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Great Drives

Great Drives: the Wild Atlantic Way in a VW California camper van

Published 12 March 2020
By Nick Rufford
Nick Rufford winds his way along the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,500-mile route along Ireland’s rugged coast, in a VW camper van.
Into the valley of death in a Mazda6

Great Drives: Into the valley of death in a Mazda6

On the trail of the Gold Rush pioneers, Nick Rufford tries to keep his cool in the high heat of the California desert
Published 17 September 2018
Great Drives in association with Mazda: Norwegian good On a jaw-dropping road trip up Norway’s west coast, James Mills sees hundreds of fjords, rugged mountain ranges, two record-breaking tunnels — and a road for trolls

Great Drives: Norway's west coast

It's a good job the Norwegians aren’t preoccupied by health and safety. If they were, visitors would find themselves faced with mile upon mile...
Published 02 October 2017
Great Drives_Beachy Head 1440

Great Drives: the best routes for a British summer

Britain is a compact country but it offers something to suit all tastes, and cars, from winding switchbacks that let a roadster stretch its legs
Published 05 June 2017
Great Drives: My way is the highway — Mazda MX-5 on California's Route 1

Great Drives: My way is the highway

California’s Route 1 combines spectacular scenery with the silver screen’s most celebrated locations. Explore the coast with the most...
Published 23 January 2017
Great Drives: Ice ice baby. . . lapping Iceland in a Mazda MX-5 Icon

Great Drives: Ice ice baby

As ring roads go, Iceland’s Route 1 is pretty spectacular. The 830-mile lap of the Land of Fire and Ice seems as far removed from the M25...
Published 23 November 2016
Great Drives: The Black Mountain Pass

Great Drives: The Black Mountain Pass

The Black Mountain Pass is the perfect place to leave the daily grind behind. Nick Rufford climbs behind the wheel and explores the Welsh wonder
Published 07 September 2016
Great Drives: Scotland's North Coast 500 in pictures

Great Drives: Scotland's North Coast 500 in pictures

Often spoken of as Britain's answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 follows the edge of the Scottish Highlands and takes in 500 miles of the best...
Published 20 July 2016
Great Drives in association with Mazda: Lulea to Nordkapp

Great Drives: No sleep till Nordkapp

Ice, wolves, flattened reindeer... and bullet holes in the road signs. This is a driving adventure with a difference. James Mills takes the ice route...
Published 05 June 2016
Great Drives: A 1000km family-friendly tour of Sweden

Great Drives: A 1000km family-friendly tour of Sweden...

Sweden is so hot right now. If it’s not the cultural imports – from “Scandi-noir” TV shows to pop music producers – it’s the “Let’s...
Published 22 March 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Great Drives: Ireland’s three Ws

Nothing moves quickly in Ireland, and if you drive fast you feel conspicuously out of place
Published 11 January 2016
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Letters of the week, November 22

This week: Volkswagen, speed restrictions, windscreen wipers and Great drives
Published 23 November 2015
Great drives: Scotland’s ‘Route 500'

Great drives: Scotland’s ‘Route 500'

There are varying degrees of scenery to revel in: from peat bog to lush pastoral
Published 16 November 2015