Despite being a small island Great Britain can offer the driver some beautiful and even spectacular driving roads although none of them are particularly long, which makes each one of them great for a day trip. Found below, in alphabetical country order, is a list of some of the most popular of them.

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ENGLAND

The Lady Bower Reservoir

Snake Pass, Derbyshire – Located along part of the A 57 main trunk road which links the city of Liverpool with the city of Lincoln, Snake Pass is actually located between the cities of Manchester and Sheffield, between the picturesque moorland town of Glossop and the stunning area which surrounds the Lady Bower Reservoir along part of the National Trust’s High Peak Estate.

The pass climbs the Dark Peak of the Peak District National Park, climbing Holden Clough, where it attains it’s ultimate elevation of 510 meters above sea level between the high moors of Bleaklow and the moorland plateau known as Kinder Scout.

The pass then makes it’s way downhill through the beautiful Lady Clough Valley following the course of the rivers Ashop and Alport as they make their way to the Lady Bower Reservoir.

A 39 Road, Somerset / Cornwall – This 289 kilometer long road links the ancient city of Bath in Somerset with the village of St Columb Major in Cornwall, although it is actually the first hundred kilometers or so which make the road of special interest, where it has been given the title, Atlantic Highway.

The road makes it’s way west out of Bath, passing through the city of Wells and the towns of Glastonbury and Bridgwater, before passing through the picturesque Quantock Hills and skirting the outer edge of Brendon Forest.

The road then makes it’s way through several miles of the bleak and desolate landscape of Exmoor and along the rugged north Somerset and north Devon Bristol Channel coast, passing through the coastal towns and villages of Minehead, Porlock, Lynmouth, Woody Bay, Lynton, Barnstaple, Bideford and Wadebridge and then on through Exmoor Forest before eventually terminating at the inland village of St Columb Major in central Cornwall.

A 537 Road, Cheshire / Derbyshire – Also known as the Cat & Fiddle Pass, this 27 kilometer long moorland road is located between Macclesfield in Cheshire and Buxton in Derbyshire and sports some of the country’s most stunning moorland scenery but also the road with the country’s worst reputation, having been designated as Britain’s most dangerous road for several years running.
The road climbs to an ultimate elevation of 520 meters above sea level at the site of the Cat & Fiddle Inn, a two hundred year old hostelry which gives the road it's name located on the western fringe of Axe Edge Moor.
Visitors can stop here for cold or hot drinks, a snack or full course meal or simply to take in the spectacular views.

The pass is generally closed during the Winter months owing to snow making it impassable.

B3306 Road, Cornwall - This 21 kilometer long road located along Cornwall’s north coast links Britain’s most westerly located town of St Just with the popular coastal resort of St Ives.

The road begins at Kelynock on Cornwall’s Penwith Peninsula, not far from Land’s End Airport, before passing through the ancient market town of St Just.

On it’s south side the road makes it’s way through some dramatic Cornish moorland which sports some interesting neolithic sites, ancient tin mines and several coastal mining villages, including Morvah, Pendeen and Zennor.

On it’s northern side the road overlooks the picturesque Bristol Channel coast with it's wide open sea views, before terminating at the coastal resort of St Ives, renowned for being one of the country’s premier artists retreats.

The road has been known to flood in places during times of heavy rainfall.

B 3212 Road, Devon – Located between the Devon city of Exeter and the town of Yelverton, this 72 kilometer long road passes through the bleak and desolate landscape of Dartmoor National Park making it’s way in a south westerly direction through the town of Moretonhampstead, renowned for being England’s longest one word place name, the infamous town of Princetown, renowned for being the home of Dartmoor Prison, through the small village of Postbridge, renowned for being the location of a thirteenth century clapper bridge, before terminating at the village of Yelverton, located just a few miles from Buckland Abbey, which was the former home of Elisabethan naval hero Sir Francis Drake.

The road is known to close during the Winter months owing to snow making it impassable.

B6270 , Yorkshire - This 42.8 kilometer long moorland road is situated between the Yorkshire market town of Richmond and the Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Stephen.
The road travels through the isolated fells and dales of the Yorkshire Moors National Park and passes through several ancient stone villages, including Nateby, Reeth and Thwaite. Visitors can also use the road to access the Swaledale Folk Museum and Britain's highest pub, the seventeenth century, Tan Hill Inn, located at an elevation of 1,732 meters above sea level.
The pub is located along the Pennine Way Trail just outside Reeth where Yorkshire's two northernmost dales of Swaledale and Arkengartdale meet, and offers visitors the chance to take light refreshments, meals or overnight accommodation.
The road is generally closed during the Winter months owing to snow making the road impassable.

The Burway - Is a 3.24 kilometer long hill road located between the Shropshire town of Church Stretton and the villages of Ratlinghope and Asterton.
This short and narrow road with scenic views out across the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) known as the Carding Mill Valley, reaches an ultimate elevation of 516 meters above sea level as it makes it's way along the heath land plateau of Long Mynd. The road can become impassable during the Winter months owing to snow.

SCOTLAND

The Skye Road Bridge

A9 – This 439 kilometer long highway, known as the Spine of Scotland, is Scotland’s longest road and is situated between the town of Polmont in central Scotland and the coastal town of Scrabster on Scotland’s north coast.

The road passes through several places of interest, including Falkirk, Bridge of Allen, Bannockburn, Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth, Pitlochry, Aviemore, Moy, Inverness, Invergordon, Sutherland, Dornoch, Caithness and Thurso before terminating at the bustling North Sea port town of Scrabster.

