On the Road: Five Terrific Car Trips

When it comes to road trips, it’s all about the journey: the sense of freedom, the ever-changing surroundings, the wind rushing through your hair. Our partner Holiday Lettings takes the wheel and guides you through some ultimate road trips, from the Amalfi Coast to the Atlas Mountains.

beautiful view from italian Amalfi Coast Road

As you weave your way down the corkscrew-tight road between Salento and Sorrento, you may feel like you’ve stepped onto a 30-mile roller-coaster ride. Towering cliffs plunge into the sparkling Mediterranean, twist round then soar up towards pastel-painted villages and verdant terraces. No wonder it’s dubbed the Divine Coast.

Once you reach Sorrento in one piece you can relax in this civilised town. You could chill out in the charming Piazza Tasso or head to the courtyard at the nearby San Francesco Cloister for a moment of peace and quiet. A short walk away you’ll find the Marina Grande, where you can try the fresh fish at one of the seafood restaurants.

amazing view on mountains when you ride The Evo Triangle road

This blast across the Denbigh Moors is as thrilling as the latest Porsche: it was even named after the test drive devised by EVO Magazine, the bible for all performance-car enthusiasts. A 20-mile trio of roads forming a triangular route, it offers petrolheads the ultimate ride: long uphill climbs, hairpin bends and stunning scenery. And you might just spy EVO’s reviewers testing out a cool new machine.

Stretch your legs with a hike across the rugged landscape and admire this surviving section of a vast grouse moor. With a bit of luck, you’ll also spot red squirrels in Clocaenog Forest on the east of the moor. Alternatively, you can take in the ruins of nearby Gwylfa Hiraethog watchtower; it won’t come as a shock to discover that they are reputedly haunted.

The Bertha Benz Memorial Route waymark in Germany

Fancy following the route of the first known road trip? In 1888 Bertha Benz stole her husband’s experimental motorcar, driving 66 miles from Mannheim to her mother’s place in Pforzheim. Proof that cars could get this far (albeit at 10 miles an hour) garnered publicity for the family business, ultimately Mercedes-Benz. The creation of the Bertha Benz Memorial Route marks her trip.

When you get to Pforzheim you can find out more about early cars at the quirky Vehicle Museum. Fashion fans will be in their element here too, as there’s a fascinating Jewellery Museum nearby with pieces dating back to 1600 BC. When you’re hungry, Hoppe's Badisch-Elsassische Essfreude is a fab option for hearty local food in the town centre.

Route 66 sign on the road in the USA

To experience the ultimate American road trip, you have to try the legendary Route 66. Your 2,000-mile trip starts with the urban buzz of Chicago and St Louis. Carry on to the indigenous American settlements of the Southwest’s deserts and the majestic Grand Canyon. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you can bask in the Los Angeles sunshine.

While you’re in LA, you can check out masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet at The Getty Center. Then just follow Sunset Strip to Universal Studios and ride round Jurassic Park or step into the world of the Transformers. To complete the perfect day, wind up the Hollywood Hills to the Griffith Observatory for spectacular views as the sun sets.

amazing weavy Atlas mountain road in Morocco

You may think you’re taking part in a Grand Prix as you swerve and swirl up towards the Tizi-n-‘Tichka Pass. The road leads you 117 miles from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and climbs to 6,000 ft. Your reward for holding on tight is the spellbinding panorama from the summit of the pass. Here you gaze across the Souss Valley and watch the Anti-Atlas Mountains emerge through the mist.

An exploration of Ouarzazate, the town at the far end of the road, is a highlight of any trip to Morocco. In fact, you may recognize it as the location for films including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars. Why not step into the Cinema Museum a few miles out of the town centre, where you can browse old sets and props? Opposite the museum you’ll find the authentic Taourirt Kasbah - step into its winding alleys and snap up a bargain in one of the backstreet shops.

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Exploring the world’s most beautiful places is a tough job but somebody has got to do it! I’ve loved exploring since spending childhood summers in Newport, Rhode Island and Marstrand, a little island off the west coast of Sweden.

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