Start and finish in the same place. Browse circular drives with distances, estimated times and highlights to help plan a day out.
Cross Llangynidr Mountain on the B4560 before returning through the eastern Usk Valley. This compact circuit pairs the exposed high road with lower valley approaches, avoiding repeated runs up and down the same pass.
Make a Purbeck circuit from Wareham through Corfe Castle to Swanage, returning on the Kingston side of the ridge. This pairs a seaside destination with a much smaller-road inland return.
Use Hexham as the base for a circuit beside Hadrian’s Wall. Join the B6318 Military Road at Chollerford, follow the open country towards the Greenhead area, then return through Haltwhistle and the Tyne corridor. The loop turns onto the return roads at their junctions, without an out-and-back drive into Greenhead village. Forts and wall walks are separate optional visits.
Make a substantial Wester Ross circuit from Kinlochewe through Torridon and Shieldaig, returning by Lochcarron and Achnasheen. Mountain walls, sea-loch approaches and open interior roads provide distinct sections around the loop.
Drive the western fell roads from the Duddon Valley into Eskdale, then cross Hardknott and Wrynose before returning through Coniston country. This is a rugged mountain circuit with quieter southern approaches.
Follow a road-led version of the northern Cotswolds Romantic Road, climbing Cleeve Hill before looping through the northern Cotswolds. The circuit uses through-roads between the familiar places; village centres and attractions are optional independent visits.
Spend a full day linking the Dales’ best-known high roads and valley approaches. Dentdale and Kingsdale lead into Ribblehead before the route crosses Buttertubs and returns through Swaledale and Wensleydale.
Circle the Wiltshire downs from Marlborough through Avebury and Devizes, returning by Pewsey. The drive links open chalk landscapes with a major prehistoric stopping place and market towns.
Make a longer Perthshire circuit along Loch Tay to Kenmore and Aberfeldy, returning through Amulree and the Sma’ Glen side of the hills. Lochside sections alternate with upland roads and gentler valley country.
Made famous by EVO magazine, this circular North Wales drive links the A543, B4501 and A5. Expect sweeping bends, open moorland and stretches of forest as you explore the countryside around Llyn Brenig. It’s a compact scenic loop, with opportunities to pause for lakeside views and a walk along the way.
Make a compact eastern-Shropshire circuit from Atcham, following the B4380 towards Leighton and Ironbridge before returning by Broseley, Much Wenlock and Harley Bank. The river-country approach and hillier A458 return give the drive two distinct halves.
Circle the Brown Clee country between Ditton Priors, the B4364 and the lanes through Stoke St Milborough and Abdon. This is a slow, intimate alternative to the main Clee Hills circuit, with wooded sections and changing views around the hill’s lower slopes.
Make a short circuit from Castleton through the limestone cleft of Winnats Pass, then cross into the Edale valley and return through Hope. Stay on the valley through road rather than adding a diversion into Edale village. Walks and cave visits are optional additions with separate parking.
Starting at Craig-y-Nos Country Park, this circular drive heads towards Sennybridg. The scenery gives a rally-stage feel before you join the A4069 for the dramatic Black Mountain crossing, looping back through Ystradgynlais to complete the drive.
Make a circuit through the Sperrins from Draperstown towards Plumbridge and Gortin. Rural valley roads and hill crossings provide the interest, with village breaks kept separate from the through-road line.
Combine the cross-peninsula Quiraing road with the eastern Trotternish coast and the A87 approach from Portree. The pass is the driving centrepiece; walking trails and ridge viewpoints remain separate choices.
Make a broad circuit from Alnwick through the coastal villages to Seahouses and Bamburgh. Rural links alternate with busy seaside approaches; the route is a touring loop rather than continuous sea views.
Circle the southern New Forest from Lyndhurst through Brockenhurst and Beaulieu, returning via Lymington and Sway. This is a slow landscape drive with time for a village or harbour break.
Follow the B3306 west from the outskirts of St Ives through Zennor and the far-west Cornish countryside towards St Just, then join the A30 east of Sennen and return through Penzance. The coastal road is the centrepiece, with fields, stone walls and Atlantic-facing scenery. The loop uses through-road junctions rather than adding out-and-back drives into St Ives or Sennen.
Link the Mawddach and Meirionnydd coast roads with the Ffestiniog uplands and the A4212 towards Bala. This southern Eryri circuit combines coast, reservoirs and mountain-country roads without duplicating the Llanberis pass loop.
