The fast route

The A1 runs York to Edinburgh in about three and a half hours. Efficient, dual carriageway, and largely without interest.

The scenic alternative

The A68 through the Cheviots is slower by forty minutes and considerably better looking. Carter Bar at the border has a viewpoint worth stopping at.

Driving Routes Through Northern England

The A66

East to west across the Pennines, linking the A1 to the Lake District. Exposed and occasionally closed in winter snow.

The rhythm of stops

We stop roughly every ninety minutes. Some are viewpoints, some are simply because someone wants a coffee or a toilet. On some Highland stretches there is nothing for forty miles, so these stops are planned rather than improvised.

What we will not do

We do not push you into shops or restaurants that pay commission — we take none. We do not add unrequested items and charge for them, or recommend hotels we have not used. If your plan does not fit the days, or self-drive suits you better, we say so even when it costs us the booking.

Plan This Journey

Tell us your dates and party size — we will confirm honestly what fits.

10-Day Grand Loop → Glencoe Day → Loch Ness Day →