If you’ve never treated yourself to a luxurious road trip, 2024 could be the perfect time to try one. Here’s how to plan a tour of the sights in the UK and even beyond while treating yourself like royalty.
Choosing Your Vehicle
Part of the appeal of a luxury road trip is the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a vehicle you wouldn’t ordinarily drive, and nothing will get you excited about your trip more quickly than taking your first look at a car that just screams luxury.
Choosing a car to hire for the trip doesn’t just come down to aesthetics, though you should let yourself indulge on that front. Depending on where you’re planning on driving, you might need to look out for a vehicle that can handle specific kinds of terrain – if the one you really want might struggle, you could enquire about switching it to use Mercedes-branded tyres. Make sure your chosen vehicle has enough room for your luggage, as well.
Picking Out Accommodation
While the freedom of driving for as long as you like is part of the magic of a road trip, it’s best not to leave your hotels up to the mercy of what you can find on any given day. To ensure you spend your nights with the same feeling of luxury as your days on the road, you ought to start booking accommodation as far in advance as you can to secure rooms. Knowing where you’ll end up at the end of the day allows you to plan your breaks, too.
Research Your Destinations
You won’t want to spend all your time actually on the road, of course – Picking out things to do from place to place when you stop is half the fun. Start with the furthest point of your journey, then start looking into promising destinations at suitable intervals between there and home. To focus on that feeling of Luxury, look into the most renowned spas in the range of your journey or find that perfectly picturesque town with the best range of boutique shops to browse. For a truly personalized and luxurious experience, consider enlisting a travel concierge service that can offer bespoke recommendations and tailored experiences to make your journey even more memorable.
Get Insured
Even if you’ll be hiring a car for your holiday, it’s still vital that you have proper car insurance when you’re on the road. It’s possible to get temporary insurance for a vehicle you don’t own so if you aren’t already covered for the kind of car you’re excited to drive, make sure to arrange that in advance. If you’re planning to drive over to Europe, you’ll also need to consider travel insurance.
The Great West Way is a 125-mile touring route between London and Bristol based on ancient roads. Recently we were invited on a press trip covering this touring route driving through characterful villages, towns full of history and bustling cities in the South West of England.
We started in Bristol, headed towards Bath, stopped in Devizes and now it was our day 3. You can catch up with our day 1 and day 2 here.
Day 3 Devizes to Yattendon
On day 3 we woke up in our luxurious lodge in Devizes Marina with a view of canal boats from our window.
Our lodge had been so cosy last night and we would definitely recommend a stay here.
With two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small but perfectly formed kitchen, a lounge/diner and a hot tub, the lodge had everything we needed. It was beautifully decorated too, which is always a plus point, in muted shades of browns and creams.
You can hire a boat on the canal too if you want to unleash your inner Rosie and Jim.
So it was time to check out and make our way to our first stop, Wadworth Brewery.
Wadworth Brewery is located in the heart of Devizes, a short drive from Devizes Marina. Established in 1875 this family-owned brewery still makes traditionally made ales today.
To find out more about the brewery we took a brewery tour that runs Monday to Saturday, all year round excluding bank holidays.
The tour begins with a potted history of the brewery, and you are shown the brewing process in their traditional Victorian brewery. I didn't realise Wadworth Brewery produces 12.5 million pints a year, that's a lot of beer! The use of traditional methods are still going strong, and even the yeast is from a batch that is 45 years old. However, Wadworth Brewery has also moved with the times and they now make gluten-free and vegan beer - not many people know that.
It was interesting to see the traditional pub signs being renovated and painted in the workshop at the brewery too. The good old British weather really does give the signs a battering. They are one of only a few last remaining brewers in the UK that still have an in-house sign writing team upholding this traditional art of hand painting. The skill that goes into painting each pub sign is obvious.
It was also cool to see the shire horses. The shire horses at the brewery have been delivering real ales to local pubs for the past 140 years. Although they are working horses they also make promotional visits to pubs around the country and take part in county shows where they win awards for their immaculate turnout and grooming.
We ended the visit with a tasting of the real ales, which is always a plus point! The Wadworth Brewery Tour costs £12 per adult and takes around 2 and a half hours. It's an old brewery and there are some steep stairs so if you have mobility issues I would check with the brewery first that they can accommodate you to avoid disappointment.