A 82 – This major Scottish highway is 269 kilometers in length and although not the prettiest route in Scotland, it does pass through several of the country's main tourist attractions.
The road is situated between the country's largest city of Glasgow on Scotland's west coast and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
Places of interest along this busy highway include the towns of Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Fort William and Fort Augustus, the beautiful lakes of Loch Leven, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, the natural beauty of Leanachan Forest and Rannoch Moor and the man made wonders of Urquhart Castle and the Laggan Locks of the Caledonian Canal.

A87 – This 159 kilometer long road is situated between the town of Invergarry in western Scotland and the Isle of Skye on Scotland’s west coast.

This scenic Highland road passes the north shores of Loch Garry and Loch Cluanie and on through the rugged and hauntingly beautiful Glen Shiel before traversing the Kyle of Lochalsh by way of the Skye Road Bridge.
The road then makes it's way through the Isle of Skye, passing through the picturesque towns of Kyleakin and Broadford and the much photographed Portree before terminating at the ferry port town of Uig on the island’s west coast.

A93 - Scotland's A93 road is a 172 kilometer long road situated between the east coast cities of Aberdeen and Perth.
The road passes through the towns and cities of Aboyne, Ballater, Banchory, Blairgowrie and Braemar and Glen Shee, the Cairngorms National Park and Balmoral Forest.
The road, which travels through miles of isolated countryside along a large part of the course of the River Dee, is also renowned for containing the United Kingdom's highest stretch of roadway, the Cairnwell Pass, which is situated at an elevation of 670 meters above sea level.
The pass, which is located between the villages of Braemar and the Spital of Glenshee, has the Glen Shee Ski Centre located at it's summit and contains a notorious double hairpin bend with a gradient of 33 per cent known as the Devil's Elbow.

A817 – Only twelve kilometers long, this purpose built west coast road is located between the picturesque town of Loch Lomondside and the west coast village of Garelochhead in Argyll.
Known locally as the Rollercoaster Road due to it’s hilly terrain, the road makes it’s way through the bleak and isolated Glen Fruin, before passing the former missile bases of Faslane and Coulport. The military constructed the road during the 1980’s in order to transport warheads to these two naval facilities.

The road terminates in the village of Garelochhead which is situated on the northern shore of Gare Loch, a ten kilometer long sea loch located on the Firth of Clyde, which has evolved into a popular resort town.
The town is also situated not far from the HMNB Clyde naval base.

A917 – This 48 kilometer long road hugs the east coast of Fife between the village of Upper Largo on Fife’s East Neuk coast through to St Andrew’s on the Firth of Forth coast.

The road passes along the dramatic North Sea coastline of eastern Scotland passing through several picturesque fishing villages including the beautiful Pittenweem and the ancient coastal town of Anstruther before terminating at the world famous university town of St Andrew’s, which is also renowned for it’s ancient and royal links golf course.

WALES

The A470 at Bwlch Oerddws

A470 Road, Wales – This 299 kilometer long road runs through the centre of the principality from it’s capital city, Cardiff, on the Bristol Channel coast through to the country’s largest seaside resort of Llandudno located on it’s north coast.

The road is made up of dual carrageways, single carriageways, single tracks and mountain passes and makes it’s way through two of Wales’ national parks, the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Snowdonia National Park.

The road also makes it’s way through the picturesque towns and villages of Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Llangurig, Dolgellau, Blaneau Ffestiniog, Betws y Coed and the beautiful Conwy Valley before terminating on the country’s scenic Irish Sea coast at the bustling sea side resort of Llandudno.

A4069, Wales – Also known as the Black Mountain Pass, is a 32 kilometer long scenic route which links the villages of Llangadog and Lower Brynamman in Carmarthenshire across the Black Mountain located on the west side of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The road has an unltimate elevation of 493 meters above sea level and is renowned for it’s stunning lake and mountain views, hairpin bends and it’s roller coaster surface.

A 4086 Road, Wales – Also known as the Llanberis Pass, this slate strewn mountain pass is nestled between the impressive crags of Glyderau Mountain and the Snowden Massif of north Wales, passing the two reservoirs of Lyn Padarn and Lyn Peris, the Dinorwig Power Station and the thirteenth century, Dolbadarn Castle, before reaching the village of Llanberis.

The pass reaches it’s highest elevation at Pen – Y – Pass, situated at 360 meters above sea level, where there is a youth hostel and a car park which give visitors time to relax and take in the stunning views or go and explore the area on foot.

Just beyond Pen Y Pass there is a fork in the road which enables drivers access to either Beddgelert or Portmadog to the south or Betws y Coed or Capel Curig to the west.

A 542 Road, Denbighshire – Also known as Horsehoe Pass, this mountain road, which separates Llantysilio Mountain from the Cyrn y Brain, is located between the village of Llandega and the bustling inland resort of Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales.

The pass, which was constructed in a horse shoe shape, reaches an ultimate elevation of 417 meters above sea level as it makes it’s way through the dramatic hills and mountain crags of north Wales.

Located at the top of the pass is a car park, a lay by and a café, where visitors can take in the stunning views or indulge in a moorland walk. This rest area is also renowned for the many sheep which congregate there in the hope of being able to cadge food from any of the visitors.

The road is generally closed during the Winter months owing to snow making it impassable.