About this Book
Away from the fast-track motorways and uniform
city centres, these drives along the back roads
take you to some of the less-visited towns and
villages of Britain. Taken at a gentle pace, they
allow the driver time to appreciate what makes
Great Britain unique – the landscapes, villages,
grand country houses, castles and gardens. This
book goes beyond the must-see tourist sights to
lesser-known places that will reveal a more
intimate experience of Britain’s people and
architecture. This island nation encompasses
three countries – England, Wales and Scotland –
each with a distinct history and different
traditions. The landscape ranges from hillside
pastures to mountain peaks, wild coastlines and
open moorland. Glimpses of past cultures can be
seen in the prehistoric standing stones and
Roman ruins. And the castles and villages
document the emergence, over many hundreds
of years, of a single nation. Expect delightful
surprises round every bend, and the reward will
be the timeless culture of Great Britain.Getting Started
The front section of the guide will give
all the practical information needed to
plan and enjoy a driving holiday in
Great Britain. It includes an overview
of when and how to get there, advice
on renting vehicles or bringing one
into the country. The motoring advice
ranges from driving rules to road
conditions, to buying petrol and
breakdown/accident procedures – the
kind of background knowledge that
will help make a driving trip stress free.
Tips on money, opening hours and
other practical matters will save you
time and confusion. There is also
advice on accommodation and dining
options, whether visitors are looking
for a luxury hotel or a farmhouse bed-
and-breakfast, a gourmet meal or pub
food, which will help them to sample
the range of British hospitality.
Top left The Church of St Peter and St Paul,
Northleach Top right Cove at St Abb’s Head,
Berwickshire, Scotland Centre left Fishing boats
at Whitby Centre right Edinburgh – a famous
festival venue Below left Traditional sweetshop,
Rye Below right Field of sunflowers, Cornwall
map of the itinerary to help plan the
trip. There is useful advice on the best
time of year to make the drive, road
conditions, local markets and festivals.
The tours contain descriptions of
each sight, including opening times
and contact details, where applicable,
linked by clear driving instructions.
Side panels offer information on
authentic places to stay and eat.
Tinted boxes provide background
information and anecdotes.
Each drive features at least one
mapped walking tour, designed to
take a maximum of three hours at a
gentle pace with stops along the
way. Some walks cover the highlights
of towns or cities, while others
explore glorious countryside walks
on safe, clearly marked paths.
The tours are flexible and can be
linked to create a longer holiday;
alternatively, they can be used to
The Drives plan day trips within a region.
The main section of the guide is
divided into 25 drives, ranging from
two to five days in duration, leading
from the tip of Cornwall to the north
of Scotland. All tours can be driven in
a standard car or other vehicle. No
special driving skills are required.
The drives cover every region of the
country. Each one begins with an
overview of the highlights and a clear
About This Book
Above Driving through Langstrothdale Chase near Oughtershaw, North YorkshireUsing the sheet map
A pull-out road map of the
entire country is attached at
the back. This map contains
all the information necessary
to drive around the country
and to navigate between
the tours. All motorways,
major roads, airports – both
domestic and international- plus all the ferry ports are
easily identified. This makes
the pull-out map an excellent
addition to the drive itinerary
maps within the book.
The pull-out map has a
comprehensive index to help
find the places, and is further
supplemented by a clear
distance chart so drivers can
gauge the distances between
the major cities.
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