UK Coastal Road Trips

A recent survey, conducted by Marmalade, revealed 68% of young drivers were looking forward to taking a trip to the coast this summer. Find out Marmalade's top destinations!


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By Megan

Updated on Aug 4th, 2022

In our recent survey, which asked 3,400 young drivers where they’ll be headed this summer, 68% said they were looking forward to taking a road trip to the seaside. Popular answers included: Scotland, Devon, Cornwall and Norfolk. If you are looking for UK staycation inspiration this summer, why not check out Marmalade’s top 3 road trip destinations for 2022?

North Coast 500 

Located in the Scottish Highlands, the North Coast 500 (NC500) offers a life changing, unique experience for all drivers. Whether you are a foodie, happy camper or prefer the finer things in life, there is a NC500 intinerary for everyone! Labelled the Scottish Route 66, each route requires a minimum of 8-9 days to complete but since you’re in control, you can decide how long you stay! All the routes begin and end in Inverness, with breath-taking views of the castle, followed by 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery in locations such as Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross and the Black Isle. 

As well as having the opportunity to sample the heavenly local delicacies, key highlights along the routes include: legendary castles, first-class distilleries/breweries and incredible wildlife safaris. You can also share your picturesque adventure along the way with the hashtag #Mync500adventure on Instagram and Twitter.

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One of our favourite stories about the North Coast 500 was submitted by Paige:  “I was able to go on the North Coast 500 in September which is a road trip round the North coast of Scotland. It was one of the most amazing trips of my life, with beautiful scenery, lots of places to go and visit, fantastic photography spots, and a very serene feeling to the whole trip. I would recommend it to everyone, particularly those wanting to explore the UK more as it offers everything, from towns/cities, the highlands with forests and lochs, and even beaches with beautiful blue waters (if it was a lot warmer it could’ve felt like I was in the Caribbean!”

Atlantic Highway

Scones, surfing and sand - explore the best of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall’s countryside this summer by taking a road trip along the Southwest Peninsula of England. Starting in Bridgewater, this road trip is full of picturesque moments from dense forest scenery to magnificent sea views and concludes in Land’s End. Whether you have a few days or a couple of weeks to spare, this highly customisable route can be completed in as little or much time as you like. 

Along the route, there are many activities; from luxury afternoon teas in Devon and Cornwall to catching some waves at one of Newquay’s infamous surf beaches! Don’t forget to bring us back a Cornish pasty or two (thank you in advance). No matter how you pronounce the word ‘scone’, you will be sure to have a fabulous, action-packed road trip along the Atlantic Highway!

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Norfolk Coast

Donuts, donkeys and dunes - Norfolk has it all! If you are looking for a road trip in the East of England, the coastline of Norfolk offers a stress-free, quiet getaway. Spanning a total of 280 miles, included in this trip are locations such as Kings Lynn, Hunstanton, Brancaster and Burnham Market, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer. Popular activities include: seal spotting at Blakeney, eating ice cream on the pier of the year in Cromer, hopping on the Poppy Line to visit the Georgian town of Holt and crabbing at the quay in Wells!

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If a coastal journey isn’t quite your thing, don’t worry! Our summer survey revealed 61% of our young drivers are keen to take a road trip to the countryside or will be heading to cities this summer. If this is your first road trip and you’re a little bit nervous – why not read how our guest blogger Kimberly survived her first long distance journey.

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By Megan

Hi, I'm Megan - I have recently graduated from university and I'm a marketing executive at Marmalade! I am a new driver myself and would love to share my tips, tricks and experiences with you :)


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