by The Military Road on the Isle of Wight is one of Britain’s most beautiful drives, but new photos show its future is under threat.
A drone image shows that the road is now just meters away from the edge of the cliff, fueling fears that it may one day have to be rerouted.
With cliffs plunging to the sea on one side, and verdant farmland forming the Isle of Wight AONB on the other, the 11 mile road is often cited as one of the most beautiful in the country.
Built as part of a defense network in 1860, linking barracks to forts, it was privately owned for 70 years before being donated to the Isle of Wight Council for public use. At that time, it was still only a narrow track, but now it is the main road that skirts the southern coast of the island.
For now, the local authorities say the road is safe to stay open. If you drive east to west you will get the best views; the best part comes towards the end, when the road straightens out and presents a sweeping perspective of the white cliffs of Freshwater Bay.
However, if you’d prefer a less precarious drive, here are nine other ideas, from a spin through the South Downs to an epic stretch of the Scottish North Coast 500.
Like plotting a route, this matter is of course up for discussion. Is there an A-road that you think needs to be celebrated? Or is there one you wish you had never seen? Comment at the bottom of this article to share your favorite A roads (or your favorite roads) in the country.
A272: Time travel through the South Downs
Starts: Winchester, Hampshire
End: Heathfield, East Sussex
Length: 86 miles
If you are after steep ascents, tight bends or tumbling cliffs, the A272 is not for you. This is a thoughtful driver’s road, passing through the sleepy villages and evergreen valleys of the South Dunes, and along well-maintained roads – if tackled at the right time – you will have it all to yourself.
The A272 hasn’t succumbed to the same two-way system as many others, meaning you’ll get a drive that hasn’t changed much since classic open-top cars cruised around a century ago. It has something of a cult following: the Dutchman Pieter Boogart has written an entire book dedicated to the road, called ‘A272 – An Ode to a Road’.
Eat / stay here: Stop off at The Horse Guards Inn, just off the A272 in the village of Tillington. The 350-year-old pub has a homely character, from the fudge at the bar to the three rooms with exposed beams, and as much flair as you’d expect from a building of this age. Doubles from £110. Plan a trip to the South Downs with our guide.
A57: The Snake Pass to the High Peaks
Starts: Glossop, Derbyshire
End: Ladybower Reservoir, Derbyshire
Length: 12 miles
Crossing the Pennines, this stretch of the A57 was once the main route to travel from Manchester to Sheffield, but today motorists are directed along the Woodhead Way north. The exhilarating Snake Pass remains a favorite route for leisure drivers and motorcyclists, rising from Glossop up to 1,680ft (510m) with blind bends and sweeping views. At the end, the Road Reservoir awaits.
Drive carefully: while the Snake Pass is often among the best in the country, it is also a hot spot for severe weather conditions and serious accidents.
Eat / stay here: A few miles away from the Snake Pass is the stone-built Samuel Fox Country Inn, close to tourist favorites Castleton, Tideswell and Eyam. If a restaurant with rooms, there are four doubles where you will find a welcome slate of chocolates and fresh fruit; both front rooms have lovely views across Bradwell Edge. Doubles from £140.
A591: Four lakes in one hour
Starts: Keswick, Cumbria
End: Kendal, Cumbria
Length: 27 miles
The main artery through the Lake District National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the country, hugging the eastern borders of Thirlmere, looping past Grasmere and Rydal Water and then bringing fun views through the flickering trees of the northern waters Windermere.
It is also officially the best A-road for the driving experience. In a study carried out in 2015, F1 track designer Hermann Tilke and physicist Dr Mark Hadley found that there was the best balance between the road and the bends (14:3) in the country. Now you know.
Eat / stay here: Situated just off the A591, the Samling boasts outstanding views and immaculate rooms. But you are here for the food, above all else. If you’re traveling for an event, opt for the tasting menu in the glass-walled main restaurant (£115, seven courses). Doubles from £490. Plan the perfect Lake District holiday with our guide.
A537: Cat and Fiddle Road
Starts: Macclesfield, Cheshire
End: Buxton, Derbyshire
Length: 12.5 miles
Nicknamed The Cat and Fiddle Road, after the high-rise pub at its summit (now a distillery, whiskey shop and bar) the A537 is an adrenaline fueled drive, linking the silk manufacturing town of Macclesfield with a spa town Buxton. On a sunny day you’ll find motorcyclists zooming up this long, steep climb with its many hairpin turns.
You may also be accompanied by some pedestrians; it was used as part of the 2016 Tour of Britain, which was the highest climb of the race. However you travel the road, be sure to take it slowly. It is often voted one of the most dangerous in Britain.
