by Anna Hann
posted on 18 September 2026
Some of the best places in Britain sit just beyond the useful reach of public transport.
The train gets you to the town. The bus gets you somewhere nearby. Then the road carries on.
These five landmarks are easier to explore with a car, whether you’re escaping London for the day, heading north from Manchester, or turning the Highlands into a proper road trip.
Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire
Around two hours from London, the Uffington White Horse has been looking out over the downs for roughly 3,000 years. The chalk figure sits in a much bigger ancient landscape, with Uffington Castle, Dragon Hill, and the Ridgeway all within walking distance.
The nearest railway stations are Swindon, 12 miles away, and Didcot, 15 miles away, so driving makes it much easier to head straight for White Horse Hill and explore at your own pace. The National Trust car park sits below the hill, followed by a short but steep walk up towards the horse. There are no toilets at White Horse Hill itself, so make your stop before you arrive.
You don’t need much car for this one. A compact hatchback is plenty for the run out of London and easier to live with once the roads get smaller.
And don’t turn round once you’ve seen the horse. Walk further along the Ridgeway towards Wayland’s Smithy, a Neolithic long barrow, or get back in the car and continue west to Avebury for another dose of prehistoric Britain.
Three Shires Head, Peak District
You can leave Manchester and be walking towards a Peak District waterfall in around 90 minutes.
Three Shires Head marks the point where Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire meet. An old packhorse bridge crosses the River Dane here, surrounded by waterfalls, stone walls, and open moorland.
You can’t drive right to the landmark. A good starting point is Clough House near Wildboarclough, where you leave the car and continue on foot. The circular walk is around 4.5 miles and usually takes two to two-and-a-half hours. Expect rocky ground and potentially boggy sections after rain. There are picnic tables at Clough House, but no toilets, and no public transport to the car park itself.
This is a good trip for something compact rather than unnecessarily bulky. If several of you are sharing the day, though, extra boot space for wet coats, backpacks, and muddy boots soon earns its keep.
Buxton is around 15 minutes away by car, making it an easy place to aim for afterwards if lunch, coffee, and dry socks suddenly sound appealing.
High Cup Nick, Cumbria
High Cup Nick takes a little more commitment.
From Manchester, allow around two hours to reach Dufton, where the road trip gives way to the Pennine Way. From there, the landscape gradually opens into High Cup Gill, a huge glacial valley edged with dark dolerite crags.
There are a few ways to tackle it. The out-and-back walk from Dufton to High Cup Nick is around 7.5 miles, while the full circular route is closer to 10.5 miles. There are public toilets at Dufton village car park, which is worth knowing before heading onto the fell for a few hours.
If you’re making the trip with friends or family, this is where a roomier car starts to make sense. Think comfortable seating and a decent boot rather than off-road credentials.
It’s also an easy trip to stretch into a weekend. Stay around Appleby or Penrith, then head towards Ullswater the next day rather than retracing the same road back to Manchester as soon as the walk is over.
Llyn y Fan Fach, Bannau Brycheiniog
The last few miles tell you you’re heading somewhere good.
Llyn y Fan Fach sits beneath Bannau Sir Gaer on the western side of Bannau Brycheiniog, surrounded by the Black Mountain landscape and tied to the Welsh legend of the Lady of the Lake.
Getting there means leaving the main roads behind. From Llanddeusant, a minor road takes you towards the free car park at the start of the walk. From there, it’s a four-mile circular route with a continuous climb of almost 250 metres to the glacial lake.
The last few miles are also why smaller makes sense here. The approach uses narrow country lanes, so a compact, fuel-efficient car is likely to feel more comfortable than something oversized.
If you’re not ready to point the car home afterwards, Usk Reservoir makes an easy second stop, or break the journey in Llandovery before heading back.
Duncansby Head, Scottish Highlands
John o’Groats gets most of the attention, but the road carries on.
A couple of miles further east, Duncansby Head marks the northeastern tip of mainland Britain. From the lighthouse, the coast opens out towards the Pentland Firth, while a short walk brings you to the Duncansby Stacks rising from the sea below the cliffs.
You can walk from John o’Groats to Duncansby Head and the stacks, a route of around three kilometres each way, or drive to the lighthouse car park and explore the coast from there.
From Inverness, allow around three hours each way. That’s why this one works better as part of a road trip than a there-and-back dash. Comfort and sensible fuel economy matter more here than anything designed to look rugged.
And don’t treat the drive north as dead time. Dunrobin Castle sits around 50 miles north of Inverness and makes a natural stop along the way. Stay around Wick or John o’Groats, then add the Castle of Mey the following day if it’s open during your trip.
The car to choose
Not every good trip fits neatly around a bus or train station.
Sometimes the better plan starts where the timetable finishes: down the smaller road, beyond the village, or at the trailhead you wouldn’t otherwise reach.
Choose a car that fits the trip. Something compact for narrow lanes, more seats when everyone’s coming, or a comfortable long-distance option when the road itself is part of the weekend.
Then see what else is out there.
