England/8 min read

The 10 best driving roads in England.

England’s geography is a gift to the keen driver, offering everything from vast moorland sweeps to intricate coastal lanes. We’ve analysed the curvature, surface quality, and topography across the country to find the routes that truly reward a thoughtful driver. Here are the ten best stretches of tarmac in England.

By Drivelines·Published 06 May 2026
REGION OVERVIEW

From moorland sweeps to coastal coils

England’s road network is famously dense, but escape the arterial routes and you find a landscape that seems engineered for driving pleasure. From the vast, open sweep of the high Pennines and the heavily cambered passes of the Lake District, down to the intricate, stone-walled coastal lanes of Cornwall, the variety is immense. The best English roads don’t rely on Alpine altitudes; instead, they challenge you with sudden topographical shifts, complex sightlines, and corners that tighten when you least expect it.

Routes mapped
10
Total distance
271km
Avg curve idx
7.1/10
Map of all 10 routes in england
StartEnd
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10
A593 · Lake District · Expert
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Hollow West (A593)

The A593 south of Coniston is an incredibly intense piece of Lake District driving. Tightly coiled and often alarmingly narrow, it possesses a staccato rhythm that takes genuine skill to unlock without disturbing your passengers. It demands respect for the tight sightlines and rewards drivers who look well past the A-pillar.

Dry-stone walls border much of the route, amplifying your engine note but completely masking the approach of oncoming tourist coaches.

Distance
26.7km
Drive time
0h 44m
Curve idx
9.2/10
Climb
679m
StartEnd
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09
B5417 · Staffordshire Moorlands · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Oakamoor Road (B5417)

A short but beautifully formed plunge through the Staffordshire moorlands towards the Churnet Valley. At just five miles, the B5417 packs in a surprising amount of technical interest, with a distinctly three-dimensional feel as it drops and climbs. It asks for neat footwork and a keen eye for subtle camber changes.

The tree canopy is dense on the lower sections, leaving the surface damp and slippery long after the morning rain has passed.

Distance
8.1km
Drive time
0h 11m
Curve idx
7.6/10
Climb
166m
StartEnd
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08
B3276 · North Cornwall · Expert
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Watergate Road (B3276)

Running parallel to the rugged North Cornwall coast, this secondary road is a tangled, demanding proposition. It twists aggressively as it follows the contours of the land, requiring continuous input and forward planning. The high curve density means you are rarely holding a straight steering angle for more than a few seconds at a time.

Summer holiday traffic brings it to a near standstill by midday; to experience its actual rhythm, you need to set your alarm for dawn.

Distance
22.1km
Drive time
0h 34m
Curve idx
9.2/10
Climb
450m
StartEnd
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07
A684 · Yorkshire Dales · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Scotch Jeans (A684)

Cutting across the top of the Yorkshire Dales, the A684 provides a rugged, engaging drive through high country. The road alternates between fast, open straights and tightly coiled sections over the peaks. It is a route of two halves, asking for both patience through the stone-built villages and exactness over the moors.

The stone bridges over the burns can be much narrower than they appear on approach—tuck your mirrors in mentally before you reach the apex.

Distance
23.6km
Drive time
0h 32m
Curve idx
7.8/10
Climb
390m
StartEnd
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06
B3306 · Cornwall Coast · Expert
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Higher Stennack (B3306)

The coast road leaving St Ives is wildly different from the moorland passes up north. It is narrow, extremely twisty, and completely absorbing as it plunges towards the Atlantic. Hemmed in by ancient stone walls, it demands absolute concentration and precise line choice, severely punishing lazy road positioning.

The frequent blind crests mean you must read the vanishing point carefully; passing places are tight and oncoming agricultural traffic is a constant threat.

Distance
20.7km
Drive time
0h 37m
Curve idx
9.6/10
Climb
401m
StartEnd
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05
A456 · Shropshire Borders · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Little Hereford Bridge (A456)

Skirting the Shropshire and Herefordshire borders near Ludlow, this section of the A456 is an absolute antidote to high-stress driving. The corners are long, progressive, and thoroughly sighted, making it beautifully relaxing. It demonstrates how a well-engineered primary road can still offer deep satisfaction at sensible speeds.

Best enjoyed early on a summer evening when the low sun filters through the bordering woodland, highlighting the wide, smooth tarmac.

Distance
18.3km
Drive time
0h 19m
Curve idx
3.3/10
Climb
252m
StartEnd
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04
A537 · Peak District · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Buxton New Road (A537)

Connecting Macclesfield to Buxton, this is one of the most famous ribbons of tarmac in the Peak District. The curve density is high for a trunk road, presenting a relentless sequence of third-gear corners across the high moorland. It rewards drivers who can quickly link transitions without upsetting the car's delicate balance.

Average speed cameras blanket the route, so the challenge here is purely about maintaining corner speed and precision rather than leaning on straight-line pace.

Distance
13.7km
Drive time
0h 16m
Curve idx
7.9/10
Climb
492m
StartEnd
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03
B6277 · Teesdale · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Lartington Lane (B6277)

Tracing the edge of Teesdale, the B6277 is a masterclass in flowing, open tarmac. With a low curve index, this isn't a tight, technical trial but a sweeping moorland run that prizes exceptionally smooth steering inputs. The surface is mostly superb, making it a joy for grand tourers and eager hatchbacks alike.

Keep an eye out for wandering sheep north of Middleton-in-Teesdale; they often bed down on the warm tarmac at dusk.

Distance
39.7km
Drive time
0h 46m
Curve idx
4.6/10
Climb
311m
StartEnd
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02
A686 · North Pennines · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Townfoot (A686)

The run over the North Pennines is legendary among northern drivers, unfurling in long, sweeping arcs across the moorland. The A686 offers magnificent sightlines that allow you to settle into a deep, unbroken rhythm. It demands reading the road far ahead rather than relying on sharp, reactive inputs.

The café at the summit of Hartside Pass is a traditional waypoint, but expect the car park to be packed with motorcyclists on a dry Sunday morning.

Distance
46.3km
Drive time
0h 52m
Curve idx
6.1/10
Climb
954m
StartEnd
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01
A592 · Lake District · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Kirkstone Pass (A592)

Climbing out of the valleys towards Ullswater, the A592 over Kirkstone Pass represents the finest driving in the Lake District. The surface is dependably smooth and the carriageway wide enough to let you place the car properly. It flows beautifully as the gradient pitches upwards, rewarding drivers who understand how to manage momentum over crests.

The descent towards Brothers Water can catch you out if you brake late on cold tyres, especially where the camber falls away unexpectedly.

Distance
52.4km
Drive time
1h 17m
Curve idx
6.0/10
Climb
1115m
// KEEP READING
Sibling guide · Scenic
Top 10 scenic drives in England
Parent region · Great Britain
Top 10 driving roads in Great Britain
Nearby · Scotland
Top 10 driving roads in Scotland
Nearby · Wales
Top 10 driving roads in Wales
Index · Every region
All Top 10 Field Guides

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