Roads that define adventure
Embark on an extraordinary adventure that puts your car through its paces. For those with a passion for adventure, these five routes open up a world of grand touring. Cruise through verdant valleys, breathtaking fjords and tree-lined turns to take a journey to remember. On these roads, every mile tells a new story.
CHAPMAN’S PEAK DRIVE, SOUTH AFRICA
Starting from the fishing hub of Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive stretches along the stark granite cliffs of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and offers dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean below. Its 114 curves and several hairpin turns make it as thrilling as it is scenic, and the many viewpoints during the 9.5-mile drive invite you to stop, take a breath and soak it all in.
GUOLIANG TUNNEL, CHINA
Hand carved by a small group of local villagers in the 1970s to connect their home with the outside world, the Guoliang Tunnel is a sheer marvel of human craftsmanship. Carved alongside and through 1 mile of the mountain itself, the walls feature large windows with jaw-dropping glimpses of the deep gorge, jagged peaks and lush valleys below.
ATLANTIC OCEAN ROAD, NORWAY
Built to mirror the rugged landscape it traverses, the Atlantic Ocean Road consistently features in the top driving roads around the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Running for 4.5 miles between the towns of Kristiansund and Molde, this road slopes elegantly over the western coastline of Norway, skimming above a series of islands, skerries and causeways that highlight the raw beauty of the region.
TAIL OF THE DRAGON ROAD, USA
For those after a real challenge, this dragon certainly rises to the occasion. Sitting on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the 11-mile stretch is famed for being one of the most technically challenging roads in the United States, with virtually no straight sections. Not only does it provide the ultimate test of precision, but also an equally stunning route through the dense forests of the Great Smoky Mountains.
BEALACH NA BÀ, SCOTLAND
Translating as ‘Pass of the Cattle’ from Gaelic, this road was originally built in the early 19th century and still offers an unfiltered route through this wild landscape. Set in the northwest Highlands on the remote Applecross Peninsula, a series of Alpine-style turns and steep gradients, this mostly single-track road is 6 miles of immersive mountain, moorland and coastal scenes.
