Jamie McKenzie
When you live life inthe fast lane, it is nice to drop down a gear now and again.
And a new survey has shown that the best place to enjoy a peaceful drive in the UK in the Far North.
The A897 between Helmsdale and Halladale Bridge, near Melvich, runs through several vast areas of wilderness and hamlets such as Kildonan, Kinbrace, Forsinard and Achiemore.
Official data gathered by the Department for Transport shows that the road only has 416 cars per year.
The revelation comes following research by a car rental company into the top seven quietest roads in the country to mark the launch of a new fleet of cars.
The seven quietest roads were identified from the most recent report on British roads from the Department for Transport. The company’s league table shows the quietest A roads in the UK, defined by the lowest amount of vehicles per kilometre, per year.
The A897 came first, followed by the A481 in Powys, Wales and then the A3079 in the Devon countryside.
Nina Bell of Avis Budget Group said: “We want to help our customers experience the real joys of driving with limited disruptions and stresses, such as traffic and busy city centre routes. Now with our new Select Series range, they can test drive the exact car they want where the only distractions are the fantastic and remote landscapes.”
The Press and Journal recently reported how one Far North route was getting more popular by the day.
The North Coast 500 – or NC500 as it is known – has become a surprise success, attracting people round the north west Highlands on what is fast becomng known as Britain’s equivalent of Route 66 in the United States.
