Complete with winding coastal roads, vast sandy beaches, quaint fishing villages and captivating castle ruins, this incredible route shows off the very best of Britain’s natural beauty

A captivating coastal road trip tracing the north coast of Cornwall and Devon has been named among the UK’s most sensational driving routes by a travel expert.

Insights manager at Away Resorts, Dan Doherty, crowned the the Atlantic Highway as the fourth-most scenic summer drive the UK has to offer. With reports revealing that 71 per cent of Gen Z plan to visit viral travel hotspots, Dan has compiled a list of five unforgettable drives.

For anyone yearning to explore the UK’s coastline this summer, the Atlantic Highway promises an unforgettable adventure. The 191-mile stretch, officially known as the A39, stands out for its intoxicating blend of sea views, charming coastal towns and rolling Cornish countryside. It comes after beachgoers are left stunned after rare sea creature spotted off British coast.

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Dan said: “Running along the north coast of Cornwall and into Devon, the Atlantic Highway, A39, offers a blend of sea views, historic towns, and rolling countryside. Stretching from Barnstaple to Newquay, this scenic route passes dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, and surf towns like Bude and Padstow.

“The road offers glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean at various points, especially between Tintagel and Port Isaac, both steeped in legend and local charm. It’s an ideal drive for summer months, with plenty of stop-offs for icecreams and coastal walks.”

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Traveling along the A39, drivers journey through a tapestry of breathtaking landscapes and quaint seaside villages, each offering its own unique allure. The route sweeps past pretty fishing villages like Boscastle and the vibrant culinary hotspot of Padstow, famous for its charming harbour and spectacular seafood.

Each of these coastal gems is perfect for leisurely strolls, sampling local treats and soaking in the captivating views. The final destination, Newquay, is the surf capital of Cornwall, boasting vast golden beaches that make it a favourite for families and thrill-seekers alike.

Travel expert Dan’s top five most scenic UK drives are as follows:

1. North Coast 500, Scotland
2. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
3. The Lake District’s Kirkstone Pass, Cumbria
4. Atlantic Highway, Cornwall and Devon
5. Snake Pass, Peak District

Dan added: “With the rise of staycations and a growing appetite for more flexible, weather-proof travel options, road trips provide the perfect way to explore at your own pace. Whether you have a day or a week to spare, scenic road trips are the perfect way to explore the UK’s natural beauty.

“From spontaneous detours to peaceful viewpoints, travelling by car lets you enjoy the journey without the stress of crowds or fixed schedules. These routes offer the freedom to roam with the comfort of staying close to home, making them ideal for a relaxed and memorable summer escape.”

So whether you yearn to explore ancient castles, fancy fish and chips in picturesque harbours, or simply wish to savour the sparkle of sunlight on the waves while you cruise the coastline, the Atlantic Highway delivers a sensational summer road trip showing off the timeless beauty of Britain’s shores.

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It’s lunchtime. Liu Zhen and her travel buddies pull over at a highway rest stop in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Using an induction cooker powered by a new energy vehicle, they heat up a pot and cook a simple yet nutritious meal — rice mixed with vegetables and salted meat — to ease the exhaustion from the long journey.

For this group of six, mostly in their 60s, this is just another day of their adventurous road trip across western China. A month ago, the three couples set off from their hometown in Southwest China’s Chongqing in three SUVs. Since then, they have driven over 7,000 kilometers to Xinjiang, passing through the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu.

“The most stunning scenery is always the kind you encounter unexpectedly,” Liu says. “The highlight of this trip for me is when we catch sight of some beautiful landscapes from the car window. We stop, hop out, and enjoy the view.”

Among all the scenic spots they encountered, one in particular left the deepest impression on Liu — the sight of horses galloping through a river in a wetland park in Zhaosu county, part of northern Xinjiang’s Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture.

“It was breathtaking, and we took lots of great photos,” Liu says. One of her greatest pleasures on the trip has been sharing those photos online.

Their entire journey revolves around their vehicles, which are equipped with portable water boilers. They refill at highway rest stops and prepare meals on the induction stove using ingredients bought along the way. When night falls, they transform their SUVs into cozy bedrooms by folding down the back seats and laying out a soft mattress.

“This way of traveling may be a bit tough, but it is economical and offers much flexibility and freedom. You travel as long as you want,” Liu says.

She adds that Xinjiang’s well-developed highway network and driver-friendly infrastructure have made the trip much easier. “The roads are wide and smooth and easy to navigate, and self-driving camps are easy to find. Plus, the well-equipped rest stops enable us to refresh and recharge,” she adds.

Silver-haired travelers are becoming a growing force in China’s tourism industry. According to data from the China National Committee on Aging, seniors now make up over 20 percent of the country’s total tourist population.

Many retirees are embracing self-driving tours as a rising trend. According to zuzuche.com, a Guangzhou-based self-driving tour platform, during this year’s five-day May Day holiday, the number of outbound self-driving tourists aged 60 and above increased by 6.5 percent year-on-year. The number of senior tourists choosing domestic road trips grew by 27 percent.

Liu and her companions are all members of a self-driving club in Chongqing, which organizes group trips. Among the over 400 club members, most are seniors.

For Liu’s friend Tu Jianping, road trips are nothing new. Over the years, her SUV has taken her to explore the plateaus of western Sichuan and traverse the border regions of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province. Next year, she and her husband plan to tackle the high altitudes of Xizang autonomous region.

“The children have to go to school. The young people have to work. For us retirees, we have savings and plenty of time on our hands; and this is our time to enjoy life,” she says.

By the end of 2024, China’s population aged 60 and above exceeded 310 million. As living standards and health improve, the country’s growing elderly population is driving a booming consumer market.

According to a plan on special initiatives to increase consumption, released earlier this year, China will develop industries such as antiaging and senior tourism to unleash the potential of the silver-haired consumer market.

Tu also keeps a habit of documenting her daily travel experiences and sharing them on WeChat Moments.

In one post, she describes driving along a section of National Highway 216, which runs through extreme terrain, including deserts and high plateaus: “Outside the car window, visibility is extremely low. The swirling sands seem alive, at times gathering into towering dunes, at others dissolving into a haze of dust and fog. My heart is clenched tight, my palms grow damp.

“The road ahead is but a slender thread, leading us into a 600-km stretch where the altitude soars beyond 5,000 meters. Our drivers’ eyes gleam with the thrill of adventure, but my heart remains as restless as the howling wind outside.”

For Tu, writing down her daily reflections isn’t just about sharing with family and friends — it’s a gift to her future self.

“I want to preserve these memories in words,” she says. “So that when I’m too old to move, I can still travel through them, reliving every moment as I read.”