior bays, top fishing spots along the scenic north shore drive, historical landmarks and for-real ghost town. There's also a gondola, the Grand Portage National Monument and shops and eateries you won't find anywhere else.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
6 of the best train trips in British Columbia
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is well known for its spectacular landscapes, offering endless views of serrated peaks, opaline glacier lakes and feather-tipped pines. And what better way to take it all in than on a train, with those big-picture vistas slowly rolling by beyond the windowpanes — here are some of the best rail routes to try. Vancouver to Banff; 2 daysThis double-decker train is surely one of the world's most scenic rail journeys, offering bubble-domed vistas of mountains, lakes, forests, gorges, rivers and glaciers and the chance to spot wildlife along the way. The classic First Passage to the West route follows part of the line from the historic Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada's first transcontinental train journey, which travelled from Montreal to Vancouver. It starts in Vancouver before passing the Fraser River for an overnight in Kamloops then continuing into the Rockies via the sheer-sided valley of Kicking Horse Pass, the glacial-blue expanse of Lake Louise and the pretty mountain town of Banff. On board, waistcoated hosts serve cocktails to your seat, with three-course meals on offer in the dining car, including a section of sommelier-picked Canadian wines. From £1,389 per person. Prince Rupert to Jasper; 2 daysInaugurated in 1914, the Skeena offers an epic, 1,160-mile journey that carries you all the way from the Pacific coast into the Rocky Mountains. Also known as the 'Rupert Rocket', it runs three times a week between Prince Rupert and Jasper, with an overnight stop in Prince George en route. Along the way, it travels through some spectacularly wild scenery — from pristine forest to steep canyons and glacial lakes — and is one of the few railways in North America that offers a 'flag' service, allowing passengers to flag it down between scheduled stations. As such, it's a favourite for hikers, adventurers and others keen on exploring BC's backcountry — and it runs year-round, no matter the weather. From C$163 (£91) per person. (Related: Try the Skeena, a budget alternative to Canada's famous Rocky Mountaineer.) Faulder to Trout Creek; 90 minutesThis historic route was originally built between 1910 and 1916 to link the mainline between Montreal and Vancouver with southern BC — an area rich in resources, from fruit, grain and lumber to precious metals and minerals. It continued to carry freight until its closure in 1989, but it's now been resurrected as a heritage steam railway. The vintage steam locomotive dates from 1912, with open-sided carriages offering uninhibited views of the scenery. The route follows 16 miles of restored track through the vineyards and farms of the Okanagan Valley, an area renowned for producing some of Canada's best wines. From C$33 (£18) per person; Vancouver to Jasper; 3 daysYou won't need to choose between the mountains and the coast on this alternative Rocky Mountaineer route, which runs up the Pacific seaboard from Vancouver via the ski slopes of Whistler and the old logging town of Quesnel, before heading inland across the gold fields of the Cariboo Plateau. It finishes up in Jasper, across the border in Alberta, and there are two overnight stops en route, allowing plenty of time to stretch your legs and explore. From CA$4,929 (£2,776) per person. Vancouver to Seattle; 4½ hoursThe Amtrak line offers the chance to shuttle between the big cities on either side of the US-Canada border, including Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. The trains that ply this route are simple but spacious, with large, comfy seats, a bistro car and a viewing lounge dedicated to taking in the scenery. And what a view it is: expect to see endless feather-tipped pines, glacier-blue bays and alpine meadows mixed in with classic mountain towns. From US$44 (£34) per person. Port Alberni; 25 minutesVancouver Island's booming lumber industry once required the services of many a chugging steam train, but all have vanished now save for this one in Port Alberni, the small city that stands at the head of Alberni Inlet, the waterway that runs inland for 34 miles from the island's south coast. Once a centre for logging and paper making, Port Alberni isn't the prettiest city in BC, but the waterfront remains an important hub for the town. It's also where you'll find this steam railway and its vintage carriages, pulled by a #7 Baldwin locomotive dating from 1929. An atmospheric relic of the island's industrial past, it's now run by enthusiasts entirely for love, not profit, and offers views of the Alberni waterfront and the hills beyond. C$8 per person. Published in the May 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
