TEN BEST ROADS TO DRIVE IN 2017

Scotland A701 from Moffat to Leadburn The Southern Uplands are full of great roads but this is one of the best, with miles of twisting ascent to the Devil’s Beeftub. England A68 from West Woodburn to Corbridge Most of the traffic uses the A696 to Newcastle, so try this majestic up-and-down stretch with Roman origins. Got an old Saab? You can freewheel down here for miles. Wales A470 from Conwy to Ffestiniog For a major trunk road, this one offers fabulous Snowdonian scenery and a decent chance of a fast, quiet run – as long as you avoid Bank Holiday weekends. Wales A4086 from Capel Curig to Caernarfon You can join up this, the Llanberis Pass, with the A470 quite easily. It could double for the wildest bits of Scotland or even the Alps in some places. Ireland Sheep’s Head Peninsula This twisting and mostly singletrack road in the wild west of Cork is not one for speed freaks but for 25 miles of continuously stunning sea views it takes some beating, especially on a sunny day. Scotland Cairn O’mount, Old Military Road People usually mean the A93 when they use this name, but another old military road, the B974 between Edzell and Feughside in Aberdeenshire, is quieter, wilder and even faster. England Buttertubs Pass Many of England’s Pennine passes are lovely but clogged with traffic. Buttertubs, or the Cliff Gate Road between Hawes and Thwaite, might be the prettiest of the lot, and is one of the quietest. Italy Grande Strada Delle Dolomiti This east-west route from Bolzano to Cortina d’ampezzo is a main road, but endlessly crammed with stunning mountain scenery. Take your time and enjoy. Germany Eifel Forest The Black Forest is better known but if you’re driving from Spa to the Nürburgring, loop north through heavily wooded rollercoaster roads like the L166, L106 and L128. France Route de Gentelly, Alpes Maritimes With so many amazing mountain roads to choose from in this region, why go for this one? Simple – it’s not so well-known but just as spectacular. Forget the endless processions of cars dawdling up the most famous passes and enjoy this instead.