Best Road Trips in Britain and Ireland for Summer

The best road trips in Britain and Ireland for summer are the long coastal loops and mountain circuits that only fully come alive from May to September: Scotland's North Coast 500, Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, and the Isle of Skye lead a shortlist of ten that make the most of long northern daylight and dry roads. Summer is when the passes are clear, the ferries run, and the light lingers past ten at night, so it is the season to plan a British or Irish drive around.

This is a ranked list of ten drives across Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland, built from real catalog data: distances, durations, and the months each road is at its best. Every entry links to its full route guide, and if you want to browse the wider collection of ocean roads, start with our Scenic Coastal Drives hub.

The 10 best Britain and Ireland summer drives at a glance

Here is the ranked shortlist. Distances and seasons come straight from each route's page, so you can plan around real conditions rather than optimism.

If you only do one

Drive the North Coast 500. Scotland's answer to Route 66 loops 500 miles out of Inverness through the least-visited landscapes in Europe, the Precambrian sandstone of the Torridon mountains, the white-sand beaches of Durness above Cape Wrath, and the Bealach na Bà, the steepest road in Britain, climbing to a seafood bar at Applecross. It takes five to seven summer days, works as a self-contained holiday rather than a detour, and no other drive in these islands packs this much drama into a single loop. Book accommodation early, because the NC500's fame has outrun its small Highland villages.

1. North Coast 500, Scotland

Scotland's answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 loops 830 km through the most spectacular and least-visited corners of Europe. From Inverness it runs out past Dornoch and Duncansby Head to the flow country's peatland wilderness, then west to Durness, Ullapool, and the hairpins of the Bealach na Bà above Applecross. Give it five to seven days in the May to September window, when the single-track roads are dry and the long daylight lets you drive late without rushing.

2. Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

The world's longest defined coastal route, the Wild Atlantic Way hugs the entire western seaboard of Ireland for 2,000 km of sea stacks, clifftop monasteries, and Gaelic-speaking fishing villages. Slieve League, Achill Island, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Dingle Peninsula string together into an eight to eleven day epic that stays easy underfoot the whole way. Summer is the sweet spot: May to September brings the driest weather and the liveliest pub sessions in the harbour towns.

3. Isle of Skye Circuit, Scotland

Over the Skye Bridge and around Scotland's most dramatic island, the Isle of Skye Circuit threads the jagged Black Cuillin ridge, the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools, and Eilean Donan Castle in 230 km. It looks like the backdrop to every fantasy novel ever written, and three to five days lets you fold in Portree's harbour, Kilt Rock, and the boat trip from Elgol beneath the Cuillin. Come between May and September for the clearest ridgelines and the calmest ferry crossings.

4. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

From Belfast through the Glens of Antrim to the Giant's Causeway, the Causeway Coastal Route traces 320 km of ancient volcanic basalt in what many call the most scenic coastal road in the UK. Along the way sit the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the clifftop Old Bushmills Distillery, the ruins of Dunluce Castle, and a run of Game of Thrones filming locations. Two to four days in the May to September season covers it comfortably, with the Antrim light at its softest in the long summer evenings.

5. Ring of Kerry, Ireland

Ireland's classic loop on the Iveragh Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry packs Atlantic cliffs, sheep-flecked hills, and bright harbours into a single easy day drive of 179 km. Expect constant scenery on narrow rural roads, with Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Sneem, and the Skellig Ring all begging for a stop, and Killarney as the natural gateway. It runs best from late spring to early autumn, and driving it clockwise from Killarney keeps you clear of the tour coaches.

6. Snowdonia Circuit, Wales

The Snowdonia Circuit threads 190 km through the heart of Eryri, combining slate-era heritage, mountain passes, and classic Welsh coast views. Start in Betws-y-Coed, climb past Llyn Ogwen and the Llanberis Pass below Yr Wyddfa, then swing through Beddgelert to Harlech Castle, Portmeirion, and the harbour at Porthmadog. Two to three days from late spring to early autumn gives the mountains their best chance of staying out of the cloud.

7. Lake District Passes, England

A classic loop through England's Lake District, the Lake District Passes drive links narrow mountain passes, mirror-still lakes, and stone-built villages across 160 km. From Keswick to Ambleside it climbs Honister, Kirkstone, and the notoriously steep Hardknott Pass, packing dramatic ascents and sharp bends into a one to two day route. Aim for the May to October window, and tackle the passes early in the day before the valley traffic builds.

8. Yorkshire Moors and Dales, England

England's great northern landscape circuit, the Yorkshire Moors and Dales route covers 725 km of purple heather, dry-stone-walled valleys, and market towns. It runs from York past the Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, where Bram Stoker set Dracula, to Hawes in Wensleydale cheese country and the remote fell farms of Swaledale, the setting of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. Three to five days from April to October catches the moors at their greenest before the August heather turns.

9. The Great Glen, Scotland

The Great Glen follows the A82 along a geological fault line that splits Scotland in two, from Fort William to Inverness in 200 km. The crack is now filled by Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and the most famous stretch of water in the world, Loch Ness, watched over by the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Give it two to three days between April and October to add the boat-lift staircase of Neptune's Staircase and a walk up toward Ben Nevis at the southern end.

10. The Atlantic Highway, England

England's wildest coast, the Atlantic Highway follows the A39 from Barnstaple through the cliffs of Cornwall, then picks up the A30 toward Land's End across 240 km. King Arthur's Tintagel stands above the churning Celtic Sea, with the fishing village of Boscastle, Newquay's surf beaches, and St Ives' Tate gallery along the way to the granite edge where England runs out. Two to three days from May to September makes the most of the long Cornish evenings and the warmest sea in Britain.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for a road trip in Britain and Ireland?

Late May to September is the sweet spot. The weather is at its driest and warmest, daylight stretches well past ten at night in the far north, and the high routes like the North Coast 500 and Isle of Skye are reliably clear. July and August bring the biggest crowds and the highest accommodation prices, so late May, June, and September are the value picks.

What is the best road trip in Britain for first-timers?

The Ring of Kerry and the Isle of Skye Circuit are the friendliest starting points: both are rated easy, both deliver constant scenery, and neither demands a long commitment. If you want the full flavour of a British road trip without the mileage, the Ring of Kerry does it in a single unforgettable day.

How long do you need to drive the Wild Atlantic Way?

Plan eight to eleven days to drive the full 2,000 km of the Wild Atlantic Way from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north to Kinsale in the south. If you only have a long weekend, pick one region such as Kerry, Clare, or Donegal and drive it slowly rather than trying to rush the entire coast.

Do you need a special car for these drives?

No. Every route on this list is sealed and rated easy or moderate, so a normal car handles them fine in summer. What matters more is confidence on single-track roads with passing places, which you will meet on the North Coast 500, Skye, and the Lake District passes, plus a full tank before the remote stretches.

Plan your Britain and Ireland summer trip

Pick a route, check its season, and build the days around the long summer light. For the full stop-by-stop detail on the top pick, read our North Coast 500 guide, browse more ocean roads in the Scenic Coastal Drives collection, or plot your own loop on the interactive map.