Take to the road

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 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... 

 

 

High Peak, Derbyshire

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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Snowdonia

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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Pack a picnic

All that fresh air will give you an appetite - even if you're just looking at it. If the weather's fine get out of the car, go for a stroll and find the perfect picnic spot. For crisp autumn days, take a flask of hearty, warming soup, such as Butternut squash and sweet potato soup , and accompany it with hunks of crusty baguette spread with creamy Philadephia.

 

 

Across the Scottish Highlands
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 

 

 

Alnwick to Kielder

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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Time for tea
If you're on an afternoon outing, treat yourself to a stop for tea. Take a flask of tea (with milk and lemon slices packed separately). As you're in the comfort of your own car, you could even serve it in style with real china cups and saucers. And to serve on the side, you do really need a slice of cake to sustain you for the drive home. Try a carrot cake tray-bake, with delicious creamy Philadelphia frosting. Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden of England - Kent

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 14- and 15-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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