Thoughts of escaping the cold means that winter is often when most of us start thinking about our next holiday. For some of us, the journey is just as important as the destination, so why not take your car on a driving break? Here are some suggestions on where to enjoy the open road in Europe.
The Alps
With stunning scenery and an abundance of hairpin bends, mountain passes are motoring nirvana. Where better to experience them than the alps? From the famous Col du Turini from the Monte Carlo rally to the Stelvio Pass, a popular destination for manufacturer testing, there’s at least a week’s worth of fun motoring here, and a wide variety of places to stay in, from boutique hotels to mountainside hostels.
Italy
Follow in the footsteps of English gentlemen from the past and take on a Grand Tour by exploring Italy. Not only is it a beautiful country, but it has a passion for motoring that extends beyond the famous supercar factories of Modena to the famed Mille Miglia and historic Monza park near Milan. Head down south and take the ferry to Sicily and you can retrace the Targa Florio too.
Scotland
Some of the greatest driving roads in the UK are in Scotland, and they’re much quieter than the congested streets of England’s heavily-populated areas. They’re accompanied by fantastic scenery, too. However if you’re also tempted to tour the distilleries of the highlands and islands, make sure you book additional days to recover from tasting sessions!
Germany
Famed for its derestricted autobahns, Germany is the home of fast, efficient motoring, but it also has the Nürburgring. Located barely 50 miles from the Belgian border, it’s still possible to turn up on the right day and drive 14 miles of the same race track that legends from Tazio Nuvolari to Juan Manuel Fangio and Jim Clark won Grands Prix. And if you head back to into Belgium, you can also take in the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Le Mans
A road trip is even more fun when you’re accompanied by others doing the same thing and there’s nothing like a trip to the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Every June thousands of British motorists head to the town located in the north-west of France for a week-long party that coincides with the famous event. Pack a tent for the full authentic experience.
