Three quarters (73%) of drivers would rather take the scenic route for staycations – as M25 is named Britain’s ‘dullest’ motorway

Drivers are taking the road less travelled, with nearly three quarters (73%) preferring the scenic route over the fastest option for a road trip.

With over half of UK drivers (53%) planning a staycation this summer, new research of 2,000 motorists from temporary car insurance provider Tempcover reveals that beautiful scenery (52%) and ensuring everyone in the car gets to enjoy the views (34%) are key priorities when planning a long drive.

The average driver is willing to add 41 minutes to their journey to get a better view. But picturesque journeys don’t necessarily mean longer travel times – a third (37%) of drivers who’ve taken a scenic detour in the past found it took a similar amount of time to the motorway, while a quarter (25%) said it saved time by avoiding traffic and congestion.

Escaping the motorway monotony
The research reveals motorways don’t seem to offer the views drivers want for summer road trips. Two in five (41%) drivers find largely motorway-based road trips ‘boring’, with the M25 named the UK’s dullest motorway to drive on, followed by the M1 and M6.

A quarter (24%) describe the motorway scenery as a ‘grey blur’ and a fifth (22%) admit they spend most of the journey staring at the back of a lorry.

However, despite wanting to soak up the scenery, motorists face several roadblocks. Half (49%) admit they rely on their sat navs so much, they rarely discover scenic routes by accident. Furthermore, 57% rarely or only sometimes have the time to plan an alternative route before setting off, and one in five (21%) wouldn’t know how to find a more scenic driving route even if they tried.

As a result, three in ten (31%) motorists rarely or never pull over to take in a view, even though stop-offs were highlighted as a road trip ‘must-do’ by 41% of respondents.

To help Brits enjoy the staycation journey as much as the destination, Tempcover has launched the Scenic Route Finder – a free interactive online tool where drivers enter their start and end postcodes to uncover bespoke, alternative scenic routes to a motorway.

Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “With the UK staycation market seeing strong demand this summer, we wanted to give motorists the best of both worlds.

“Motorways are essential for efficient travel, but we also want to give holidaymakers an easier way to discover stunning scenic detours alongside their usual routes.”

“The UK possesses world-class landscapes that genuinely rival top global destinations – from the spectacular vistas of the Scottish Highlands to the serene beauty of the Lake District – and our new interactive tool is designed to unlock them all.”

Missing the UK’s home-grown beauty
The research reveals a deep-rooted pride in the UK’s landscapes, with drivers comparing local vistas to world-famous travel destinations. A third (34%) of motorists compare the Scottish Highlands to the Norwegian Fjords, while a quarter (24%) say Cornwall rivals the Amalfi Coast.

Yet, much of this beauty seems to go unnoticed. A third (33%) admit to driving past the Angel of the North without ever stopping and 22% past the Yorkshire Dales. Nearly a fifth (19%) have driven straight past the Surrey Hills on the M25 without ever pulling over – despite 12% of Brits saying it rivals Tuscany.

Route debates, view-hogging and sharing the drive
While countryside routes (68%), or beach/coastal drives (63%) were named as the most enjoyable backdrops, the choice of scenery FOMO can create friction. A quarter (24%) of drivers have argued in the car over taking the motorway versus a scenic route, while 21% have bickered over missing a scenic landmark or turning because of sat nav confusion.

Those behind the wheel also feel left out – 70% of drivers feel passengers are the only ones who get to enjoy the surroundings, with passengers ‘hogging the best views’ or window space has sparked arguments on the road.

Despite missing out on the view – and the average driver needing a break after 113 minutes – two in five (41%) refuse to hand over the keys. Nearly half (47%) simply prefer being behind the wheel, 27% say their passengers aren’t insured on their car, while 15% feel adding an extra driver to their annual policy is too much hassle.

To help Brits switch drivers and enjoy scenic drives, Tempcover has partnered with musician Ricky Wilson, frontman of the Kaiser Chiefs (currently celebrating 20 years of their iconic debut ‘Employment’ album). Having clocked up thousands of miles touring festivals and gigs across the country, Ricky has shared his top scenic spots in the tool.

Musician Ricky Wilson said: “As a band we’ve driven thousands of miles this year alone, and after recently hitting the milestone of 1,500 live shows, you realise how much of the country you miss by sticking rigidly to the sat nav.

“Some of our best moments on tour – like all of us jumping out of the bus to check out Stonehenge – only happened because we took a scenic detour. Now with four-year-old twins, pit stops are non-negotiable, and swapping grey motorway service stations for incredible scenic spots is a game-changer.

“We’ve had some legendary detours over the years, and taking the scenic route turns a boring drive into part of the holiday.”

The Scenic Route Finder also highlights ‘swap spot’ locations, making it easy for drivers to pull over, switch places, and share the driving duties.

Adam Craddock at Tempcover added: “A great trip should start the moment you get into the car, not just when you reach the destination. It’s all about making the most of the journey together and sharing the adventure every mile of the way.”

“The right cover gives drivers the flexibility to share the wheel and we are all about removing the hassle with temporary comprehensive cover in minutes – making it easy to share the drive and swap over so one person doesn’t hog all the views.”