Eat / stay here: Relieve anxiety at No.6 The Square in Buxton, a popular tearoom serving divine cakes, with four bedrooms upstairs (doubles from £90).
A894: The most epic stretch of the North Coast 500
Starts: Skeigbridge, Sutherland (Scotland)
End: Laxford Bridge, Sutherland (Scotland)
Length: 23 miles
Over the past decade the North Coast 500 – a loop around the most northerly corners of the Scottish Highlands – has become a hugely popular road trip in the UK. And it could be argued that the most impressive stretch of the route is the A894, which crosses the forgotten moon in Assainte and crosses perhaps the most photogenic bridge in the country at Caolcoo. This is a route to savour, with a detour to Eas a’ Cual Aluinn waterfall (the highest in Britain) and wonderful walks in the Cuinin mountain range.
Eat / stay here: The bijou Kylesku Hotel, located on a small peninsula, dates back to the 17th century, with stylish rooms and a kitchen serving a local seafood menu. All with views across Loch Glendubh. Doubles from £110. Plan the perfect holiday in Scotland with our expert itineraries.
A82: Highland Road suitable for Bond
Starts: Glasgow, West Central Scotland
End: Inverness, Scottish Highlands
Length: 167 miles
Once you’ve escaped the concrete sprawl of Glasgow, the A82 soon takes your breath away. The road crosses the borders of Scotland’s two largest lakes (Neas and Lomond) and winds through Glencoe – so scenic that it is the site of James Bond’s scouts Skyfall the film chose it for a driving sequence, near the peaks of Baachaille Eite Mór and Baachaille Eite Beag.
Eat / stay here: Book at the Loch Ness Lodge, an impeccable bed and breakfast on the shore, serving the best breakfasts in Scotland and with loch views from every room. Doubles from £234.
A39: Ocean views on the Atlantic Highway
Starts: Bath, Somerset
End: Fraddon, Cornwall
Length: 190 miles
While the A39 starts in Bath and passes Wells and Glastonbury, the Atlantic Highway starts right in Barnstaple and hugs the coast all the way to Fraddon, near New Quay. Expect bays and beaches to the right and rolling farmland to the left, with the occasional inland journey. This is a great way to experience the quieter coastal stretches of Devon and Cornwall, which are often overlooked by the tourist crowds. Highlights along the way include Tintagel Castle, Nectan Valley and Bude Sea Pool.
Eat / stay here: The Beach at Bude, located just above Summerleaze Beach, is a lovely spot, especially if you enjoy surfing or dipping your toes in the sea. Expect a New England aesthetic with a beach-chic vibe, with a decked terrace in the heart. Doubles from £112. Plan the perfect holiday in Cornwall with our guide.
A4069: The hairpin will bend on Top Gear Road
Starts: Llandovery, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
End: Gwauncaegurwen, Carmarthenshire (Wales)
Length: 20 miles
After leaving Langadog, the Welsh countryside transforms into the rugged Beacons on the A4069, weaving a steep uphill route across the mountains. The views are long and uninterrupted, although a gang of lost sheep or a tractor may halt your progress.
However, it is regarded as one of the best driving roads in Wales, and is sometimes called ‘Top Gear Road’ after Jeremy Clarkson drove it in 2011. Although the Tro Gwcw, or “ the turn of the cuckoo” from north to south. , the views of the Tywi Valley are arguably better if you drive south to north.
Eat / stay here: If you are here for a longer stay in the False Beacons, establish yourself at the Felin Fach Griffin. Here you’ll find a roaring fire, plenty of dogs and a relaxed but stylish stay in a country inn. Doubles from £115 per night. Plan the perfect Wales holiday with our expert ultimate travel itinerary.
A2: Driving with giants on the Causeway Coast Road
Starts: Belfast, Northern Ireland
End: Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Length: 120 miles
The best way to experience Northern Ireland on four wheels. Starting in Northern Ireland’s largest city, you’ll experience steep cliff-top drives, pass country parks, enter Game of Thrones territory along the northern coast, where you’ll come within a stone’s throw of Clough the Say.
The Causeway Coastal Path ends in Derry-Londonderry, the only remaining walled city in all of Ireland. From here, you can continue the 1,600 mile road trip through Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Eat / stay here: Built in 1897, the Slieve Donard Hotel and Spa is one of the most majestic spa hotels in all of Ireland. Situated directly on the beach, set in mature grounds with mountains on the other side, this is the epitome of traditional baronial style. Doubles from £189.