Make a circuit from Keswick through Borrowdale and over Honister to Buttermere, returning by the Lorton side of the fells. The steep pass forms the central contrast between the two valley approaches.
Climb through the wooded bends of Duke’s Pass from Aberfoyle, continue through the Trossachs towards Callander, then return by the Lake of Menteith area. This circuit contrasts forested hills with gentler lowland roads.
Cross the Preseli Hills on the B4329 and return through the Gwaun-side countryside. The high road and the more enclosed valley lanes create a strong contrast within a compact Pembrokeshire circuit.
Make an ambitious circuit linking the Kent coast, Romney Marsh, the Sussex cliffs and the Weald. This is a Remapped grand tour connecting documented scenic corridors, rather than a named official route.
Cross from the Elan Valley to Cwmystwyth on the mountain road, then continue along the B4574 towards Devil’s Bridge. Return by the A44 for a coherent upland circuit without reservoir visitor-centre or dam-access spurs.
Link Tunbridge Wells with the orchard and woodland country around Goudhurst and Cranbrook. The circuit takes inspiration from the documented Weald driving tour while keeping attraction visits separate from the through-road line.
Tour from Salisbury towards Shaftesbury before crossing the Cranborne Chase country and returning through Cranborne. The circuit combines larger valley links with open downland B roads.
Link the Tan Hill road with Swaledale, Buttertubs and the B6259 through Mallerstang. The circuit shifts between exposed uplands and enclosed valley scenery, making a substantial Dales drive without town-centre sightseeing spurs.
Tour from Dedham Vale along the Stour-side towns towards historic Harwich, returning through the inland countryside and Colchester approaches. The circuit combines estuary stops with rural B-road links.
Make a full driving day around the Peak District’s headline roads: Snake Pass, Winnats Pass and the Cat and Fiddle. This is a substantial circuit with connecting roads between the celebrated moorland crossings.
Start near Welshampton and make a circuit through Wem and Whitchurch across the north Shropshire countryside. This loop combines market-town approaches and farmland without adding an out-and-back road section into Ellesmere. A visit to Ellesmere’s Mere is an optional separate detour, rather than part of the driving loop.
Make the B1257 through Bilsdale the centrepiece of a North York Moors circuit, returning by Osmotherley and Hawnby. The familiar Helmsley–Stokesley road is paired with smaller moorland roads for a more rounded drive.
Follow a draft interpretation of the Grand Tour’s shorter alternative to the NC500, linking Inverness with the north-west and Wester Ross. The familiar 287 name identifies the itinerary; calculated mileage depends on the exact road anchors.
Make a demanding full-day circuit linking six celebrated Lake District passes. The route combines Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose with western valley roads; it is designed as a major driving day rather than a short sightseeing loop.
Leave Lewes for the folds of the South Downs and the Alfriston area, then return along the Cuckmere and Seaford side of the hills. This is a varied country circuit with a coastal landscape section.
Link the A708 and A701 with the narrow hill road between Megget and Talla reservoirs. This compact mountain circuit combines loch-country driving with the Devil’s Beef Tub approach, without adding reservoir access spurs.
A longer outing from the Stourbridge side, combining Enville and Six Ashes with the B4378, Corvedale, the Ludlow approach and the A4117 across the Clee Hills. Return through the Bewdley and Kinver country rather than doubling back; this is the substantial alternative to the shorter local circuits.
Explore the wooded country south of Sevenoaks through the Four Elms and Chiddingstone area, returning by Penshurst and Hildenborough. The appeal is in the lanes and historic villages rather than long-distance progress.
Link Bwlch y Groes with the Lake Vyrnwy roads and the B4391 Berwyn crossing for a demanding upland circuit. The route follows mountain through-roads rather than attraction entrances or a reservoir car-park tour.
A short hill-country loop beside the western Black Country, climbing through Clent towards Romsley and returning through Belbroughton. The pleasure is in the wooded lanes and changing gradients rather than a drive to a hilltop car park.
Follow the established South West Coastal 300 driving track through the Galloway coast, Solway country, southern uplands and Ayrshire. This complete multi-day draft follows the tourism authority’s published roads with optional stop spurs removed, with town and landscape visits planned around the journey.
Cross the North York Moors from Hutton-le-Hole towards Castleton, then return through the Rosedale side of the hills. Open ridge roads contrast with the more enclosed valley approaches on this moorland circuit.
Explore the Breckland side of East Anglia from Thetford, heading through the forest country towards Swaffham and Castle Acre. Return across the Watton countryside for a broad inland circuit.
