There's no denying that when you're behind the wheel of your car, it's sometimes a pleasure to take the scenic route: to drive along a route that gives great views or is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, just for the fun of it. And if the weather's terrible, or for people with limited mobility, it's a great way to enjoy the great outdoors.

Although, of course, for the sake of the environment, don't do it too often - and don't forget that you can park up and go for a walk, or find the perfect place for your picnic.

So, mirror, signal, manoeuvre - off we go on our tour of Britain's scenic drives... 

The two roads you want are Winnats Pass (left) and Snake Pass, and you can reach both from the A624 between Glossop and Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The name Winnats derives from 'wind gates' and the road rises over the head of the Hope valley with great views before plunging very steeply down towards Castleton. The land around is owned by the National Trust, and the craggy limestone landscape is a site of Special Scientific Interest.

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Snake Pass, also managed by the National Trust winds its way along the picturesque valley, with views over the Ladybower Reservoir (used for 'Dambusters' training runs). At 512 metres above sea level, it's usually the first trans-Pennine road to be closed by snowfall, and feels very remote and exposed.

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From Malham the road climbs and you can make a detour on foot to Malham Cove, a towering semi-circular limestone cliff, with a limestone pavement above, and Malham Tarn, the highest lake in England and the inspiration for Charles Kingsley's book 'The Water Babies'.

At its highest point the narrow road twists and turns between knobbly limestone outcrops and feels a very long way from 'civilisation'. The only other living creatures you're likely to encounter are sheep; it's by no means a busy road.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale is a tiny place, which is on the Pennine Way, and the starting point for the ascent of Pen-y-Ghent, one of Yorkshire's Three Peaks - with great views from the summit if you fancy a hike.

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Photo: Visit Britain 

As you head west on the A383 from Colaboll by the banks of Loch Shin, towards the Atlantic, the landscape changes from the rolling, rounded hills of the eastern side of the Highlands, to the rugged, rocky and fjord-like drama of the west coast, with plenty of lochs and waterfalls along the way. Cloud cover is often low and can make for an atmospheric panorama, rolling down hills covered in dark heather and orange bracken. It may be an A-road but it's single track with passing places for much of its length - ideal for those souvenir photos 

Heading out of Alnwick, you'll soon come to a viewpoint with a panoramic view of the Northumberland coastline: south to Blyth and Tyneside, northeast towards the Farne Islands, and northwest to the Cheviot Hills. You'll see the Victoria railway viaduct at Edlingham, the the National Trust's Cragside forest. Passing though several pretty villages you'll reach Kielder Water, Europe's largest manmade lake.

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Leaving Caernarfon, enjoy fabulous views of the Menai Straits, then cross them to the isle of Anglesey, returning to the mainland via Thomas Telford's suspension bridge.

Back in Caernarfon, head for Llanberis, the village at the foot of Snowdon, Britian's highest peak. Climbing to the Pen-y-Pass car park, where you can take the path to Snowdon's summit. Descending from the pass of Llanberis, the road follows a narrow valley on the approach to Beddgelert, known as Snowdonia's loveliest village and reputedly named after the legendary faithful hound Gelert, with its name translating as Gelert's grave. Beddgelert was also home of the creator of Rupert Bear.

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Setting out from Leeds Castle, known as ‘the loveliest castle in the world', you'll pass through an Area of Outstanding Beauty. The pretty village of Lenham dates from Roman times, boasts two rivers, and is rich with footpaths. On to the ancient Wealden village of Headcorn, with its 14th- and 15th-century timbered buildings. Through the market town of Staplehurst to Cranbrook, with its windmill, and on along a Roman road towards Boughton Monchelsea with the oldest lychgate in England in its church. Sutton Valence castle, built in traditional local ragstone style, offers marvellous views across the Kentish Weald.

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