Going on a School Trip? Here’s 6 Of The UK’s Most Scenic Roads
26 September 2016
Sometimes, the best part of a school trip is the journey to and from the destination. I remember some of my greatest times as a kid were on buses with friends, waiting in anticipation, singing songs, admiring the views, misbehaving in the back seats, and resting my head on a soon-to- be-a- friend’s shoulder.
It’s odd that this part of a school trip is usually just an afterthought, given little more than 5 minutes to plan at the very last moment before departure.
However, with a little bit of foresight and a few map-reading skills, you can make it into something so much more. Check out these six drives – many among the best in the UK and even the world – and make your school trip into a journey your students will never forget.
Kendal To Keswick
Running through the beautiful Lake District National Park in the North of England is one of the UK’s most scenic strips of road. The winding 30-mile stretch of the A591 offers unbeatable views of natural landmarks such as Lake Windermere, the Lakeland fells, and Lake Thirlmere. You’ll quickly realise why poets Coleridge and Wordsworth were so inspired by the landscape, and you can even nip by Grasmere to visit two of Wordsworth’s former houses.
Black Mountain Road
The Black Mountain road through the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales is often cited up there with some of the most scenic drives in the world. At around five-miles long, this undulating section of the A4069 is well worth the time, particularly for its often deserted and exciting climbs, dips, and twists.
The Northumberland Coast
If you’re looking to get away from dreary and drab motorway driving, you couldn’t do much better than to take a ride up the winding roads of the Northumberland coast.
This enchanting part of Northern England isn’t short of things to do and see, with ancient castles like Bamburgh, Warkworth, and Alnwick, along with postcard market towns, rugged moorland, and rolling hills.
The Glens of Antrim
From this 25-mile stretch of road, you can marvel at the foot of nine towering glens, starting at the Black Arch near Larne right through to the Red Arch near Cushendall. On this journey down the A2 you’ll also pass through the villages of Waterfoot, Carnlough, Glenarm and Ballygalley – it’s no wonder this drive is frequently referred to as one of the most scenic in the world!
Ribblehead Viaduct
Another impressive feature of the North, the Ribblehead Viaduct is a 400-metre construction dating back nearly a century and a half to 1870. You can gaze up at this incredible feat of engineering from the B6255 which winds through the Yorkshire Dales. Not only will you see a prominent piece of transportation history, but also a star of modern film thanks to its appearance in the Harry Potter series.
The Pass of The Cattle
No round up of scenic drives would be complete without the Bealach Na Ba, or the Pass of The Cattle, in the Scottish Highlands. This narrow branch of road off the A896 from Lochcarron to Shieldaig offers jaw-dropping views of the Applecross peninsula in Wester Ross. The pass through the cloud-touching hills is everything you expect from the Highlands, particularly in the winter months (it’s recommended to check road and weather conditions before taking this route).
Interested in hiring a minibus for your next school trip? Contact us today and work with a company whose speciality is minibuses for schools, universities, colleges and other educational institutions.
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