UK's most extreme roads

Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Matt Vosper

27th August 2008

Auto Express has set itself the toughest challenge yet, to find the UK’s hardest roads to reach! Our epic journey took us from the dizzying heights of the Applecross Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands to the murky depths of the Dragonby Mine in Scunthorpe, Lincs – where 160 miles of tunnels lie 90 metres under ground.

First stop was the Bealach na Ba – the only road that links the village of Applecross to the outside world. It rises from sea level to 626m at its summit, in the space of just five miles, while it’s narrowness and acute hairpin bends make it a tricky proposition for both man and machine.

We then drove straight into a disused iron mine in Scunthorpe, lincs. Here we were led around the maze of tunnels, 156 miles in total, by a team of experts whose job it is to maintain the pit, despite it being out of action for more than 25 years.

Don’t miss the full feature in this week’s mag on sale August 27 - and you can watch exclusive footage of our adventure here.