England · North West/8 min read

The 10 best driving roads in the North West.

From the demanding, vertical hairpins of the central Lake District passes to the sweeping, rhythmic moorland runs of the Pennine borders. We rank the North West's most compelling roads for drivers who value precision over pace.

By Drivelines·Published 06 May 2026
REGION OVERVIEW

A landscape of extremes

The North West is defined by its extremes. To the north, the Lake District offers brutal, vertical topography where narrow passes demand total concentration and flawless line-choice. To the south, the expansive moorlands of the Peak District border and the Forest of Bowland provide sweeping, high-visibility arterial runs. It is a region that tests every facet of a driver’s repertoire, blending deeply technical ascents with satisfyingly rhythmic valley roads.

Routes mapped
10
Total distance
276km
Avg curve idx
6.9/10
Map of all 10 routes in england-north-west
StartEnd
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10
A5084 · Crake Valley · Expert
Dual-trackVaried surface

Bark House Bridge (A5084)

A short but intensely winding ribbon running parallel to Coniston Water, the A5084 packs a tremendous amount of cornering into just six miles. The surface varies in quality, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the continuous sequence of left-right flicks. It demands sharp focus and a delicate touch on the brakes to avoid unsettling the car over the rougher patches.

Heavy tree cover keeps the road surface damp for days after rainfall, particularly on the northernmost stretch.

Distance
9.8km
Drive time
0h 13m
Curve idx
9.4/10
Climb
162m
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09
A588 · Over Wyre · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Lancaster Road (A588)

Tracing the flat, marshy coastline of the Fylde peninsula, the A588 is a classic, flowing B-road experience wearing an A-road designation. The curvature is gentle, linking small rural hamlets with long, well-sighted straights that require minimal braking. It is a deeply pleasant, untaxing drive that rewards relaxed, fluid driving.

Tractors pulling wide loads frequently occupy the entire lane width during the autumn harvest season, requiring patience and early lifting off the throttle.

Distance
28km
Drive time
0h 36m
Curve idx
4.5/10
Climb
202m
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08
A689 · North Pennines · Easy
Dual-trackVaried surface

Pennine Road (A689)

Carving a route out of the North Pennines towards the Cumbrian plains, the A689 is defined by long, sweeping arcs and exceptional forward visibility. It is fundamentally a high-speed arterial road that has been draped over rolling moorland, offering effortless flow rather than technical difficulty. The smooth surface and broad lanes make it deeply satisfying for those who prefer rhythm over sharp inputs.

Running this route southbound toward Alston presents the dramatic escarpment of the Pennines as a constant, looming backdrop.

Distance
28.2km
Drive time
0h 32m
Curve idx
4.0/10
Climb
286m
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07
A593 · Coniston Water · Expert
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Hollow West (A593)

Winding through the steep topography north of Coniston, the A593 is a sharply twisting route that refuses to settle into a predictable rhythm. The high frequency of corners and undulating surface make it a demanding, physical drive requiring constant minor corrections. The mix of dual and single-track sections tests a driver's ability to read the road ahead and adapt instantly.

The tight rock faces on the inside of the bends near Skelwith Bridge obscure oncoming traffic entirely; sound the horn if you aren't sure.

Distance
26.7km
Drive time
0h 44m
Curve idx
9.2/10
Climb
679m
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06
A595 · West Cumbria · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Tippin's Lane (A595)

A vital coastal artery along the edge of the Lake District, this stretch of the A595 delivers long, rhythmic sequences that rarely dip into single-track territory. The medium curve density translates into an engaging, flowing drive where momentum can be easily maintained. It asks for patience through the occasional tighter rural sections before opening back out.

It serves as a brilliant escape route when the central Lakeland passes are gridlocked with holiday traffic.

Distance
28.6km
Drive time
0h 34m
Curve idx
5.9/10
Climb
453m
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05
A54 · Congleton to Buxton · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Buxton Road (A54)

Shadowing the Cat and Fiddle to the south, the A54 presents a similarly engaging but slightly more flowing ascent to the plateau. The Tarmac is wide and generally smooth, offering generous visibility across the open moors. It is a road that responds well to precise throttle control and early positioning into the faster, open bends.

The eastbound climb out of Bosley is remarkably wide, giving excellent forward visibility before the road pinches tighter near the county border.

Distance
24.3km
Drive time
0h 29m
Curve idx
5.6/10
Climb
744m
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04
C477 · Forest of Bowland · Spirited
Mixed widthVaried surface

Trough Road (C477)

The Trough of Bowland provides a dramatic rural thoroughfare through some of Lancashire's most remote moorland. The road narrows unpredictably as it hugs the valley floor, demanding sharp sightline reading and an awareness of shifting road widths. It rewards a restrained pace, where smooth steering inputs marry with the flowing, middle-speed sweepers.

Cyclists use this route heavily for hill training; assume there is a slow-moving rider beyond every blind left-hander.

Distance
32.4km
Drive time
0h 48m
Curve idx
6.0/10
Climb
669m
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03
B5289 · Borrowdale to Buttermere · Expert
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Honister Pass (B5289)

Honister Pass offers a brutally steep, narrow ribbon of Tarmac that threads up the valley face from Borrowdale. With an extraordinarily high curve index, it is less about flow and entirely about precise gradient management and low-speed line-choice. The sudden climbs and blind crests require total attention and a willingness to yield early to oncoming traffic.

The descent past the Honister Slate Mine loses grip in the wet far more abruptly than the ascent suggests, demanding extreme caution on the brakes.

Distance
32.2km
Drive time
0h 58m
Curve idx
10.0/10
Climb
826m
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02
A537 · Macclesfield to Buxton · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Buxton New Road (A537)

Universally known as the Cat and Fiddle, the A537 traces a high-moorland route across the Peak District boundary. Its severe curvature density demands continuous concentration, stringing together adverse cambers and blind brows into an unyielding sequence. The technical challenge of placing a car accurately through the off-camber bends remains exceptional, requiring flawless road-reading.

The installation of average-speed cameras has largely removed the aggressive overtaking of the past, leaving the road to those who enjoy maintaining a smooth, unhurried rhythm.

Distance
13.7km
Drive time
0h 16m
Curve idx
7.9/10
Climb
492m
StartEnd
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01
A592 · Ambleside to Patterdale · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Kirkstone Pass (A592)

The A592 over Kirkstone is the Lake District’s highest pass open to motor traffic, presenting a sustained, flowing climb that avoids the single-track anxiety of its steeper neighbours. The surface is well-sighted and wide enough to hold a confident line through the sweeping upper bends. It rewards momentum and smooth steering inputs as the gradient builds toward the summit.

The car park opposite the Kirkstone Pass Inn fills rapidly on weekends; a weekday morning run guarantees clearer sightlines and less braking for hesitant tourists.

Distance
52.4km
Drive time
1h 17m
Curve idx
6.0/10
Climb
1115m
// KEEP READING
Sibling guide · Scenic
Top 10 scenic drives in the North West
Parent region · England
Top 10 driving roads in England
Nearby · The east of England
Top 10 driving roads in the east of England
Nearby · London and the Home Counties
Top 10 driving roads in London and the Home Counties
Nearby · The Midlands
Top 10 driving roads in the Midlands
Index · Every region
All Top 10 Field Guides

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