Ten coastal drives around the UK, from a half-day along the East Neuk of Fife to a week on the North Coast 500. Most work from May to September. The table gives rough distances and how long to allow. The coast is where you'll spend the time, so the miles are the easy part.
| Drive | Where | Rough distance | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast 500 | Highlands | 516 miles signed (469 on our map) | 5 to 7 days |
| Causeway Coastal Route | Northern Ireland | about 120 miles | 2 to 3 days |
| Jurassic Coast | Devon and Dorset | 95 miles of coast | 2 days |
| Pembrokeshire | West Wales | varies | 3 to 4 days |
| Northumberland coast | North-east England | about 40 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| South Devon | Torbay to Salcombe | varies | 2 days |
| Isle of Skye | Inner Hebrides | varies | 2 to 3 days |
| Gower | South Wales | short | 1 day |
| Atlantic Highway (A39) | Cornwall and Devon | 70 to 85 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| East Neuk of Fife | Fife | about 20 miles | half a day to a day |
1. North Coast 500, Scotland
A loop from Inverness up the east coast to John o' Groats, west along the north coast to Durness, and south down the west coast through Ullapool and Torridon. The signed figure is 516 miles. Our NC500 route page measures 469 because it counts fewer of the coastal spurs, so plan on about 500. The west coast between Lochinver and Applecross is the best of it, including the Bealach na Bà, which climbs to 626 m with gradients signed at up to 20%.
- Direction: clockwise, you drive south down the west coast in the landward lane. Anticlockwise puts you on the seaward side heading north. On single-track stretches it makes little difference.
- Fuel: stations are sparse in the north-west. Fill up at half a tank.
- Sandwood Bay: a walk of about 4 miles each way from Blairmore, near Kinlochbervie.
More detail in our Scotland road trips guide.
2. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
About 120 miles from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry along the Antrim coast and through the Glens of Antrim. The Giant's Causeway is the headline stop: around 40,000 basalt columns from volcanic activity some 50 to 60 million years ago, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Carrick-a-Rede: a rope bridge about 20 m long and 30 m above the sea. Tickets are timed in summer.
- Dunluce Castle: a ruin on the cliff edge between Portrush and Bushmills.
- The Dark Hedges: the beech avenue from Game of Thrones. The road has been closed to traffic since 2017, so park nearby and walk.
- Ballintoy Harbour and Mussenden Temple: the harbour (another Thrones location) and the clifftop rotunda above Downhill.
Our Causeway Coastal Route page has the full route.
3. Jurassic Coast, Devon and Dorset
The World Heritage coast runs 95 miles from Orcombe Point at Exmouth to Old Harry Rocks near Studland, exposing about 185 million years of rock. The A35 runs inland for much of the way. The best coastal driving is the B3157 from Bridport to Abbotsbury, with Chesil Beach below you.
- Lyme Regis and Charmouth: fossil hunting on the beach at low tide. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre runs guided walks.
- West Bay: the cliffs from ITV's Broadchurch.
- Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove: very busy on summer weekends, so arrive early.
4. Pembrokeshire, Wales
Pembrokeshire Coast is Britain's only national park designated mainly for its coastline. The 186-mile figure you'll see quoted is the coast path, not a road. By car you link a series of dead-end lanes down to the coast. Cardiff is roughly two and a half hours away.
- St Davids: Britain's smallest city, with a population of about 1,600 and a 12th-century cathedral.
- Skomer: boats from Martin's Haven in spring and summer to see tens of thousands of puffins.
- Green Bridge of Wales: a sea arch near Castlemartin in the south of the county, reached by a road through a military range that closes when firing is on.
- Seals: grey seal pups on the beaches from about September to November.
5. Northumberland coast, England
About 40 miles from Amble to Berwick-upon-Tweed, with wide empty beaches and three big stops. Bamburgh Castle sits on a rock above the sands. Dunstanburgh is a ruin you walk to from Craster, about 1.3 miles. Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is reached by a tidal causeway. The monastery there was raided by Vikings in 793. Boats run from Seahouses to the Farne Islands for seabirds and seals.
The Holy Island causeway floods twice a day. Check the published safe crossing times before you set out, and don't try to beat the tide: cars are stranded most years.
6. South Devon
From Torquay (Agatha Christie's birthplace) round to Dartmouth and Salcombe. Cross the Dart from Kingswear to Dartmouth on the Higher Ferry, then take the A379 south and west along Slapton Sands, a road that runs between the sea and a freshwater lagoon, to Kingsbridge and Salcombe. Expect narrow lanes between high hedges in the South Hams, and queues for the ferries in August.
7. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Over the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, or by ferry from Mallaig. The Trotternish loop north of Portree takes in the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing. The west and south give you the Cuillin ridge, which tops out at 992 m on Sgùrr Alasdair, Neist Point lighthouse and the road to Elgol. The car parks at the big sights charge and fill early in summer.
8. Gower, Wales
West of Swansea, Gower became Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. There's no road round the south coast, so you drive out and back on the B4247 to Rhossili. The bay there is 3 miles of sand, with the ribs of the wrecked Helvetia and the tidal island of Worm's Head. The north side is completely different: salt marsh and cockle beds around Penclawdd, looking across the estuary.
9. Atlantic Highway (A39), Cornwall and Devon
The A39 runs up the north Cornwall coast and into north Devon, between 70 and 85 miles depending where you join it. The best stops are short detours off it: Padstow, Polzeath, Tintagel, Boscastle and Bude, with its tidal sea pool. The clifftop path at Bedruthan looks down on a line of rock stacks. Our Atlantic Highway page maps the route.
10. East Neuk of Fife, Scotland
About 20 miles of fishing villages between St Andrews and Elie: Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem and St Monans, each with a stone harbour. It's a slow drive with no cliffs or passes, broken up by fish and chips in Anstruther. Boats run from Anstruther to the Isle of May for puffins in early summer.
Practical notes
- Tides: Holy Island and Worm's Head both cut off at high tide. Check times on the day.
- Single-track roads: pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite one on your right. Never park in one.
- Parking: many coastal car parks in Cornwall, Devon and Skye are pay-and-display or app-only. Have a parking app set up.
- Ferries: book CalMac sailings to Skye from Mallaig in summer. The Dart car ferries are turn-up-and-go, so expect to queue, and check the Higher Ferry is running before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best UK coastal drive for a weekend?
The Jurassic Coast, Gower or the East Neuk, all compact enough for two days. With three days, the Causeway Coastal Route works well.
When is the best time to drive the NC500?
Late May and June for long days, or September for quieter roads. Midges peak from late June to August, and many places to stay close over winter.