The best five roads in Britain

Article submitted for the second edition of Shoestring Travel Magazine

SIXTY miles is an awful long way to go for a cup of coffee.

The A4086, which winds its way through the mountains of North Wales between Betwys-Y-Coed and Caernarfon, isn't exactly renowned for its abundance of Costas, Neros and Starbucks. It's also long way to the nearest tea shop, but chances are if you've come this far you'll know the real rush lies not in caffeine but the road itself.

The Llanberis Pass.

Britain's wild and desolate places are peppered with mountain passes which snake through the scenery to villages miles off the beaten track, and you either understand the adrenalin-fuelled appeal or you don't. If you're smitten with Britain's hidden scenery and like driving for driving's sake, the nation's mountain passes have been hand-crafted for the petrolhead in you.

Head to any of the country's more mountainous corners and you're bound to stumble across the hairpin bends, rollercoaster dips and crests, and deserted straights which make twisty little lanes linking obscure villages Britain's best driving roads.

With a rented set of wheels, a good satnav system and a real sense of adventure at your disposal, any of these fabulous five should provide hours of full-throttle fun:

The Evo Triangle, Denbighshire, Wales

So named after the British motoring magazine, which uses the B5401 from Cerrigydrudion heading north past Llyn Brenig, the A543 to Pentrefoelas and the A5 back to Cerrigydrudion as a heady cocktail to get the best from a car.

Quiet, fast-paced and blessed with lush scenery, it's a great way to spend an afternoon behind the wheel, with the visitor centre at Llyn Brenig proving a relaxing stopping point and a handy chance to discover more about the region's heritage.

Cat and Fiddle Run, Derbyshire and Cheshire, England

It's a hard to believe a road so unmistakeably rural lies just a stone's throw from Macclesfield in the north west of England - but that's exactly why the A537 proves so popular with bikers and drivers alike. The eponymous pub at the top is also well worth the trek, offering miles of unspoilt views on the menu.

The high number of accidents on this twisty climb towards Buxton have left the local police little choice but to keep a close eye on your drive - stick to the 50mph speed limit or you'll run the risk of a hefty fine - but even with the constant nuisance of motorbikes in your rear mirrors this Peak District mountain pass still offers dramatic backdrops and a healthy sense of danger.

Buttertubs Pass, North Yorkshire, England

Track down the remote Yorkshire Dales village of Thwaite and in return you'll be rewarded with the start of the Buttertubs Pass, a rollercoaster ride which tantalises and terrifies you in equal measure.

With a sheer drop of more than 500 feet and a weak-looking fence always on your left hand side, it's not a drive for the faint-hearted, but play it sensible along this route and it proves an irresistable mix of powerful landscapes, driving challenges and occasional geological titbits (the Buttertub rock formations, about halfway along the route, are well worth the stop).

Carry on past the end of your route along the Cliff Gate Road towards Settle and you'll also get to discover the grandeur of the Ribblehead Viaduct, jewel of the Settle to Carlisle Railway.

Hardknott and Wynrose Passes, Cumbria, England

A real car killer of a road, but treat both your vehicle and the hard climbs of this part of the Lake District with respect and what you'll get in return are some epic views from the ceiling of Cumbria.

Approaching from the A590 in western Cumbria, both passes come in quick sucession, with the Hardknott proving the much harder of the two, but get these roads right by keeping an eye on brakes and engine temperature and Ambleside, in the heart of the Lakes, is but a short and scenic drive away.

The Llanberis Pass, Gwynedd, Wales

A simply stunning snake of tarmac through the heart of Snowdonia, although it can get crowded in the height of summer with ramblers, cyclists and rock climbers.

Finish off your ice-cream in Betws-Y-Coed, leave the A5 at Capel Curig and head up the moutain route towards Caernarfon, watching out for brake fade on the way down again. With everything from lakes, mountains, valleys and villages crammed into less than 15 miles, it's an unforgettable experience.

To sample some of the best roads in Yorkshire in Cumbria, click here to find out more about The Mountains and Museums Run being organised by Life On Cars next month.