Real roads. Real views. Real Yorkshire.
Big skies, rolling moors, and coastal bends. These Yorkshire roads were laid to link farms, villages and working communities. The fact they’re great to drive is a happy accident.
We asked five of the Summit Drive team to pick their favourite Yorkshire routes. Here they are:
1. Buttertubs Pass
Route: Hawes → Thwaite
Narrow, exposed, and unapologetically Yorkshire. No rush. No shortcuts.
“The first time I drove Buttertubs, it was early morning and completely empty. Just me, the car, and the sheep - lovely. The next time it was pitch black and horrific!
It’s not a long road, but it’s relentless. Up, down and around bends cutting through a landscape shaped by water and ice over thousands of years - it’s pretty cool really.”
2. A169 Blakey Ridge
Route: Pickering → Whitby
Endless horizons, wild weather, heather-covered hills. What’s not to love?
“We hit Blakey Ridge on a late summer evening, windows down, playlist on point. It felt like a movie scene.
Views of the hills, glimpses of the sea, and just how quick it all changes, all in one drive. It’s like Yorkshire bottled a whole mood and poured it onto tarmac. When the sun starts dropping, it’s unbeatable.”
3. A174 Coastal Road
Route: Whitby → Staithes
Clifftop bends, sea views, dramatic elevation changes.
“We’d just had fish and chips in Whitby, (probably far too much), and decided to take the road up to Staithes, instead of heading straight home.
The salty air rushing in, the road dipping and climbing makes you feel one with it all. Then you go up a hill, and there’s the sea. What a sight.”
4. Ribblehead Viaduct Loop
Route: Ribblehead & surrounding Dales roads
Engineering and history, wide valleys, and a timeless atmosphere.
“We parked up near the viaduct just as a steam train came through. Didn’t plan it - just got lucky.
That moment stuck. The sound of the train, the scale of the arches, the wind cutting across the moor. Sometimes it's about driving somewhere to slow down. So you feel small in the best possible way.”
5. B6479 Malhamdale Road
Route: Stainforth → Malham Cove
Limestone scenery, tight lanes, postcard views.
“We had maybe an hour free on a Sunday morning and thought, why not? That hour turned into coffee in Malham, a short walk, and a promise to come back again. And we did!
It’s only a few miles, but every corner feels intentional, you know? It’s the kind of drive that feels like escapism and a reset. Totally worth it.”
Pro Tips for Driving Yorkshire Roads
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Watch for sheep - they don’t move quickly and they don’t care you’re coming
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Weather changes fast - especially on moors and passes
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Best seasons - late spring through autumn for colour, light, and road conditions
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Perfect cars - agile hatchbacks, torquey estates, or anything you enjoy driving. It’s not about horsepower.