Our next stop was for lunch at the Three Tuns Freehouse, a 35-minute drive away. We had heard how amazing the food was so felt this drive was worth it, and it wasn't far from our next stop on the North Wessex Downs.
The Three Tuns Freehouse is a freehold village pub midway between Marlborough and Hungerford on the Wiltshire/Berkshire border. Service was efficient and as we ordered we were greeted by James, the chef who spoke with enthusiasm about the pub and the food he cooks. With the emphasis on quality food, from local suppliers, the Three Tuns has won a variety of awards such as the best local restaurant in the South West by the Good Food Guide 2019 and Sawdays 'Most Authentic Pub'.
But enough talking, it was time to order and before long our food arrived. Mr W ordered the beetroot risotto. I was intrigued by this dish, the colour was very vivid, so had to try it and it was really tasty! Who knew beetroot risotto could be so flavourful, I was really surprised?
My ham egg and chips were very good too. Great quality ham from a butcher in Devizes with a good marbling of fat, and a tasty cure. Served with hand cut chips and two perfectly done fried eggs, it was a simple hearty flavourful plate for food.
The dessert was perfect for those with a sweet tooth - an amazingly rich chocolate and peanut butter cheesecake. Not the lightest of dessert yet incredibly moreish, the thin biscuit base was topped with a sticky chocolate filling and a rich peanut butter ganache. Served with a creamy milk sorbet and shavings of peanut brittle, it certainly was a dessert to die for! Would we visit again? For sure, as we can say, hand on heart, its some of the best pub food we've ever had. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. North Wessex Downs
Our next stop was Pewsey Downs in the North Wessex Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty. There is a small car park at Pewsey Downs so that is useful to know if you are thinking of stopping here.
What's so special about Pewsey Downs is that it is an unspoilt chalk downland area, of special scientific interest. It covers three hills - Milk Hill, Walkers Hill and Knap Hill and includes the Alton Barnes white horse, made of chalk and cut into the hillside.
The horse is approximately 180 feet high and 160 feet long and was cut into the side of the mountain in 1812 under the commission of local farmer Robert Pile. It's the second biggest of the nine white horses in the Wiltshire countryside.
We wrapped up well on our visit to the area, as it had been snowing and it was bitterly cold. There is no shelter in the area so if you do go for a walk be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing. Our guide Anne Shepley from North Wessex Downs tourism took us around the area. Check out the North Wessex Downs website where you can download maps and tourist information of the area.
The landscape looked beautiful with a fine dusting of snow, I bet in the summer with a carpet of pretty flowers on the downland and the butterflies fluttering around it is a sight to be seen too. Apparently, there are rare early Gentian flowers in the Spring and Summer as well as Orchids and the internationally rare Marsh Fritillary butterflies Landscape views stretch across the Vale of Pewsey to Salisbury Plain and on a clear day, you can see for miles.
Before long it was time to move on as we were getting frosty, but we will definitely return in the spring or summer.
Yattendon
Our last stop for today was the little village of Yattendon. By this time, the weather has worsened and had started to snow quite heavily.
The Royal Oak in Yattendon was our stop for the night. We were given one of the rooms in their cottage which had a four-poster bed. It's always nice to stay in a room with a four-poster, as it adds a little romance and touch of glamour to a stay.
The room was a good size, with a small seating area, large wardrobe, flat screen TV and dressing table. The furnishings were good quality and the room was decorated in shades of cream, browns and beige.
I was really impressed with the bathroom, which was large and very spacious. Bonus points for having two sinks, as Mr W always likes to hog one, and a large rainfall shower as well as a bath.
A kettle and a tea and coffee tray was a nice touch, with homemade biscuits. I was asked if I wanted fresh milk, and they brought me soya milk at no extra charge. So nice not to have UHT milk. It's little touches like that, that make all the difference and make you think you are staying in a quality establishment.
The room was super warm and cosy, which we were pleased about as it was freezing outside. It had a little courtyard area outside too which would be perfect on a sunny day.
So after freshening up it was time to eat again. I must admit, after the lunch we had I wasn't that hungry but needs must, and after a drink in the hotel, and a look at the menu, my appetite started to return.
Some tasty prawns in a light tempura batter with sweet chilli sauce was a decent starter but didn't blow me away.