Link the A507’s changing bends with the B1037 through eastern Hertfordshire. This compact loop stays on through-roads, returning by the countryside around Weston rather than doubling back over the main attraction.
Build a complete outing around the Trough of Bowland, using the Ribble Valley and northern Bowland lanes to close the circuit. The open fell crossing is the centrepiece, with woodland and river-country approaches either side.
Make a southwest Scotland circuit from Castle Douglas through the Loch Ken area and across the forest road towards Newton Stewart. Return by the southern corridor for a broad loop with woodland, hills and lower farmland.
Link Whitby and Scarborough on the coastal side of the moors, then return through Pickering and the A169 uplands. This longer circuit combines seaside approaches with a broad inland moorland crossing.
Make a short coastal circuit west of Eastbourne across the open downland roads towards Beachy Head and Birling Gap. The route returns through East Dean, with time for the coastal scenery rather than distance.
Spend a full driving day linking the Black Mountain, central Bannau Brycheiniog roads and the Epynt crossing. The A4069 and B4560 are the headline sections, with valleys and open uplands joining them into a substantial circuit.
Link Porlock and Lynmouth before turning inland through Simonsbath and Exford for an Exmoor circuit. The route combines wooded coastal slopes with higher, more open country across the interior.
Link three established Shropshire driving roads into a focused Clee Hills circuit: B4363 south from Bridgnorth, A4117 across the Clee Hill country, then B4364 north from the Ludlow approach. This shorter loop concentrates on those roads rather than extending around Church Stretton and Wenlock Edge.
Make a longer circuit south of Guildford, combining the Cranleigh roads and B2133 through Loxwood with the A283 return through Chiddingfold. A road-led Surrey–Sussex outing with enough contrast for a relaxed half-day including your own stops.
Make a substantial circuit around Anglesey’s coastal road network, using the north-coast A5025 and the western A4080. The road-led loop leaves lighthouse, beach and harbour access to your own optional visits.
Combine the B485 side of the Chilterns with the lanes through Chartridge, Wendover and Great Hampden. The loop concentrates on the northern hills, providing a different outing from the longer drives towards Henley.
Climb through Kingsdale and descend towards Dentdale before returning by Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale. This is a concentrated western Dales circuit, with the smaller high road contrasting with the easier valley links.
Give the Applecross peninsula its own full circuit: climb Bealach na Ba, continue around the northern coast, and return on the A896. The coast continuation is essential; this route does not turn around and drive back over the pass.
Head south from Canterbury on the Stone Street side of the downs, then turn back through the Elham Valley. This creates a compact contrast between straighter ridge-road stretches and the valley villages.
Tour the broad chalk-country roads of the Yorkshire Wolds, linking the Malton, Sledmere and Pocklington sides. Long sightlines and rolling landscapes give the drive a different character from the steeper Dales and moorland routes.
Pair Newlands Hause with Whinlatter for a compact western Lakes circuit. The drive links a narrow open fell crossing with the wooded B5292, keeping Buttermere’s shore setting on the through-route.
Explore the country roads just beyond north London, threading Northaw and Cuffley before reaching the B158 around Essendon. This is a local escape with wooded sections and rolling farmland, linked into a circuit without entering London’s centre.
A northern Chilterns circuit through the Ashridge area, linking wooded roads around Aldbury and Ringshall with the chalk country towards Whipsnade. Return through Great Gaddesden and the Bulbourne valley rather than retracing the woodland approach.
Make a circuit from Norwich through Wroxham and the northern Broads villages before returning by the Acle side of the marshes. Waterways lie beside or beyond the roads rather than forming an uninterrupted waterside drive.
Cross the Tal-y-llyn side of the hills from Dolgellau towards Corris, then turn for Tywyn and return along the coastal corridor towards Fairbourne. Mountain slopes and lower coastal country make a varied longer circuit.
Set aside a longer outing for a broad circuit of southern Shropshire. From Ludlow, cross towards Cleobury Mortimer, continue through Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock, then return by Church Stretton and Craven Arms. The route combines the Clee Hills corridor, market-town approaches and the B4371 beside Wenlock Edge. Choose a small number of stops rather than trying to visit every town in one sitting.
Climb from Dorking onto the wooded Ranmore ridge and make a compact circuit through the Effingham side of the North Downs. The return drops towards the A25 valley corridor.
A local hills circuit from the western edge of Shrewsbury, using the lanes through Snailbeach and the Stiperstones country before crossing towards Ratlinghope. Return through Pulverbatch and Longden rather than retracing the ridge approach.
