The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
‘Now’s the time to get back in the driving seat’
From gentle spins around Brittany to an epic journey in Brazil, David Williams selects his favourite road trips worldwide
When I first began writing about cars, going on a road trip meant high adventure off the beaten track, going it alone, triumph over adversity, unexpected new friendships – and a world of discovery. Today, with the rise of convenient self-drive packages that take care of car hire, route planning, even your stop-offs, meals and photo opportunities along the route, the magic has faded a little.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can still enjoy the romance of being able to stick a pin in a dog-eared road atlas, throwing caution to the wind and a suitcase into the boot and simply to hit the road
For this kind of DIY, spontaneous road trip; all you need is a little imagination, some planning and a spirit of adventure. Within days – even on a budget – the thrill of the open road can
Warm up your motoring skills on twisting Wrynose Pass – and then tackle the hairpin bends
be yours. But where to start? For many, Britain – boasting dramatic destinations such as wild Snowdonia, the craggy Peak District, the rolling Yorkshire Dales, rugged Cornwall and the towering Scottish Highlands – is the perfect launch pad. Its predictable driving conditions, spectacular variety of scenery and accommodation for all budgets further strengthen its suitability as a place to cut your road-trip teeth.
For the more adventurous – or those seduced by sunnier climes – France is the next rung up the DIY road trip ladder. Take a ferry or zip through the Channel Tunnel and within an hour or so some of Europe’s finest, often car-free, roads are at your disposal. From Calais, the entire continent is on your doorstep.
Here we showcase 10 of the world’s most exhilarating road trips, starting in Britain, moving on to France, Austria, and then some more challenging longhaul options to put you firmly back in the road-trip driving seat.