Nationwide Vehicle Contracts lists the most romantic road trips in the UK to help with your Valentine's Day plans.
Thinking of new and exciting Valentine's Day plans can be tricky. Luckily, here in the UK, we're home to some of the world's most romantic road trips that will impress your loved one.
You can also take it up another notch by planning a surprise stop on the way or crafting the perfect playlist to make the trip that bit more special.
To help you plan the perfect trip, car leasing experts Nationwide Vehicle Contracts list the most romantic road trips in the UK for Valentine's Day.
Romantic road trips
Cotswolds Romantic Road, England
The Cotswolds is known for its picturesque scenery, which is why its home to the most romantic road in the UK. Copse Hill Road in Lower Slaughter, also known as the Romantic Road, is perfect for a Valentine's Day road trip with your loved one.
Passing through several beautiful villages and towns such as Castle Combe, Chipping Norton, and Stow on the Wold, you can admire the fantastic rare limestone grasslands as you pass from one location to the next.
Although the road splits in two, both loops pass through the elegant town of Cheltenham, so why not plan a day out there to make the day more special.
The Lake District National Park Route, England
The Lake District is an area of natural beauty and a great choice for a romantic road trip. As you drive along the windy roads, you can soak up the incredible views across Lake Windermere and Grasmere, as well as one of the highest peaks in the UK, Scafell Pike.
If you fancy stopping off somewhere, several picturesque walks around the lakes will work up an appetite, which can be satisfied by an exquisite lunch in one of the many pubs.
North Coast 500, Scotland
If you and your partner fancy a proper road trip, the North Coast 500 in Scotland is the one for you. Dubbed Scotland's Route 66, the 500-mile trip takes you through the rugged scenery of the Highlands, past historic castles and deserted beaches.
There are plenty of places to stop on the trip and sample the local Scottish cuisine and take part in activities such as fishing, whale watching, or even white water rafting!
Remember to ensure you've got enough time to complete the trip, which takes between five and seven days.
York to Robin Hood's Bay, England
Starting in York and ending up in the fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay, this road trip takes you through the picturesque scenes of the North York Moors and the North Yorkshire coast in just over an hour.
This trip is the perfect choice for Valentine's Day if you want a balance between views and culture, with the landscape of the North York Moors inspiring the works of writers, including the Bronte sisters and Lewis Carroll. You'll also stop off at Goathland village, home to Hogsmeade railway station from the Harry Potter films.
Black Mountain Road, Brecon Beacons, Wales
Taking in the romantic landscapes of the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountain Road is a 32 km stretch along the scenic A4069. Along the trip, you'll drive through dipping mountain passes and then elevate to an impressive 493 metres, giving wonderful views out of the car window.
On a clear day, you can see over the Brecon Beacons for miles, with the colourful flowers and mountain peaks making it a sight to behold. Combining this with a good picnic and a Valentine's Day playlist, this drive will impress your loved one.
How to make the trip special
First off, prepare the car
You've planned your trip and surprised your loved one; what else could possibly go wrong? Well, first things first, make sure that your car is road-trip worthy.
If you've got a few weeks to spare, try and book a service to ensure everything is swimmingly under the bonnet. Also, ensure that the heater and infotainment system is working. You don't want to be in a freezing cold car in the middle of nowhere; yeah, not too romantic! Check out our servicing guide for more information.
Finally, give the interior of the car a proper clean. The last thing your partner wants is to be sat in a dirty car for their Valentine's Day trip, so ensure it's clean and smelling nice.
Go the extra mile
To make this trip truly memorable, you'll need to pull out all the stops. Make sure you've got a suitable playlist for the journey that your partner will enjoy. Take some time to think about your partner's favourite musicians and songs; this will go a long way and show that you care.
Also, depending on the technology in your car, why not include some mood lighting to make the trip that bit more romantic. If your car features customisable ambient lighting, make the most out of it!
Stop off somewhere on the way. We've picked our top five because they all have something to do along the way, so why not plan a little extra and surprise your partner a bit more. Our personal favourites from our top five are a boat trip across Lake Windermere (The Lake District) or a stop off in the regency town of Cheltenham (The Romantic Road).
What do you think of our list?
