Eager British people are reportedly stepping up internet searches for driving trip ideas now the government has announced its roadmap out of lockdown.
Searches for ‘UK drives’ are up 92 percent, ‘Sunday drives’ are up 46 percent and ‘best driving routes’ are up 44 percent since the planned lifting of restrictions was announced.
Experts believe the trend reflects British motorists’ eagerness to escape and explore the country without having to spend a night away from home.
Indeed, BMW says it may herald a full-on revival of the Sunday drive, as people have taken stock during the pandemic and started to appreciate the smaller things.
The company commissioned fashion designer Patrick Grant to create an entertaining series of videos on how to plan the perfect stylish Sunday drive: getting out, how to dress and the simple art of it.
“We’re lucky in this country that most people live 30 minutes from somewhere spectacularly beautiful that makes our soul feel better,” said Mr Grant.
“The Sunday drive is the perfect opportunity, to get dressed up, plan a route, make a beautiful picnic and spend time out on the road in nature.”
It seems ever-growing numbers of motorists are thinking exactly the same and planning Sunday drives of their own to look forward to.
Six Sunday driving route ideas
Helpfully, the company has also come up with six Sunday driving routes of its own, to help motorists start to plan their day trips as lockdown restrictions ease:
The Forest of Bowland: 107 miles, 4 hours 7 minutes
Starting at Marshaw, travel east across Dunsop Bridge towards Slaidburn, taking in the sights of the Forest of Bowland. From Slaidburn, head north towards Bentham before heading east through Settle and Malham, where you can enjoy vistas up to Malham Cove. From Malham, head west through Langcliffe before driving to Reedby’s Lane and then back south, finishing your drive at Whitewell.
Anglesey Race Circuit, Snowdonia and ‘Evo triangle’: 152 miles, 3 hours 40 minutes
From the circuit, head east towards Colwyn Bay then south past Adventure Parc Snowdonia (home to the world’s first inland surfing pool and longest zip wire in Europe) to Betws-y-Coed; then left onto the A453 which is start of the infamous ‘Evo triangle’, then a drive into Snowdonia and back up towards Anglesey.
Gleneagles Hotel and Perthshire: 90 miles, 2 hours 30 minutes
Head north from the hotel towards Comrie then enjoy a big loop around two lochs – Loch Earn and Loch Tay – on beautiful open roads then south across the glens towards Crieff and then the hotel.
Oxford and the south Cotswolds: 75 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes
From St Giles in Oxford, head north to Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, then take a west route towards Charlbury and a fantastic open road towards Bourton on the Water, then head south towards Lechlade and Farringdon before returning to Oxford.
North Wessex Downs AONB: 44 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes
From Wantage, head south on the sweeping B494, before heading west towards Lambourn and Ashbury and some fantastic twisty roads (with views of the Uffington White Horse), then back towards Wantage.
West Cornwall – north coast: 38 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes
From St Ives, along the beautiful B336 coastal road towards Zennor and then Sennen, Land’s End, then looping back along the south coast via The Minnack Theatre at Porthcurno, Lamorna, Mousehole and Penzance (St Michael’s Mount) before heading back up to St Ives.
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