Use Caistor High Street and the Wolds’ rolling road network for a broad Lincolnshire circuit. The B1225 supplies the distinctive ridge-road section, with Louth and Horncastle acting as area references rather than compulsory town stops.
Starting at the Cock Inn car park in Hanwood, this circular drive explores the Shropshire countryside towards Bishop’s Castle and Craven Arms before returning through Much Wenlock. Expect winding country roads, rolling hills and pretty villages, with opportunities to pause for historic sights, a coffee or a countryside walk along the way.
Follow the core North East 250 touring circuit through Deeside, the Cairngorms, Speyside and the Moray and North Sea coasts. This version excludes the out-and-back Glenshee gateway and town-centre stop spurs. Choose nearby towns and attractions independently from the driving line.
Circle the downland west of Wantage through Ashbury and Lambourn, returning by Newbury and the B4494. This gives a longer combination of established local driving roads and small-town approaches.
Tour Mull’s north-western roads through Dervaig and Calgary, returning around the western shore to Salen. Long single-track stretches and sea-loch scenery make the mileage feel more substantial than the map suggests.
Make a broad circuit around the western and southern approaches to Yr Wyddfa, linking Beddgelert, Rhyd Ddu and Llanberis. The return crosses the pass before dropping through the mountain valleys towards Beddgelert.
Drive the core Kintyre 66 circuit down the eastern coast and back along the western side. The B842 supplies the slower coastal section before the A83 opens out on the return; promoted sightseeing spurs are kept off the driving line.
Join two contrasting southern landscapes in one extended circuit from Oxford: the Cotswolds to the west and the Chilterns to the east. This original grand tour connects established country-road corridors with several possible town breaks.
Climb the Devil’s Staircase on the Abergwesyn–Tregaron road, then return through the southern Cambrian countryside. This circuit gives the narrow mountain road room to stand out, rather than treating it as a quick shortcut.
Head from the eastern outskirts of Macclesfield onto the exposed Cat and Fiddle road, then turn onto the A53 towards Leek at the road junction west of Buxton. Return to Macclesfield for a varied Peak District circuit. The loop stays on the through roads rather than adding a town-centre detour into Buxton.
Explore the Llŷn countryside from Pwllheli towards Aberdaron, returning along the northern side through the Nefyn area. This peninsula circuit mixes open farming country with village approaches and intermittent coastal views.
Cross the Lowther Hills using the A702 Dalveen Pass and return through Leadhills, Wanlockhead and Mennock. This road-led loop pairs a broad main-road pass with a more intimate upland crossing.
Build a full north Essex circuit around the B1057 to Finchingfield, continuing through Wethersfield towards Halstead before returning via the old road through Felsted. This loop is distinct from the existing Cambridge-to-Finchingfield through-drive.
Tour the established North Coast 500 corridor around the northern Highlands, starting and finishing at Inverness. This complete draft is a multi-day journey linking the west coast, far north and east-coast return. Continue north around the Applecross peninsula after Bealach na Bà; do not return over the pass.
Leave Much Wenlock on the B4378, cross into Corvedale, then return through the lanes of Ape Dale and the B4371. This compact loop adds the valley roads south of the existing Wenlock Edge through-drive, without a return over the same stretch.
Cross the high B6277 through Teesdale, then return through Weardale and Nenthead. This circuit concentrates on the eastern North Pennines, pairing open high roads with the valley settlements rather than repeating the Hartside approach.
Tour the Ards Peninsula from Newtownards, following the eastern coastal settlements towards Portaferry before returning beside the Strangford Lough side through Greyabbey. The circuit stays on the peninsula and does not require a ferry crossing.
Cross the wooded North Downs around Ranmore Common, then follow the Surrey Hills lanes through Abinger and Coldharbour. The circuit links two distinct stretches of hill country, keeping woodland walks and the Leith Hill tower separate from navigation.
Leave Wells for a compact Mendip circuit, with the limestone walls of Cheddar Gorge as its centrepiece. Climb the B3135 through the gorge, then return across the higher countryside around Priddy. Keep time aside for a walk in the gorge or a village stop; the driving line is a road tour, not a cliff-top itinerary.
Make an East Anglian country circuit from Newmarket through Clare and the Suffolk wool towns. Rural B-road sections alternate with historic settlement approaches and working agricultural country.
Driving times exclude stops. Leave time for the views, check each route’s notes and make the journey your own.
Find another collection →