New Year Road Trip Ideas for UK Families

The most spectacular road trip in the UK. 516 miles of dramatic Highland scenery — mountains, sea lochs, white sand beaches, and virtually no traffic outside peak summer. Do it in a week, break it into sections over several trips, or pick a 2-day section that works for your children's ages. The summer route via Ullapool, Durness, and Duncansby Head is breathtaking. Book accommodation far in advance — this route is popular.

95 miles of UNESCO World Heritage coastline. Start at Exmouth, end at Studland Bay. The main draw for families: actual dinosaur fossils, genuinely brilliant beaches, and enough ice cream stops to fill an entire summer. Charmouth is the best spot for fossil hunting with younger children. The stretch from Lyme Regis to Swanage is the most dramatic. A long weekend covers the highlights; a full week means you can stop properly.

Some of the best family beaches in the UK, a coastline full of seabirds and grey seals, and a fraction of the crowds you get on the English coast. Barafundle Bay, Tenby, Freshwater West — each beach is different. Drive the coastal road from Cardigan to Pembroke for the best views. Welsh road trips are chronically under-rated.

A 2-3 day loop from Manchester or Sheffield taking in the Hope Valley, Chatsworth, Castleton, and Mam Tor. One of the most accessible long-weekend road trips in the UK — centrally located, varied terrain, excellent for older children who want to hike. Bakewell is a good overnight stop. Goes well with a steam train ride on the Midland Railway.

A gentle rolling road trip for families with younger children — less dramatic than Scotland or Wales but much more forgiving. The A272 through the heart of the Downs is a wonderful drive. Brighton and Eastbourne as bookends give you a beach at each end. Close enough to London for an overnight trip and back.