Winter dragging a bit? You’re definitely not alone. So why not plan a little weekend break somewhere nice? You don’t need a long holiday to feel better. A short, spontaneous weekend getaway can be enough to reset, especially when the journey is part of the fun.
Below you’ll find ten mood-boosting UK road trip ideas to help you blast away those winter blues.
In a rush? How to choose the right weekend road trip
If you’re deciding on a last-minute weekend break, it helps to choose based on how you want to feel, rather than how far you can go.
✔ Pick a vibe first
Coast for fresh air, countryside for quiet, or a scenic route for that “we’re really away” feeling.
✔ Keep your driving time realistic
For a 1-2 night break, a shorter drive can feel more relaxing. You’ll have more time to actually enjoy where you’re going.
✔ Plan just 2-3 key stops
Too many stops can turn a weekend away into a rush. A viewpoint, a walk and a good meal is often all you need.
✔ Build in breathing space
Leave gaps for a café you fancy, a beach you didn’t expect or an early night.
✔ Check insurance
If you’re borrowing a car or sharing the driving, it’s worth checking you’re properly insured before you set off. Some people use weekend car insurance (also called temporary car insurance) for short trips when they’re not the usual driver.
Before you set off: a checklist for a spontaneous drive
A last-minute trip feels best when you do a few small checks first. Nothing complicated. Just the basics that help you feel in control.
Quick car check
- Fuel or charge: top up before you hit quieter roads in case there’s nowhere to stop for a while.
- Tyres: have a quick look for tread wear and damage, and check they’re not looking flat.
- Windscreen and lights: clean the screen and make sure lights work. Winter roads can be darker and grubbier.
- Screenwash: make sure you’re topped up as you’ll use more of it in cold, wet weather.
Quick plan check
- Weather and daylight: it gets dark early in the winter months. If you can, plan the trickier driving for daylight and keep evenings for cosy stops.
- Parking: if you’re heading to popular viewpoints or small towns, expect busy car parks at peak times.
- Comfort: water, snacks, warm layers and a phone charger can make the drive feel much easier.
Quick scenic roads reminder
Some of the routes below include narrow country lanes, bends, hills or slower stretches. That’s part of what makes them special. The best approach is simple. Take your time, plan breaks and drive to the conditions.
Insurance (just the helpful bit)
If you’re driving a car you don’t usually drive, it’s worth checking you have the correct cover. Weekend car insurance is a type of short-term car insurance, which gives you cover from as little as one hour up to a day, a full week or longer.
It can be really handy to arrange a 48-hour car insurance policy if you only need cover for a couple of days.
Top weekend breaks for spontaneous UK road trips
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is a protected countryside area known for rolling hills and honey-coloured stone villages. It’s ideal for a weekend when you want gentle exploring, good food and plenty of opportunities to pull over and wander.
For a handy base, look at Cirencester for shops and restaurants, or smaller market towns like Stow-on-the-Wold or Chipping Campden if you want something more traditional and walkable.
For low-effort plans, dip into a short stretch of the Cotswold Way for big views, then warm up at one of the local pubs. If you fancy a standout stop, Broadway Tower is an easy one to build into a weekend loop.
The Snow Roads Scenic Route
If you fancy a road trip-style adventure in Scotland, check out the Snow Roads Scenic Route. It runs through the eastern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, linking small Highland towns across Aberdeenshire and Moray.
For a weekend break, it works best if you base yourself in the Royal Deeside area, with Ballater or Braemar both making practical and welcoming places to stay. They’re compact, easy to get around on foot, and well set up with places to eat, cafés and small shops.
From here, you can explore short sections of the route rather than trying to cover it all. Expect wide open landscapes, quiet mountain roads and frequent viewpoints where it’s easy to stop and take things in. There are plenty of low-effort walks nearby, plus indoor options like local galleries and visitor centres if the weather turns.
It’s a great choice for couples, solo travellers or anyone craving fresh air and a slower pace for a couple of days.
The New Forest
The New Forest sits on the south coast of England, between Southampton and Bournemouth, and is known for its open heathland, woodland and free-roaming ponies. It’s a great weekend choice if you want fresh air and variety without feeling rushed.
Lyndhurst works well as a central base with shops, cafés and easy access to walking routes, while Brockenhurst is a good option if you want somewhere compact and well connected.
For easy plans, you can mix gentle forest walks with short drives to places like Beaulieu or the coast at Lepe Beach. There’s plenty here for couples who want quiet scenery, families looking for open space, and solo travellers who enjoy walking at their own pace.
Roads are generally easy to navigate, making it straightforward to explore a few different areas over two relaxed days.
Causeway Coastal Route
The Causeway Coastal Route is Northern Ireland’s iconic coastal drive running between Belfast and Derry~Londonderry, with castles, beaches, and dramatic sea views along the way.
For a weekend break, it’s easiest to base yourself around Portrush or Portstewart. They’re lively seaside towns with plenty of places to eat and they put you close to classic stops like Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills.
You can keep things simple with short hops between viewpoints and beaches, then head back for a warm dinner. The roads are part of the fun, but some stretches can be slower and twistier, so plan a relaxed pace and build in a few unhurried stops.
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is classic English countryside, with green valleys, dry-stone walls and small towns that make it easy to fill a weekend without overplanning.
