What's your favourite road in the UK?
Posted by StillAdeptness5958@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 104 comments
I love the A50. Gets you between the M1 and M6 without the unpredictability of M6 Birmingham traffic. Duelled all the way, a few roundabouts, but otherwise quick and usually clear - and no cameras outside Stoke. Has a bonus of a couple of services and Donnington Services at the Eastern end. Nice drive instead of variable speed motorways.
Dan_Quixote_@reddit
A9 Perth to Inverness
Playful_Echidna_3465@reddit
One day, take yourself over the A93 onto the A939.
You won’t regret it.
zwifter11@reddit
Unless you’re stuck behind a truck doing 40 mph the entire length
Emotional-Start7994@reddit
Horrible road if there's roadworks.
QuinlanResistance@reddit
Till you’re stuck behind a lorry
keyholes@reddit
So, so beautiful but my god if there's any crashes or roadworks the queues will be hours long.
BuBBles_the_pyro@reddit
A50 whilst convenient and not usually busy is massacred by the concrete stretch. Stupidly loud and so uneven it gives you nausea, first time i drove it i thought i had broken suspension or a tyre going flat it is that bouncy.
A38 is where its at, can take you from the midlands down to the south west. It is however getting a bit too busy now.
We really need some new long roads in the UK
Wise-Independence487@reddit
I used to have to go on the a50 to burton….i would argue it’s quite frequently busy at Uttoxeter, the Tean junction, Sidway to name just a few places
LayingInBracken@reddit
I used to commute on the A38 between Burton and Derby. It is busy, very frequently blocked with accidents or traffic and impatient speeders. But that's only a small section, of course. Other parts might be lovely and I just used the shitty, dodgy end.
BuBBles_the_pyro@reddit
Nah that willington junction is lethal but its ok because now theres a new maccies on it -.-
bluetooth_pizza@reddit
The M48. Much better than the M4 through Monmouthshire.
No potholes, not uneven, not clogged up with lorries and leased crossovers doing 56. When it's not windy I'd even argue the old Severn Bridge is the nicer of the two to drive over. And the views are brilliant.
Prestigious-Might406@reddit
The one home from work.
SpatulaWholesale@reddit
The high road...
Makes me feel oh so superior to others.
Maleficent_Owl_7001@reddit
Anything thru Gweek.
OldEquation@reddit
I hate the noisy concrete surface on much of the A50.
My favourite is the M6 Toll.
xycm2012@reddit
Has to be the A74.
Aggressive_Menu7271@reddit
The bit of the A30 just before you get to Cornwall, where you can see Cookworthy Knapp, the 'nearly there' trees 🥰
Worth_Nature_7631@reddit
Cant see any mention of the A830 to Mallaig!
Absolutely stunning scenery along the whole stretch. Did it by accident when going to Skye and not seeing that the route had ferry crossing we hadn't booked. Had to drive all the way back to Fort William which was the nicest navigation cock up I've ever made.
spynie55@reddit
A832 from Garve to Kinlochewe. The views are beautiful, and the road is wide and straight. Sometimes there are other cars, but not usually.
spynie55@reddit
spynie55@reddit
Hate4Birmingham@reddit
M6 Toll, means I dont have to go into Birmingham
Voodoopulse@reddit
The A6 from Belper to matlock, there's a section where trees from both sides meet over the road and in the summer it's like you're cycling through middle earth
Duke_Arutha@reddit
I raise you the Via Gellia (Cromford to Newhaven), although I drive part of it the other day for the first time in about 10 years, and it seems to have fallen to the lumberjacks
yorkspirate@reddit
I miss being able to drive this road regularly now I don't live in the area. Whenever I'd get a new car I'd drive this route at night straight away
Anxious-Pineapple144@reddit
Most of these choices (in England at least) are boring as fuck. Come on, dual carriageways?!?
Anxious-Pineapple144@reddit
B6255 or A686
StillAdeptness5958@reddit (OP)
Some great thoughts, thank you! I'm having a look at maps and thinking about some trips. Thanks in particular for the scenery recommendations
xxx654@reddit
It’s the A82 and it’s not even close. Avoid high summer and you’re laughing. All the way from west of Glasgow to Inverness through the west central highlands. It’s remarkable.
