North Coast 500 named as top UK driving route in National Geographic survey

The North Coast 500 has been named as the UK’s favourite driving route in a survey of 2000 motorists.

The route around the north Highlands finished ahead of two English locations – Cheddar Gorge, in the Mendip Hills, and Snake Pass, in the Peak District National Park.

The survey by National Geographic was carried out to celebrate 10 years of the TV show Car SOS as series 11 starts this Thursday.

Fuzz Townshend, a presenter of Car SOS, said: “The North Coast 500 certainly feels a suitable winner of best road in the UK with its spectacular scenery.

"I can’t believe we’ve had a whole decade of the show – it has been fantastic reconnecting with some of the people we have previously met and hearing brilliant stories from other classic car owners.”

Top 10 best driving routes in the National Geographic survey:

1 The North Coast 500 route, starting from Inverness

2 Cheddar Gorge, through the Mendip Hills

3 Snake Pass, Peak District National Park

4 Kendal to Keswick in the Lake District

5 Snowdonia’s Llanberis Pass, in Wales

6 St Ives to St Just, in Cornwall

7 Best of the Moors, in Yorkshire

8 The Cotswolds – Cheltenham to Stratford

9 Cat and Fiddle route, in the Peak District

10 Black Mountain Pass in the Brecon Beacons

Car SOS returns on Thursday, March 9, at 8pm on National Geographic.

Celebrity guests and cameos featuring in series 11 include boxer Tyson Fury and Formula 1 driver Nigel Mansell.

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