Three out of four drivers prefer choosing a picturesque journey over the quickest route when taking a domestic holiday.
A survey of 2,000 motorists accustomed to lengthy road trips discovered that impressive landscapes ranked highly for those arranging a long drive, with the typical driver prepared to extend their trip by 41 minutes to enjoy superior views.
The survey also revealed that 41 percent consider road trips tedious, typically involving motorway driving and the view of a lorry ahead, while the M25 was selected as the most uninspiring stretch of road.
However, 21 percent acknowledged they lacked knowledge about how to follow a more picturesque route, and 57 percent seldom or occasionally had time to plan such journeys before departing.
A further 49 percent admitted they place excessive trust in their satellite navigation systems, which means they rarely happen upon new or beautiful routes by chance.
Yet when selecting a more scenic option, 37 percent discovered it required a similar duration to motorway travel, and 25 percent reported it actually took less time due to steering clear of traffic and jams.
The investigation was commissioned by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover, which has launched an online resource allowing drivers to find an alternative picturesque route by entering their start and finish UK postcodes, along with discovering locations to pause and share the experience.
Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance specialist for the company, stated that with the UK staycation market experiencing robust demand this summer, they aimed to provide drivers with the best of both options. While motorways serve an important purpose for efficient travel, they also wanted to offer holidaymakers a simpler method of uncovering breathtaking scenic detours alongside their typical routes. The UK boasts world-class landscapes that genuinely rival leading global destinations, from the spectacular panoramas of the Scottish Highlands to the peaceful beauty of the Lake District, and their new interactive tool aims to unlock all of these.
The research additionally revealed that impressive views lead to numerous disagreements inside vehicles, with 13 percent blaming fellow passengers for taking the finest vantage points, leaving 70 percent of drivers believing that passengers are the sole beneficiaries of the scenery.
Despite 41 percent considering rest stops essential during a long car journey, 31 percent seldom or never do this, with the Angel of the North and Yorkshire Dales being places that travellers have never paused to explore.
Yet the nation’s natural beauty does not go unrecognised, as 34 percent felt the Scottish Highlands could match the Norwegian Fjords, while 24 percent likened Cornwall to the Amalfi Coast.
Similarly, almost one in five have driven past the Surrey Hills on the M25 without stopping, despite 12 percent drawing comparisons to Tuscany.
Contributing to the tool with his favourite scenic locations from regularly touring across the country for festivals and concerts, Kaiser Chiefs frontman and musician Ricky Wilson mentioned that as a band they have covered thousands of miles this year alone, and having recently reached the milestone of 1,500 live performances, you become aware of how much of the country you miss by sticking rigidly to the sat nav. Some of their finest moments on tour, such as everyone leaping out of the bus to see Stonehenge, only occurred because they took a scenic detour. Now with four-year-old twins, stopping points are essential, and replacing grey motorway service stations with incredible scenic spots completely changes the experience. They have had some wonderful detours over the years, and choosing the scenic route transforms a dull drive into part of the holiday.
It also emerged that rural landscapes and beach and coastal routes were among the most pleasant views to take in while driving, according to those surveyed through OnePoll.com.
The typical driver is content travelling 113 minutes before requiring a rest, yet 41 percent would never consider sharing driving duties as 47 percent prefer being behind the wheel.
But 27 percent would not relinquish control due to insurance concerns, while 15 percent stated that adding another driver to their annual policy involves too much effort.
Adam Craddock at Tempcover continued that an excellent trip should commence the moment you enter the car, not merely upon reaching the destination. It is about maximising the journey together and sharing the experience every mile along the way. The appropriate cover provides drivers with the freedom to share the wheel, and they are focused on eliminating complications with temporary comprehensive cover available in minutes, making it simple to share the drive and swap over so that one person does not monopolise all the scenery.