Three quarters of motorists would rather take the scenic route than the fastest option for a staycation, new study finds

Three quarters of motorists would rather take the scenic route than the fastest option for a staycation. A poll of 2,000 drivers who aren’t strangers to a long car journey found beautiful scenery (52 per cent) was important when planning a substantial drive – with the average driver willing to add 41 minutes to their journey to get a better view. It emerged 41 per cent find a road trip ‘boring’ as it usually consists of motorways and staring at the back of a lorry (22 per cent) – with the M25 voted as the dullest to drive on. However, 21 percent said they wouldn’t know how to take a more scenic route, and 57 per cent rarely or only sometimes have time to plan one before setting off. Photo released 30/07/2026 Credit: SWNS Three quarters of motorists would rather take the scenic route than the fastest option for a staycation, a new study has revealed. A poll of 2,000 drivers who aren’t strangers to a long car journey found beautiful scenery (52 per cent) was important when planning a substantial drive – with the average driver willing to add 41 minutes to their journey to get a better view. Three quarters of motorists would rather take the scene route than the fastest option for a staycation Credit: SWNS A new study of 2000 drivers found 52 per cent thought beautiful scenery was important on a long journey Credit: SWNS It emerged 41 per cent find a road trip “boring” as it usually consists of motorways and staring at the back of a lorry (22 per cent) – with the M25 voted as the dullest to drive on. However, 21 percent said they wouldn’t know how to take a more scenic route, and 57 per cent rarely or only sometimes have time to plan one before setting off. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A further 49 per cent admit they rely too heavily on their sat nav, meaning they rarely stumble upon new or picturesque routes by accident. But when taking a scenic route, 37 per cent found it took a similar amount of time to a motorway journey, while 25 per cent said it actually took less – due to avoiding traffic and congestion. The average driver is willing to add 41 minutes to their journey to get a better view Credit: SWNS The research also found scenic views are the cause of many arguments in the car Credit: SWNS The study was commissioned by temporary car insurance provider, Tempcover, which has created an online tool where drivers can discover an alternative scenic route by entering their start and end UK postcodes – as well as finding “swap spot” locations to stop and share the drive. Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert for the brand, 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.” Most read in Motors The research also found scenic views are the cause of many arguments in the car, with 13 per cent accusing passengers of “hogging the best views” – leaving 70 per cent of drivers feeling that passengers are the only ones who get to enjoy it. Despite 41 per cent citing stop-offs as a must-do during a long car journey, 31 per cent rarely or never do this – with the Angel of the North (33 per cent) and Yorkshire Dales (22 per cent) places travellers have never stopped to visit. However, the country’s beauty doesn’t go unnoticed as 34 per cent believed the Scottish Highlands rivals the Norwegian Fjords, while 24 per cent compared Cornwall to the Amalfi Coast. Similarly, nearly one in five (19 per cent) have driven past the Surrey Hills on the M25 without stopping – despite 12 per cent comparing its beauty to Tuscany. Feeding into the tool with his top scenic spots from regularly travelling across the country for festivals and gig, Kaiser Chiefs frontman and 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.” It also emerged the countryside (68 per cent) and beach and coastal routes (63 per cent) were among the most enjoyable sceneries to take in while driving, according to those surveyed via OnePoll.com. The average driver is comfortable going 113 minutes before needing a break – however, 41 per cent would never split driving responsibilities as 47 per cent prefer it behind the wheel. But 27 per cent would refuse to give up the keys because of insurance reasons, while 15 per cent claimed adding an extra driver to their annual policy is too much hassle. 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.” Comment now