Mr W had the baked tortellini from the pizza oven with tomato melting mozzarella and basil, whilst I had the stuffed belly pork with apricot stuffing and green beans. Both dishes were well executed, the stuffing added a lovely sweet flavour to the belly pork, and the baked tortellini being an excellent choice for vegetarians. For dessert, some good quality New Forest vanilla ice cream made a simple end to a meal, and at only £1.50 a scoop was a bargain. Service was very attentive at the restaurant. A little note - as this pub is in an area noted for hunting, if you are a vegetarian the trophies on the walls may not be your sort of thing. That night we slept exceptionally well in our room and woke up to heavy snow fallen. Unfortunately, due to the weather, we decided to go home early and cut our trip short. First, however it was time for breakfast.
A selection of cereals and fruit as well as toast were available and a cooked to order breakfast with some lovely choices you don't get everywhere.
I went with the smashed avocado and poached egg on toast which was delicious. A scattering of pine nuts added a little crunch, some chilli and lemon a little heat and sharpness. Mr W enjoyed his Eggs Benedict which was cooked perfectly and not overdone. So it was time to make our way home. Our next stop would have been a trip on a canal boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal and a visit to Newbury, to try the Newbury Pub and gin distillery, but we will have to return to do this again. The Great West Way continues through Berkshire and ends at the Thames in London. To continue on this route I would suggest a visit to Windsor Castle and perhaps Hampton Court or Kew Gardens.
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I hope you enjoyed our journey on the Great West Way, check out our videos below for more information on this 125 mile touring route between Bristol and London and the Great West Way website. Let me know what you thought of the trip!
* AD thanks to the Great West Way for inviting us on this press trip
There is something special about a road trip. The excitement of visiting a number of places on your trip, the freedom of doing what you want and when and the little undiscovered gems you find along the way make it a real adventure. We really enjoy this aspect of travelling and travelling as a couple can be really romantic, there is something special about watching the sunrise and the sunset in a new place together. So here are our top 5 romantic road trips.
1. The Pacific Coast Highway USA
The iconic Pacific Coast Highway in California is one of those road trips you must do once in your life. We drove from Napa Valley to San Francisco then down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in Monterey with its world-famous aquarium, and Carmel a cute little town where Clint Eastwood was mayor. A stop in the Danish town of Solvang added something different, then a visit to the faded glamour that is Los Angeles was next, before moving on to the underrated city of San Diego. Two highlights were the amazing scenery of the Big Sur, with winding cliffs, mountains and incredible bays and the elephant seals at Elephant Seal Beach.
For a little romance, stop in the historic luxury Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, LA, with a view of the ocean and amazing sunsets, while the tiny town of Carmel has small boutique hotels to cosy up in.
2. The Ring Road Iceland
Viti Crater
If you want to see unusual rugged landscapes with black sand beaches, moss-covered mountains, jaw-dropping glaciers, huge craters and ice-cold waterfalls then take the 850-mile Route 1 ring road around Iceland. To explore it properly I would recommend taking at least 7 days to take in the serene and lunar-like beauty of the landscape. We particularly loved glacier hiking on SvÃnafellsjökull, Goðafoss, the lakes of Lake Myvatn and the cute town of Akureyri.
For a romantic stroll, walk the black sand beach near Vik, and then visit the cute little church on the hill. Book a hotel in the middle of nowhere with little light pollution and at certain times of the year, you may be able to see the northern lights. Along the way, you will see a number of geothermal pools and hot pots, so take your swimming costume to indulge in the warm water. Don't forget to check if its safe to get in first!
3. The Romantic Road Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle
The 'Romantic Road' in Germany, is a drive from the River Main to the Alps, taking you along chocolate box homes, adorned with flower boxes, 12 little mediaeval villages and awe-inspiring castles. You can even stay in the 1000-year-old Castle Hotel Colmberg along the way.
Würzburg is great for beautiful vineyards and exceptional wine whilst Pfaffenwinkel is famous for its churches and pristine landscapes. A stop at the real-life inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle Neuschwanstein Castle is a must-see with your Prince Charming.
4. The Amalfi Coast Italy
The Amalfi Coast
For a breathtaking chic romantic road trip, Italy's Amalfi coast cannot be beaten. A UNESCO-protected site, the area around Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Sorrento is incredibly pretty and interesting too. Every turn of the winding road along the mountains takes in the azure sea and gives a panoramic view.
Here the romance is in the glamour of the trip, so why not hire a convertible Ferrari, don a headscarf and some sunnies and release your inner Audrey Hepburn from Roman Holiday. Stop along the way to take in the scenery, and indulge in an alfresco lunch by the sea, eat fresh seafood, and indulge in a glass of Prosecco watching the world go by.
5. Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands
The UK has several great drives. I recommend driving Scotland's North Coast and hiring a luxury car to do the 500 miles in style. It will take you between 4 and 7 days to drive and take in Inverness's coastline and the black Isla, past Caithness Sutherland and Wester Ross. You will stumble across the smallest little fishing towns, whisky distilleries, the peaks of Loch Maree and Bealach Na BÃ and you’ll pass the most beautiful wildflowers, just watch out for the Highland cows and stags along the way.
For a little romance, stop and discover Smoo Cave in Sunderland, a mystical limestone sea cave, with a staggering 50 ft entrance and impressive cascading waterfall. One of the best times to travel the North Coast in Scotland is in autumn when you get the russet tones of the landscape. If you're looking for more inspiration, some of the most exciting trip ideas can be discovered online, with families from all over the world visiting the UK for various adventures.
So these are my 5 romantic road trips. Have you driven any of these drives? Where would you like to go on a road trip?
The Great Ocean Road in Australia is one of the most scenic and unforgettable road trips in the world. The beautiful coastline is just breathtaking and this is what makes the Great Ocean Road a memorable experience. In this post, I will talk about driving the Great Ocean Road in Australia and the must-see stops along the way. First a little about why we love road trips.
We adore road trips. Exploring the wide open spaces, seeing the beauty of the coastline, stopping in little towns and exploring and going off the beaten path are some of the reasons we love it so much. The world is a huge place and a road trip is a great way of seeing more of it. You also have an amount of freedom on a road trip, things aren't generally so scheduled, so if you see that instagrammable spot or that idyllic beachside cafe, you can stop and take it all in.
We've driven around the American Deep South from Memphis to Nashville, along the Pacific Coast Highway in California and around the Golden Circle, the south and north of Iceland. So when Mr W suggested we travel to Australia and drive around the country then, of course, I said yes. Australia is a huge country and there are some great road trips to take, but we decided to focus on the Great Ocean Road, as one of the most scenic drives in the whole of Australia.
The Great Ocean Road is a 151 mile (243 kilometres) stretch of road along the south-east coast of Australia between Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial.
Firstly preparation is key for a road trip. Choose your car or motorhome well. A car should be comfortable to drive and have air conditioning, a convertible may seem glamorous but you need to weigh up the pros and cons such as where will you put your bags and don't forget your sunscreen if you hire a convertible. Some towns may be small and not have a lot of accommodation so it's always worth booking ahead especially in peak season. With a motorhome you will have your place to stay with you at all times, however, you may not be able to park anywhere you like, so plan out the campsites in advance. You can buy a used motorhome here which may be worth it if you are travelling across Australia for a few months. So you have got your wheels sorted, packed your swimsuit and your sunscreen and now it's time to plan the stops along the way of the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Here are some of the key towns to visit along the drive. Torquay
The Great Ocean Road officially starts in Torquay (not the British one), a town famous for its surfing culture. The brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver were founded here and it has a surfing museum called Surf World, about surfing culture. It's also close to Bell's Beach made famous by the film Point Break and every year Rip Curl hold their pro surfing competition here.
Lorne
Lorne is a picturesque town known for its arts community. While you are here stop by at Qdos ARTS with its gallery and sculpture park. Mountjoy Parade has many shops and cafes so why not stop for coffee and cake and watch the world go by. Drive to Teddy's Lookout for a spectacular view of the Great Ocean Road over St George River and the coast. Close by are Angahook-Lorne State Park and the gorgeous Erskine Falls set among ferns.
Kennett River
Kennett River is a small seaside town 17 miles from Lorne. It is famous as it's one of the best places in Austrailia to see koala bears in the wild. Turn into Grey River Road, off the Great Ocean Road, and along the first two kilometres of the road, look up and you should be able to spot koalas in the eucalyptus. Also look out for king parrots, rosellas - a type of parrot and kookaburras. Watch out for dolphins and seals along the coast and magnificent whales from May to September. Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay is a small seaside town known for the Apollo Bay Music Festival every April as well as the Great Ocean Sports Festival. It has shops, cafes and restaurants and is a great place to stop along the way. Close by is Cape Otway with Australia's oldest lighthouse as well as rainforests, streams, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Cape Otway was originally inhabited by the Gadubanud people, indigenous Australian people from Victoria and evidence of their campsites is contained in the middens throughout the region.
