United Kingdom · May 2024
From Big Ben to the Isle of Skye
A Volvo Road Trip Through England and Scotland
A self-drive journey from London's landmarks through Oxford, Stonehenge and the Cotswolds, up the M6 to the Lake District, across the border to Edinburgh, through the Highlands to the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness, and back south to the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters.
Some countries are best seen from the Tube. Britain is best seen from the driver's seat. We spent our first days exploring London one metro ride at a time. Then we picked up a Volvo and headed north on a road trip covering almost the whole island. We did a headstand at Stonehenge, called home from a red phone box in the Cotswolds, hiked Catbells above Derwentwater for a birthday trek, crossed into Scotland, and kept driving until the road ran out at Skye's Fairy Pools and the cliffs of Kilt Rock. We finished with one last 13 km hike along England's white cliffs.
- Duration
- May 2024
- The ride
- Volvo XC40 (rental)
- Route
- London → Oxford → Stonehenge → Windsor → Cotswolds → Lake District → Edinburgh → Highlands (Tyndrum, Loch Linnhe) → Isle of Skye → Loch Ness → Seven Sisters → Gatwick
- Countries
- England and Scotland
- Signature hike
- Seven Sisters Cliffs (13.04 km, 316 m of climbing)
- Biggest milestone
- Reaching the Isle of Skye at the end of the road
Route
9 stops
Tap a pin to jump to that stop.
Day by day
The itinerary
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1 London Discover the Heartbeat of a City, One Metro Ride at a Time
We landed in London and went straight underground, discovering the city one Tube ride at a time. We relaxed on the grass in St James's Park with Buckingham Palace nearby (and the friendliest squirrels in England), looked up at Big Ben, walked across Tower Bridge and stood in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square. We also explored the Natural History Museum, standing under a giant mastodon skeleton, and the Science Museum.
“Discover the heartbeat of a city, one metro ride at a time.”
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2 Oxford, Stonehenge & Windsor Dreaming Spires & Ancient Stones
Once we had the Volvo, the road trip began. We walked Oxford's honey-coloured streets to the Radcliffe Camera, then drove onto Salisbury Plain to see Stonehenge. Gravity can't solve that 5,000-year-old puzzle, so I tried looking at it upside down with a headstand. We also visited Windsor Castle, one of the oldest royal homes still in use.
“Stuck between a rock and a mysterious place. Pondering Stonehenge upside down.”
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3 Bibury & the Cotswolds Storybook Villages & Red Phone Boxes
We drove through the rolling Cotswolds to Bibury, with honey-stone cottages, a trout stream and gardens straight out of a postcard. It's the England you picture in your head. Of course we had to pose by a classic red telephone box.
“I'm at a payphone, trying to call home.”
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4 The Lake District Golden-Hour Drives & a Birthday Trek
We drove up the M6 with a service-station coffee stop, then into the Lake District, staying near Bowness-on-Windermere. Every evening the drive back was a sunset show over the lanes and lakes. The highlight was a birthday trek up Catbells above Derwentwater, standing on the summit with the lake and islands spread out below. Not all who wander are lost. Some are travelers and explorers.
“Witnessing the prettiest sunset ever, with every shade of colour painting the sky.”
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5 Edinburgh Time to Discover the Magic of Scotland
We passed the "Welcome to Scotland" sign and drove north to Edinburgh. From the hills above the city we had panoramic views over gorse-covered slopes, rooftops and the Firth of Forth. We walked the cobbled Royal Mile, climbed to Edinburgh Castle for the skyline, and found one of the city's quirkiest secrets, the Frankenstein pub.
“Edinburgh panoramas. Every hill here is a viewpoint.”
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6 The Highlands road: Tyndrum & Loch Linnhe Lochs, Glens & Volvo Miles
Heading northwest, the road opened up into true Highland scenery: wide glens, still lochs and big, changing skies. We stopped for coffee at the Artisan Cafe in Tyndrum, walked along the shore of Loch Tulla, and stood beside Loch Linnhe with mountains rising across the water.
“Travel partner for life. Loch Linnhe, Scottish Highlands.”
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7 Isle of Skye The Edge of the World
The last stretch brought us over the bridge to the Isle of Skye. We hiked out to the Fairy Pools under misty peaks, stood at Kilt Rock as the waterfall plunged straight off the cliff into the sea, and wandered the colourful harbour of Portree on the Isle of Whisky.
“Kilt Rock, Isle of Skye. Officially the edge of the world.”
Photos from this stop are coming soon. -
8 Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle Mist, Myths & a Ruined Castle
On the way back we looked out over Loch Ness from the hills, with the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shore, yellow gorse in the foreground and mist drifting over the water. There was no sign of Nessie, but the view didn't need her.
“Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. Nessie was shy, the view wasn't.”
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9 Seven Sisters Cliffs & goodbye at Gatwick One Last Hike, Until We Meet Next Time
We ended the trip on England's south coast, hiking 13 km along the chalk Seven Sisters Cliffs with turquoise water and a pebble beach below. Then we drove to Gatwick and watched the Emirates A380 waiting at the gate. That's a goodbye until we meet next time.
“One last hike. 13 km along the Seven Sisters, and every step was worth it.”
More from this trip
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