Roads of England

Nestled within the British Isles, England's roads are an enchanting tapestry of history, mystery, and unparalleled beauty. Every stretch is an ode to nature's grandeur and tales as old as time.

Take, for instance, the thrilling Snake Pass, threading its way through the Peak District. It promises not only a driver's delight with its serpentine twists and turns but also panoramic vistas of the lush countryside. The formidable Hardknott Pass, one of England's steepest, challenges the brave with its hairpin bends, while also serving a visual feast of the Lake District's ethereal landscapes. 

Venture to the northeast, and the Lindisfarne Causeway awaits, a unique road that emerges and vanishes with the tides. This ever-changing path that leads to the Holy Island becomes a symbol of England's transient and eternal beauties, all in one. However, not all roads echo with the tranquil hum of nature. The Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire is shrouded in whispers of the supernatural. This challenging road, framed by its industrial past, is not just a pathway but a portal to countless tales of eerie encounters and ghostly apparitions.

From the tranquil meadows of the Cotswolds to the haunting stretches of Stocksbridge, England's roads are a blend of the serene and the mysterious. As you traverse them, you're not just driving on tarmac, but embarking on a journey through legends, landscapes, and the very heart of English heritage.

Snake Pass, at 512m (1,679ft) above sea level, connects Manchester and Sheffield in Northern England. This mountain pass offers a challenging drive across the Pennines. Explore its details, history, and unique features that make it a notable route in the UK.

Hardknott Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 400m (1,312ft) above the sea level, located in the Duddon Valley of Cumbria, in England. It’s said to be the steepest road in England with a gradient of 1 in 3 (about 33%).

Swindon's Magic Roundabout is one of the most complex rotaries in the world. Located in Swindon, a large town within the Borough of Swindon and the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England, it has five smaller roundabouts directing traffic clockwise while cars travel counterclockwise around the inner circle. It's one of the world's 10 best roundabouts.

Located in the county of Northumberland, it lies on a tidal island known as Holy Island, also called Lindisfarne. Twice a day, the ancient path to the island disappears with the tides, leaving the Holy Island of Lindisfarne out to sea. Each year, there are many reports of people 'risking it' and having to be rescued from one of the raised safety points on the causeway. It’s one of the periodically flooded roads around the world.

Located in Somerset county, in South West England, Porlock Hill is said to be the steepest A road in the country.

Stocksbridge Bypass is a challenging road located in South Yorkshire, England. Numerous reports of paranormal activity along this road, including sightings of ghostly figures, strange lights, and eerie sounds, have earned it a reputation as one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Winnats Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 416m (1,364ft) above sea level, located in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, in England. The road to the summit averages over 10%, with a considerable section of 28% near the top.

Across England, a few daunting streets challenge both drivers and walkers with their steep inclines. Vale Street in Totterdown, Bristol, stands unmatched not just as the steepest in England, but also claims the title for the entire UK. Let's explore the streets that push us uphill and make the cut in the top five.

Rosedale Chimney Bank is a mountain pass at an elevation of 312m (1,023ft) above sea level located in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac road approaching the pass is one of the steepest, toughest, and most spectacular climbs in Europe, with a gradient of 33%.

Zig Zag Hill is a challenging road located in Dorset, England. It’s said to be the windiest one-mile stretch of road in Great Britain.

Located on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, the B3135 road running through Cheddar Gorge is one of the best roads in the world and certainly an enjoyable road to drive.

Honister Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 364m (1,194ft) above sea level, located in the Lake District, England. It is one of Cumbria’s highest passes, with a gradient of 19.3%.

The Burway is the name of a very demanding drive located in Shropshire county, England.

Great Dun Fell is a mountain peak at an elevation of 848m (2,782ft) above sea level, located in Cumbria, England. It’s said to be the highest paved road in Britain.

Sweeping between Macclesfield and Buxton, in the county of Cheshire, in England, the Cat and Fiddle Road is a widow-maker road because of its mounting death toll.

Mam Tor, known as "the Shivering Mountain," is a mountain pass at an elevation of 461m (1,512ft) above sea level, located in the High Peak of Derbyshire, in England.

Wrynose Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 398m (1,305ft) above the sea level, located in the Lake District National Park of Cumbria, in England. You need to be a confident driver to attempt this, with gradients up to 1 in 4.

Kirkstone Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 459m (1,505ft) above the sea level, located in Lake District, in the county of Cumbria, in England. It is, purportedly, riddled with ghosts.

Vale Street is said to be the steepest residential road in England. The road ramps up so sharply at the bottom it is almost vertical, with a roughly 22-degree gradient incline.

Buttertubs Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 528m (1,732ft) above the sea level, located in the Yorkshire Dales, in the historic county of North Yorkshire, England. The climb was rated by Jeremy Clarkson as “England’s only truly spectacular road".

Completed in 1993, the Channel Tunnel is the longest undersea tunnel in the world and connects the southern part of England with northern France.

Located in the North Atlantic, England takes up under two thirds of the island of Great Britain and a number of small islands. It is bordered to the north by Scotland and to the west by Wales. The weather in England is temperate with mild summers and winters. Most of the country consists of low hills and plains, with upland and mountainous terrain in the north and west.

Located in Kent county, in South East England, the infamous A229 road is said to be the Britain's most haunted road. Many drivers have reported seeing a woman in a white dress appearing in front of their car. Drivers may find themselves engaged by a bride of death... It's one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Newby Head Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 440m (1,443ft) above the sea level located in North Yorkshire, in England.

Located in Kent, in South East England, York’s Hill is one of the steepest, toughest and most spectacular finishing climbs in professional cycling.

The M6, also known as the backbone of Britain, is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest. At the same time, the six lanes wide road is named Britain's most haunted road. It's one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Winston Churchill Avenue is one of the busiest roads in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The avenue cuts directly across the runway of the Gibraltar airport. If having to be cautious of other drivers wasn't enough, on Gibraltar's Winston Churchill Avenue you have to watch out for planes too.

Newlands Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 333m (1,093ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Lake District, in Cumbria, England. The route has humbled many egos.

Located in the central part of England, the defiant A682 is described as one of the most dangerous roads of the country. It has claimed over 100 lives in the last 10 years.

Cow Green is a reservoir at an elevation of 510m (1,673ft) above the sea level, located on the county border between Cumbria and County Durham, in England.

Located in Essex, in southeast England, The Broomway is said to be Britain’s most deadly path, killing more than 100 people at over 600 years old. The Broomway is exceptionally dangerous.

Whinlatter Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 337m (1,105ft) above the sea level located in Cumbria, England.

Zig Zag Road is a paved (pristine and smooth) drive winding its way up North Downs in Surrey county, in the South East of England.

Darwin Road is a gravel road located in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf.

Cam High Road is a narrow mountain road located in North Yorkshire, in England. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Located on the north east of the island, Snaefell Mountain Road is a leading motorsport destination in the Isle of Man.