OldGodsAndNew@reddit
Turn left at Fort William and take the A830 road to the isles. Way nicer than the bit of the A82 along Loch Lochy, takes you past the Glenfinnan viaduct and views out over Skye & the small isles
AndyOf77@reddit
Other than the section from Tarbet to Crianlarich anyway
OldGodsAndNew@reddit
I love to get stuck behind 3 caravans and a citylink bus going 15mph
FirmDingo8@reddit
It is good but prefer the A87. You lose the Inverness traffic
TheePoloman@reddit
I got to do this in lockdown for work and it was beautiful!! Barely anyone on the road
Prestigious-Garbage5@reddit
The A841 takes you most of the way round the Isle of Arran. The scenery there is breathtaking. The island is often described as Scotland in miniature - highlands to the north and lowlands to the south (around 23 miles).
spriz2@reddit
Blandford Road by a mile. The dips, the view, the overtaking opportunities.
hoganpaul@reddit
A832
TepidHalibut@reddit
Just off the A896, at Tornapress, turn west and head for Applecross. You can thank me later.
realmattyr@reddit
A111, just like the A1 but four times the fun!
Lopsided_Snower@reddit
And other ones!
repair-it@reddit
Anything without a pothole - if there is such a thing
Distinct-Lion4658@reddit
The M69 as it's the first bit of motorway I hit when travelling from the midlands to up north. Also because it's the calm before the storm that is the M1 outside of Leicester
tobotic@reddit
Keere Street, Lewes.
It's a cute cobblestone street up a ridiculously steep incline.
GuzziHero@reddit
A38 because you can get from Stoke to Brum without going down the M-bastard-6.
Although A50 is handy, it's horrible on a motorbike because of that concrete surface.
Emotional-Start7994@reddit
The M5 southbound once you get past Bristol gets nicer. Far less traffic and no smart motorway nonsense. Seems to be one of the less stressful motorways.
That and the M62 eastbound past Ferrybridge. Another normal 3 lane motorway and not too much traffic.
becka-uk@reddit
M6 toll - i was stuck in traffic on the M6 for hours at Christmas, and when i got to the toll road, it just all disappeared and i could drive at normal speed again. Nearly cried with relief!
bahumat42@reddit
Its just so nice not having to deal with all that m6 traffic for a while.
apocalypsebrow@reddit
A44 out to Aberystwyth, driving between the Valleys, stunning views and the red kites are so low over the cars at times
djferris123@reddit
The A2 in Northern Ireland, it basically runs all along the NI coast and you get some amazing views. The "main" touristy bit is the Antrim Coast road portion but you get views of the Mourne Mountains, Belfast Lough, Glens of Antrim, then you go past Bushmills, Giants causeway, Dunluce castle, Carrick a rede rope bridge etc
acceberbex@reddit
Military Road - Isle of Wight. Lovely beaches off it and it means I'm on holiday there.
Some beautiful scenery from highland roads though (saw someone mention Glen Coe - new one for me but stunning)
PresterJonny@reddit
A66 is my favourite one that I use regularly. My favourite motorway is A74M or M50.
Pr6srn@reddit
The A66 may be lovely over the penines and into the lakes, but the bit from Redcar, through Middlesbrough and as far as Darlington is pretty horrible...
PresterJonny@reddit
Yeah, I should clarify Penrith to Scotch Corner
TSC-99@reddit
A66?! Christ.
miklovesrum@reddit
The A5, particularly the northern part, is just absolutely stunning. As is the A470.
Due_Figure6451@reddit
R/AskPartridge
snakeoildriller@reddit
It's got to be the A1 north of Scotch Corner. I feel that after that, the traffic seems to visibly thin out a bit and the car and I can relax a bit and get in with some real motoring. The scenery's good as well.
Koda614@reddit
I'm not sure that Scotch Corner is north enough. Between there and Durham is boring old motorway, then Washington to Newcastle is a congestion hotspot with reduced speeds and al almost guaranteed encounter with an idiot somewhere along that stretch. It's not until you make it well into Northumberland that it starts to get a bit more pleasant, and more or less at the Scottish borders once you pass Berwick that it's really nice.
While I do enjoy the drive, the train is nicer. It's significantly faster to do the same journey and with even better views since you spend a chunk of Northumberland right along the coastline, the bridges and river of Newcastle, and an elevated view of the city centre in Durham.
TheePoloman@reddit
The further up the a1 the better it gets, north of newcastle is nice, north of Berwick is the best!
Vehlin@reddit
Used to love the Cat & Fiddle before they put the average speed cameras in. Same with a few roads in North Wales.
AtebYngNghymraeg@reddit
The M49.
Everything about it is wrong, which is why I like it.
Ninesquared81@reddit
It now has a junction on it, but the junction is still not open as the local council have still not built their bit to connect it to the local road network. I think it's something like 100 m of new road they need to lay, so they really have no excuse.
stonesco@reddit
A1(M)
TSC-99@reddit
I sense you’re taking the piss. Currently on the A1.
banwe11@reddit
The M5 on that bit south of Avonmouth where you are up on split levels passing the Gordano valley
FirmDingo8@reddit
You don't realise on that bit just how close the coast is
yorkspirate@reddit
I like that bit as it breaks up the drive between Birmingham and Plymouth with some lovely scenery
AtebYngNghymraeg@reddit
My mum hates that bit! She doesn't like heights. I think it's great.
bonamoureux@reddit
A470 from Conwy down to Dolgellau.
