Perimeter of UK Mainland

[The Lukas]

A thought occured to me and curiosity has got the better of me. The road network (including A and B roads) around UK mainland: How long is it?

[Eggman]

Roughly 4900 miles, somewhat surprisingly.

[The Lukas]

Much more than expected.

That's a good couple weeks worth. Has anybody done it?

[Eggman]

I'm sure you could shorten it quite a bit - that route uses all the closest roads to the coast no matter what. In practice, I suspect you wouldn't bother driving through every bit of bungalowville you came across.

[The Lukas]

I guess so. You'd stay on A/B roads unless an unclassified road is quicker (not likely).

[AAGR]

Oddly enough, I am one of those losers who has actually completed such a trip. It was a promotional tour for a car maker in the 1970s - using every possible ferry and bridge to stop having to dodge inland at estuaries and such. Can't remember the mileage accurately, but for an England, Wales and Scotland 'mainland' circuit I recall that it was about 3,800 miles.

[The Lukas]

How long did it take you? How did you find the experience?

[AAGR]

Sorry, no speed records were broken. As I recall, we started from London and finished in London, taking about ten days, calling at dealerships at lunchtime and at the end of each day, and staying in a reasonable hotel every night.

[Eggman]

I suspect that didn't leave much time for sightseeing, though?

I'd have thought averaging 100 miles a day would be more comfortable, assuming that there would be some places you would want to explore on foot and others that you would be content to view from the car.