A new study has named Cumbria as the second-best location for a summer road trip in the UK, beaten only by Devon. The research, conducted by tyre firm Blackcircles, analysed counties across Britain to find the top destinations for motoring adventures.
Study Methodology and Rankings
Researchers evaluated factors including campsites, tourist attractions, walking trails, and fuel stations to assign each county a score out of 10. They also considered safety, accounting for road collisions per 100,000 people. Devon secured first place with a score of 7.85, buoyed by 388 campsites and 1,007 walking trails. Cumbria followed closely with a score of 7.82, boasting 2,300 walking trails—the highest in the study—alongside 349 campsites and 166 tourist attractions.
Cumbria's Scenic Drives and Attractions
Home to the Lake District National Park, Cumbria offers spectacular mountain scenery and a beautiful coastline. The county features Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, and challenging drives such as Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, known for steep gradients and tight hairpin bends. The A591 from Kendal to Keswick provides a scenic route past Lake Windermere and Grasmere.
Other Top-Ranked Counties
North Yorkshire ranked third with a score of 7.79, encompassing both the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors National Parks. Lancashire placed seventh with 7.47, and Cheshire rounded out the top ten with a score of 7.28. The full list includes Devon, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Kent, Highland, Hampshire, Lancashire, Cornwall, Somerset, and Cheshire.
