Road collection
Some of the best roads in the world are over in fifteen minutes. These short drives score highly enough to justify a detour, and often a second run.
30 roads, ranked
1. Italy, Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Sheer Dolomite towers on both sides make this short link one of the world's great scenic drives.
Canazei to Selva di Val Gardena, 11 km (6.8 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.9/10.
2. France, Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France
Impossibly narrow ledge road through blood red granite pinnacles above the Gulf of Porto.
Porto to Piana, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.9/10.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Italy, Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Twenty eight numbered hairpins climb to the highest paved point of the Dolomites road network.
Canazei to Arabba, 13 km (8.1 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.7/10.
6. 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.
7. Japan, Northern Alps
Japan's highest paved road climbs above 2700 metres on the Norikura volcano.
Hirayu to Tatamidaira, 14 km (8.7 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
8. South Africa, Cape Peninsula
A toll corniche blasted into a sea cliff with 114 curves above the Atlantic.
Hout Bay to Noordhoek, 9 km (5.6 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
9. Brazil, Santa Catarina
A wall of stacked hairpins climbing 1400 metres in a dozen kilometres.
Lauro Muller to Bom Jardim da Serra, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.5/10.
10. United Kingdom, Isle of Skye, Scotland
A high single track skirting the surreal landslipped pinnacles of the Trotternish ridge.
Staffin to Uig, 13 km (8.1 miles). Driving 8.7/10, scenery 9.9/10.
11. United Kingdom, Lake District, England
A steep slate quarry pass squeezed between towering fells above Buttermere.
Borrowdale to Buttermere, 6.5 km (4 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.4/10.
12. Italy, South Tyrol, Italy
Limestone spires of the Sella group frame every one of this pass's flowing bends.
Corvara to Selva di Val Gardena, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
13. Norway, More og Romsdal, Norway
A low bridge skips between skerries with the open Norwegian Sea breaking either side.
Kårvåg to Vevang, 8.3 km (5.2 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.8/10.
14. Ireland, Beara Peninsula
Tight hairpins over the Caha Mountains linking Cork and Kerry above two bays.
Adrigole to Lauragh, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.5/10.
15. Ireland, Dingle Peninsula
Ireland's highest pass, a shelf road with lakes hanging above the Atlantic.
Dingle to Cloghane, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
16. 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.
17. China, Hunan
Ninety nine hairpins stacked up a sheer cliff to a natural arch in the rock.
Zhangjiajie to Heaven's Gate, 11 km (6.8 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
18. Norway, Voss
Thirteen hairpins at one in five between two waterfalls, the steepest road in northern Europe.
Stalheim to Naerodalen, 1.5 km (0.9 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.5/10.
19. Slovenia, Julian Alps
The highest road in Slovenia, blasted through rock tunnels to a 2072 metre saddle.
Log pod Mangartom to Mangart Saddle, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.5/10.
20. Italy, Lombardy, Italy
A tunnel like gorge road carved into rock above Lake Garda, once called the world's best road.
Pieve di Tremosine to Lake Garda shore, 7 km (4.3 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.4/10.
21. Japan, Kanagawa
The toll road every Japanese car magazine uses, fast sweepers with Fuji ahead.
Odawara to Hakone, 14 km (8.7 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9/10.
22. United Kingdom, Lake District, England
Narrow single track linking Langdale to Duddon Valley over the ancient Three Shire Stone.
Little Langdale to Cockley Beck, 6.5 km (4 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.1/10.
23. United Kingdom, Yorkshire Dales, England
Tour de France famous climb past limestone potholes between two classic dale villages.
Hawes to Muker, 11 km (6.8 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.2/10.
24. United Kingdom, North Pennines, England
A biker's classic with wide open views across the Eden Valley to the Lakeland fells.
Alston to Melmerby, 13 km (8.1 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.1/10.
25. United Kingdom, Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland
A hair raising cliff edge single track with views across to the Mull of Kintyre.
Cushendun to Ballyvoy, 13 km (8.1 miles). Driving 8.7/10, scenery 9.5/10.
26. France, Bouches-du-Rhone, France
A clifftop road above Europe's highest maritime cliff with the Mediterranean glittering below.
Cassis to La Ciotat, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.6/10.
27. Portugal, Madeira, Portugal
Laurel forest tunnels and sheer drops make this ridge road one of Madeira's most thrilling.
Ribeiro Frio to Portela, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.6/10.
28. Austria, Carinthia
Six tunnels and a wall of hairpins to Austria's highest dam.
Gmund to Kolnbrein dam, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.3/10.
29. Italy, Lombardy and Graubunden
Switzerland's link into the Stelvio is a quieter alternative with the same drama.
Passo dello Stelvio to Santa Maria Val Mustair, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.2/10.
30. United Kingdom, Peak District, England
A biker and driver favourite of fast open curves past England's second highest pub.
Macclesfield to Buxton, 11.5 km (7.1 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 8.5/10.
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