For a great base, try Hawes in Upper Wensleydale for independent shops, places to eat and easy access to walks. If you’d like a standout drive, Buttertubs Pass is one of the best-known high roads in the Dales, running between Hawes and Thwaite, with places to pull in near the summit.
For low-effort sightseeing, Aysgarth Falls has an easy walking trail to the cascades. It’s a good fit for couples, families, and solo travellers who want fresh air, hearty food, and a slower pace.
Pembrokeshire Coast
Pembrokeshire lies in west Wales, and its coast is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with everything from rugged clifftops to wide sandy beaches.
For a weekend base, Tenby is a great all-rounder if you want a lively seaside town with beaches and plenty to do on foot. If you’d rather go quieter and more outdoorsy, St Davids puts you close to coastal scenery and short walks on the peninsula.
For standout stops, build in a short section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, or plan a beach trip somewhere like Barafundle Bay. It’s incredibly beautiful come rain or shine, but you need to walk to get there.
Peak District
The Peak District is nestled between Manchester and Sheffield, making it a great weekend break if you’re in this area and are after big views without a long journey.
For an easy base, Bakewell works well for a short stay, and it’s also right by the Monsal Trail, a traffic-free route through limestone dales that’s popular for gentle walks and bike rides.
If you’re in the mood for a pootle without planning a full road trip, pick a loop that includes the Snake Pass (A57). One of the most scenic Peak District roads, it’s a must-drive if you’re in this area and enjoy being behind the wheel.
North Coast 500
In the market for another Scottish road trip? The North Coast 500 is a famous touring route that starts and ends in Inverness, taking you around a big loop of Highland coastline.
For a weekend, it’s best to base yourself in and around Inverness, so you can enjoy the NC500 feel without trying to rush the full route. Inverness gives you plenty of choice for food and places to stay, and you can head out for a day of coastal scenery and small towns, then come back for a relaxed evening.
Expect the sort of trip that mixes big views with easy stops like castles, beaches and short walks. Not to mention some monstrous fun. Inverness is only a few miles from the northern tip of Loch Ness.
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley is a protected landscape on the England-Wales border, following the River Wye through wooded hills, viewpoints and historic ruins.
For a weekend base, Ross-on-Wye is handy for food and shops, while Monmouth or Tintern put you closer to riverside walks and classic scenery.
A nice plan is to see Tintern Abbey, then head to Symonds Yat Rock for one of the area’s best-known views. It’s great for couples, families or solo travellers who want fresh air without a big hike, with gentle drives between stops and plenty of places to pause and reset.
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching for about 95 miles along the Dorset and East Devon coastline. It’s ideal for a weekend when you want fresh sea air, big views and short walks that feel like a proper change of scenery.
Look at Weymouth as a base if you want a classic seaside town with plenty of places to eat and stay, or Swanage if you’d prefer a smaller coastal base on the Isle of Purbeck.
When planning your time, maybe pick one headline stretch like Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, then add a shorter section of the South West Coast Path if the weather’s kind.
Borrowing a car or sharing the driving this weekend?
If you’re heading away in a car you don’t usually drive, it’s worth taking one extra step before you set off. Check you have the right insurance.
When borrowing a car, it’s common to assume you’re covered, but that isn’t always the case.
It’s also important to remember that if you and someone else are swapping drivers, you both need to be insured to drive that car.
This is where short-term car insurance can be useful. It’s a type of policy that covers you for a short period rather than a full year.
If you’ve searched for weekend car insurance or 48-hour car insurance, you’re usually looking for that kind of short-term cover for a quick trip.
If you want an option built for short getaways, we offer short-term car insurance designed for flexible lengths of time, including weekend-style trips.
Get in touch if you’re getting away
A weekend away won’t fix everything, but it can make those winter blues feel a lot lighter. If you keep the plan simple, build in a couple of easy stops, and let yourself enjoy the drive, even one night away can feel like a reset.
Pick the destination that matches your mood, take your time on the road, and focus on the small moments that make you feel better.
And if you’re heading off in a different car or sharing the driving, check whether Dayinsure’s weekend car insurance is right for your trip.
FAQs
Can you get car insurance just for the weekend?
Yes, some insurers offer temporary car insurance, which is cover designed to last for a short period rather than a full year. People often call this weekend car insurance when they only need cover for a short trip. Availability and eligibility depend on the provider and the driver and vehicle details.
What is 48-hour car insurance?
48-hour car insurance is a common way of describing short-term cover that lasts for about two days. It’s usually a form of temporary car insurance, designed for a specific start and end time. The exact duration options can vary by provider.
When is weekend car insurance useful for a getaway?
Weekend car insurance can be helpful if you borrow a car for a short break, share the driving with someone else or only need cover for a very specific time window, like Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
Can you insure a car you don’t own?
In many cases, yes, but you usually need the owner’s permission and you must give accurate details about the car and your driving history. Whether you can be covered depends on the insurer’s rules, and on factors like the vehicle type and your licence details.
What do you usually need to get temporary cover quickly?
It helps to have your personal details (name, address, date of birth), driving licence details (and your driving history, where asked), the car’s details (like registration number) and the exact start and end time you want cover for.
Does weekend car insurance replace the owner’s policy?
Not usually. Temporary cover is typically arranged for the driver who needs it for a short time, and the car owner may still have their own separate annual policy. Because policies can differ, it’s important to read what your cover includes and how it applies to the car you’re driving.
