Road collection
Corners, camber, surface and flow. These roads score 9.5 or more for the act of driving itself.
21 roads, ranked
1. United Kingdom, Applecross, Scottish Highlands
Britain's highest road climbs via hairpins to a wild moonscape pass above Applecross.
Tornapress to Applecross, 18.5 km (11.5 miles). Driving 9.8/10, scenery 9.9/10.
2. Italy, Lombardy and South Tyrol, Italy
Eighty four hairpins stacked above the treeline make this Europe's most theatrical mountain pass.
Bormio to Prato allo Stelvio, 49 km (30.4 miles). Driving 9.8/10, scenery 9.9/10.
3. Romania, Fagaras Mountains
Ceausescu's mountain folly, the most photographed hairpin stack in Europe.
Bascov to Cartisoara, 90 km (55.9 miles). Driving 9.9/10, scenery 9.9/10.
4. Austria, Salzburg and Carinthia, Austria
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs to Franz Josefs Hohe beneath the country's tallest peak.
Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse to Heiligenblut, 48 km (29.8 miles). Driving 9.7/10, scenery 9.9/10.
5. France, Alpes-Maritimes, France
A looping summit road above 2800 metres that circles the peak itself for maximum theatre.
Jausiers to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee, 24 km (14.9 miles). Driving 9.6/10, scenery 9.8/10.
6. Norway, More og Romsdal, Norway
Eleven hairpins claw up a sheer valley wall beneath waterfalls and the Trolltindene peaks.
Andalsnes to Valldal, 20 km (12.4 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.9/10.
7. South Africa, Karoo
A hand built dry stone gravel pass twisting through folded red rock strata.
Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn, 24 km (14.9 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.8/10.
8. Italy, Lombardy, Italy
A narrow, unguarded ribbon past Lago Nero that feels wilder than its famous neighbour.
Bormio to Ponte di Legno, 31 km (19.3 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.6/10.
9. France, Savoie and Hautes-Alpes, France
The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.
Valloire to Col du Lautaret, 18.1 km (11.2 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
10. France, Savoie, France
The roof of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a stark granite amphitheatre above 2700 metres.
Val-d'Isere to Bonneval-sur-Arc, 16 km (9.9 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
11. Spain, Mallorca, Spain
A driver's icon that loops through a knotted 270 degree hairpin down to the cove.
Coll dels Reis to Sa Calobra, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
12. Romania, Parang Mountains
Romania's highest road runs along bare alpine ridgelines with almost no barriers.
Novaci to Sebes, 148 km (92 miles). Driving 9.6/10, scenery 9.7/10.
13. Norway, Rogaland
Twenty seven hairpins drop 900 metres to the head of the Lysefjord.
Sirdal to Lysebotn, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.6/10.
14. Turkey, Bayburt to Trabzon
Thirteen stacked hairpins on a cliff face make this one of the world's scariest roads.
Of to Bayburt, 106 km (65.9 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.6/10.
15. Switzerland, Bernese Oberland
Three of the best passes in the Alps stitched into one loop back to the same valley.
Innertkirchen to Innertkirchen, 120 km (74.6 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
16. United Kingdom, Lake District, England
England's steepest road gradient, a brutal one in three climb over Roman ruins.
Boot to Eskdale Green, 5 km (3.1 miles). Driving 9.7/10, scenery 9.2/10.
17. Switzerland, Ticino, Switzerland
A cobbled historic switchback climb that predates the modern Gotthard highway entirely.
Airolo to Gotthard Pass, 13 km (8.1 miles). Driving 9.6/10, scenery 9.3/10.
18. United Kingdom, Brecon Beacons, Wales
A ribbon of hairpins climbing a bare Welsh moorland made famous by Top Gear.
Brynamman to Llangadog, 19 km (11.8 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.3/10.
19. Germany, Eifel, Germany
The Green Hell loops through Eifel forest with 73 legendary corners open to the public.
Nurburg to Nurburg, 21 km (13 miles). Driving 10/10, scenery 8.5/10.
20. United States, Tennessee and North Carolina
318 curves in 11 miles, the most famous stretch of asphalt in America.
Deals Gap to Tabcat Bridge, 18 km (11.2 miles). Driving 9.6/10, scenery 9/10.
21. UAE, Al Ain
Sixty bends and flawless surface, often called the world's greatest driving road.
Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet summit, 11.7 km (7.3 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9/10.
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