Beautiful UK region is home to 'world's best road trip' beating iconic Route 66
The world's best road trips for families have been revealed, and it's great news for Brits who won't have to go too far if they want to check out the top spot for themselves.
That's because the Scottish Highlands have topped new rankings of the world's most scenic drives, beating out iconic routes including the USA's Route 66 and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. Considering the Highlands are already famed for their rugged and wild but breathtaking landscapes, it's not difficult to see why they're top of the list.
There are various routes that you can explore whether you want to follow the well-trodden paths, or try going off into more remote parts of the spectacular region.
For example, the Moray Firth Route can be completed in under two hours, with sweeping vistas across the likes of Beauly Firth, Cromarty Firth coast, and Dornoch Firth. Meanwhile the Highland Tourist Route offers up plenty of gorgeous landscapes in just under three hours, covering 116 miles. Oh, and that includes a chance to take in the Cairngorms, a must-visit in the Highlands.
Another popular drive is the North and West Highland Route which can be completed in under four hours and is renowned for the remote landscapes it covers between Ullapool and John o' Groats.
However, if you only do one drive then you may want to make it the North Coast 500. Hailed as the "ultimate Highlands road trip experience" by Visit Scotland, this 500-mile-long route can be completed in just under 14 hours if you aren't going to stop, but it's not one to power through. Instead, it's worth spreading the drive across various days to enjoy the historic castles, lush green valleys and azure waters that make up the unrivalled landscape. Highlights include Dunnet Head, Handa Island,
If you're thinking of planning a trip, then you may want to check out Visit Scotland's useful guide to the nation's best scenic drives.
With so many gorgeous destinations, it's therefore no surprise that the Scottish Highlands were unveiled as the best destination for a scenic drive, in a recent study by Ocean Florida. The research found that for Brits aged 29-44, road trips evoked some of their favourite memories. Meanwhile for those aged 18-28, road trips were top of the list for a 'dream holiday', with the US often featuring heavily on their bucket lists. (In fact, five out of the top 10 road trip destinations were in the USA.
Capturing photos in front of iconic landmarks, curated playlists and scenic stops were all among the top reasons for wanting to enjoy a road trip amongst intrepid explorers.
You can check out the world's top 10 best road trips for families below:
Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Route 66, USA
Great Ocean Road, Australia
Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), California, USA
Ring Road, Iceland
Miami to the Florida Keys, USA
Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
Florida Fly Drive Adventure, USA
The Romantic Road, Germany
Blue Ridge Parkway, USA
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