Great British Drives

Great British Drives: Yorkshire Dales

Great British Drive Yorkshire

Amazing views are guaranteed in the Yorkshire Dales. (Picture courtesy of Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority)

Where? Settle to Richmond

When to drive it? Winter

Essential stop? Buttertubs Pass

Perfect stay: The Punchbowl Inn, Low Row, North Yorks

To see another side of our green and pleasant land, try a Great British Drive in the Yorkshire Dales in the winter months. The mornings can be crisp and the winds chill but you’ll catch sight of some of nature’s most inspired efforts and arguably, some of man’s too.  Continue reading →

James Foxall Leave a comment

Great British Drives: Somerset

Plenty of views to be had whether it's inland or at the coast. This is Porlock. (Picture © ENPA)

Plenty of views to be had whether it’s inland or at the coast. This is Porlock. (Picture © ENPA)

Where? Somerset

When to drive it? Summer/Autumn

Essential stop? Tropiquaria

Perfect Stay: The Langbury, Blue Anchor Bay, Minehead

Being an island makes Britain unique among its European siblings in many ways. One of them is that it’s possible to drive from coast to coast with ease in multiple parts of the country. For a combination of things to do and beauty head to the south west and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. However, few drives in Somerset have the all-round family appeal of one that actually starts in Dorset, at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis.  Continue reading →

James Foxall Leave a comment

Great British Drives: Suffolk

Step back in time at Lavenham Guildhall (Picture © Lavenham Photographic)

Step back in time at Lavenham Guildhall (Picture © Lavenham Photographic)

Where: Suffolk

When to drive it: Autumn

Essential stop: Fishing for crabs at Southwold

Perfect stay: The Crown, Southwold

As our Indian Summer continues and the sun heads off the more typical grey autumnal days, Suffolk is the perfect destination for families who want to unwind and grab some precious, undivided time together.  Continue reading →

James Mills

Great British Drives: Inverness, Scotland

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness (Picture © Shutterstock)

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness (Picture © Shutterstock)

Where: Inverness
When to drive it: Summer or autumn
Essential stop: The Cairngorms and Loch Ness
Perfect stay: The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore

Sat in the northern reaches of Scotland, Inverness may look like it’s a long way from anywhere but it’s actually the gateway to some of the most scenic spots Scotland has to offer.  Continue reading →

James Mills Leave a comment

Great British Drives: The Elan Valley, Wales

The Elan Valley, Wales

(Picture © Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water)

Where Elan valley: Breathtaking beauty, wildlife and the dambusters

When to drive it Summer and winter

Essential stop Elan Valley Visitor centre

Perfect stay Brynafon Country House Hotel

The Elan Valley is a driver’s delight while still offering plenty for all the family in one compact package. Set in the rugged Cambrian Mountains, Elan is one of the most stunning, unspoilt and diverse landscapes in the British Isles. A site of Special Scientific Interest because of its flora and fauna, it also has a ribbon of tarmac that will enable the keen driver to put their car through its paces.

Continue reading →

James Foxall Leave a comment

Great British Drives: The Sussex coast

View out to sea from Beachy Head (Picture © VisitEastbourne.com)

View out to sea from Beachy Head (Picture © VisitEastbourne.com)

Where: Sussex, where the South Downs roll into the sea
When to drive it: Any season
Essential stop: Brighton Pier and Chichester
Perfect stay: Crab & Lobster, Pagham Harbour

If your idea of a great drive requires a good view, then the perfect drive in Sussex has to begin at one of the most majestic coastline vistas of all: Beachy Head.  Continue reading →

James Foxall Leave a comment

Great British Drives: Cumbria

motorway in cumbria lake district countryside green flag

Where: Cumbria – Bluebells, Romans and railways
When to drive it: Spring
Essential stop: Allen Banks
Perfect stay: Crown Hotel, Wetheral, Carlisle

In our Great British Drives series we’ll be showcasing fantastic family days out by car. In this first piece we go to the north Pennines, Cumbria and Northumberland for a 70-mile round trip that takes in some of the most dramatic scenery in the British isles, along with a few attractions to keep the kids amused…  Continue reading →

James Foxall 1 Comment

Keeping kids entertained in the car

Kids in the car
holbox / Shutterstock

It’s easy to forget just how boring long drives can be for kids. I distinctly remember half-term journeys with my parents where the only thing to do was fidget. And in those pre-DVD days, a TV/VHS combo was just too big to strap onto my mum’s headrest.

Not everyone wants to simply plug in a DVD player or hand over their mobile though, so here’s our top 10 (screen-free) ways to keep the kids entertained in the car.  Continue reading →

Mike Shaw 1 Comment