Port Campbell
Port Cambell is a small town known for the Twelve Apostles. These huge limestone structures tower up into the sky with a backdrop of limestone cliffs. Whilst in town take a walk on the Port Campbell jetty and then head inland to the Kanawinka Geotrail comprising of volcanic lakes and craters. This volcanic plain is the largest in Austrailia and the third largest in the world.
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As you can see there are lots to see and do along the Great Ocean Drive, some amazing wildlife to encounter and beautiful coastal points. For more about the Great Ocean Road check out the official Great Ocean Road website and for more information about the best places to visit in Australia check out this guide. Let me know, do you like road trips? Would you drive the Great Ocean Road in Australia? *PR Collaboration
*Sponsored post* My husband and I love going on road trips. There is something exciting about driving around a country, stopping where you want, seeing the places, the people, the cities, the towns and the tiny villages that you never knew were there. You can really get under the skin of a place and discover a country you didn't know existed. Of course, when you are planning a road trip you need to take into account the type of vehicle that will be perfect for your needs. You may be renting in a faraway place or buying a car for that classic road trip across Europe or the States. Maybe your car is due to be replaced so you buying a car that can serve both your every day and road trip needs. So here are some things that you really need to think about when choosing the right road trip vehicle for that awesome trip. Size of car
The size of the car can be directly related to the size of your road trip party. Is it just you, you and your partner or your family too? You will need a car big enough to include your luggage too, so check the size of the boot/trunk. Often a smaller car can be more economical and easier to park but you also want to be comfortable driving as well. If you are driving long distances a large car like a family saloon or SUV is usually more comfortable in my experience and can feel safer than a small car too. So way up the size of the car carefully. Features of the car
There are some features you may think you definitely need and some features that you would like but aren't essential. This isn't so important when buying or renting a new car, as most cars these days have features like air conditioning, but is more important if you are buying an older car. Some features to consider are below. Air conditioning - very important in hot weather Sat Nav - useful if built in, but you could use Google maps on your phone Bluetooth connectivity - to play music in your car seamlessly Back up cameras - to show what is behind you and help with reverse parking Automatic stop and start engines - useful if you are driving in built-up areas to save petrol/gas Type of car
There are certain types of car that people think of when they think 'road trip' and most of these are convertibles. Driving a convertible across America is often a dream of road trippers but is it all it is cracked up to be? I know when we hired a Mustang in the States, the wind in our hair was great, but the sun beating down on us, not so much. If you have people in the back they will be windswept that's for sure and if you hire a convertible don't forget the sunscreen! A convertible often has a small boot/trunk too, so not ideal for a long road trip. A vintage or classic car could be another idea, such as an old Jaguar, Porsche or MG but there are particular problems here too. You will have to weigh up the cost of buying/renting a vintage car, and the excitement of driving one against the old-fashioned suspension which could affect the comfort and the lack of modern features. Older cars are more likely to be gas guzzlers and air conditioning will be unlikely. These issues may not worry you if you want to go for the cool classic car experience but still need to be considered. If you are driving off-road, or across difficult terrain, you may want to consider a 4 by 4, also called a 4 wheel drive. I know when we drove around Iceland on a road trip, we were really grateful for this type of car which can help driving on gravel roads, light snow, sand, mud and water. A luxury sports car is the top of the range option, however, the cost will be high and economy low. Still a fantastic experience if you can afford it. Luggage space is usually non-existent, so best to hire just for a day or two. A mid-size or large saloon style car or SUV is often the choice for many road trippers, for the combination of comfort, leg space, features and room for your bags, all this especially important if you are driving a long distance. So as you can see there are many things to consider with the type of car, at the end of the day, however, the choice is yours. Cost
When buying or hiring a cost there are obviously cost implications. A small car is generally more economical and cheaper, although there are exceptions, the bigger you go and the more features the car has, the more expensive it will be. If you are buying a car for a road trip, sites like Cars.com will help you find your perfect road trip vehicle and can be searched by car type, make, price, style and MPG. A sports car, convertible, classic or vintage car will be more expensive to buy/rent and to insure compared to a family saloon. Older cars are also more likely to break down and can be less reliable than a newer car, so this is something else to think about. I hope you enjoyed my brief guide to choosing a road trip vehicle. Let me know, have you ever been on a road trip? What is your ideal road trip vehicle?