Stunning in good weather and great fun on a bike.
bonamoureux@reddit
Or the A53 from Buxton to Leek. Same reasons.
Top-Significance8791@reddit
B8007
the_wally_champ@reddit
B0085
Top-Significance8791@reddit
Ooh I can’t find that one, is it nearby?
the_wally_champ@reddit
There’s two reasonably close to each other if you look carefully, in the north above the midlands
TheNotSpecialOne@reddit
A4123, it gets me home. Good enough for me
francisjosephmurphy@reddit
The A95.
Firstly, because I've finally turned off the fucking A9. Secondly, its a good fast road with lots of ups downs and fastish corners but you have to always be ready for a tanker truck coming the other way.
BECAUSE, its the road that takes you into the heart of Speyside. And while the Cairn is now sadly the first distillery you see, the left hand corner that opens up to reveal the splendour of Tormore always marks the entry to Speyside for me and makes me happy.
Besty79@reddit
The A361 purely as it seems to be everywhere
Evening_Procedure216@reddit
The lane to my house 🥰 I love being home
spoo4brains@reddit
Whatever the road is that runs through Glencoe.
xxx654@reddit
That’s the A82.
spoo4brains@reddit
That's the one. I haven't been up there for a long time, but it lives rent in my head :-)
SilyLavage@reddit
The A44 between Worcester and Leominster is a lot of fun. Very swoopy.
Ochib@reddit
A69. Cos you get to Bangor at the end of
s7beckTM@reddit
Personally for me it is the A30 from Exeter to Truro/Penzance. Not only for some incredible views on the way but also the feeling of leaving the Midlands behind heading back to my spiritual home.
bishibashi@reddit
A303 when it’s clear (rare)
christianjwaite@reddit
It’s the law that you have to listen to Kula Shaker on the 303
https://youtu.be/LCJlqBuu32s?si=y4NNgJJJlX-LRXsN
tombola201uk@reddit
The Horseshoe pass in Llangollen
SpectreSingh89@reddit
A46 Leicester to Notts. Yes, road isn't up to scratch in places but the drive? Something calm about the drive and scenery.
OldAnalyst5438@reddit
A592. A66 in the north to Windermere.
Louis_lousta@reddit
Yeah, big fan of this one on the bike
jaydubyah100@reddit
I have two. A303 (West Country and Stonehenge) and the A470 (South Wales to north Wales - apart from the beginning bit, extremely beautiful).
AndyTheSane@reddit
It's interesting to note that the traffic queue past Stonehenge is older than the actual monument, which was built to give ancient britons something to look at in the cart queue.
Comfortable-Fall1419@reddit
M69. Great feeder between M1 and M40.
Also it makes me go Fnarr Fnarr every time I see the signs.
CptDerpDerp@reddit
A487, basically Carmarthen to Bangor for 4 hours up the Welsh coast. Cardigan coast, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Swiss Valley, Mach Loop and a customary low flyby under the looming presence of Cadyr Idris, Dollgellau, Portmeirion, then onto Snowdonia proper.
Stunningly scenic for the most part, passing through tens of tiny little post-card villages with old stone farmhouses, and plenty of twisties for funsies. Used to have to drive it there and back each month. But heaven forbid you get stuck behind something heavy because there’s all of about 7 safe passing places in all 4 hours unless you’re on a bike.
mrfluffypants1504@reddit
M6 when there's no roadworks and its flowing smoothly. Especially the bit between Lancaster and Penrith. But all of it until you hit Birmingham.
TheRebelPercy@reddit
The Military Road (B6318) alongside Hadrian’s Wall.
Carter Bar (A68) for beautiful Northumberland and views into Scotland.
LostInAisle1@reddit
A39 Atlantic Highway in the off-season. A wonderfully scenic road with the kind of sweeping bends that are great on a motorcycle.
SnooDogs6068@reddit
A1. It means I'm coming home queue Local Hero
hoejill@reddit
Moorestead road near Winchester
Weary_Rule_6729@reddit
A50 for me too!! its a great stretch.
only slight complaint is that the concrete surface is quite loud. still my favourite though
when_music_hits@reddit
Used to be the a13, and the m2/m20 whichever has a really long downhill section heading kentbound...then I accidentally missed the detour to avoid paying the toll to swerve Birmingham traffic....that was my new favourite, until I found the autobahn.
Bbew_Mot@reddit
The A9 in Scotland. It's a shame about the flat earth graffiti.
No-Structure-8125@reddit
A130. Lovely bit of 3 lane A-Road, and generally not too busy unless it's rush hour.
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