Six epic road trips you can do from Birmingham

How far? Three hours 30 minutes.

Why go? The seaside town of Whitstable on the Kent coast is as pretty as they come, with multicoloured beach huts, a long stretch of shingle and pastel-painted shop fronts. Plus, it’s home to seriously fresh seafood. 

Do this: Set off along the surf for a walk across Tankerton Beach, before heading back into town. Warm up with a cuppa at Whitstable Castle’s tea rooms or wander the town’s pretty streets lined with indie shops and galleries. Pop into Fishslab Gallery for regularly changing exhibitions by local artists or Chappell Contemporary for modern prints at wallet-friendly prices.

Eat this: Order butter-soaked lobster and piping hot chips from The Lobster Shack on the shingle, plates of sea-fresh oysters and locally caught fish at The Royal Native Oyster Stores, or classic fish and chips from The Forge, a simple shack on the beachfront. Feeling fancy? Head a little way out of town and see if you can nab a table at Michelin-starred The Sportsman in Seasalter.

Stay here: Rest your head beside the waves at Whitstable Fisherman’s Huts: a 150-year-old former fisherman’s store. The double-storey cabins are right on the beach, with lush sea views.

How far? Four hours ten minutes to Penzance.

Why go? There’s nowhere else quite like Cornwall, with its rugged, windswept coastline, surfers’ beaches and pretty ports. Spend a weekend here and you’ll discover quirky attractions, natural delights and creativity by the bucket (and spade) load.

Do this: Discover the art Cornwall’s seaside light has inspired at Tate St Ives. Then don your walking boots and head off along the coastal path towards Zennor, passing tiny hamlets and ancient stone monuments as you go. Or you could have a go at riding the waves with St Ives Surf School on Porthmeor Beach. Jump back in the car and drive to Land’s End for awe-inspiring isolation before visiting the Minack Theatre, an open-air auditorium perched on the cliffs with the ocean as its backdrop. It’s stunning even if there isn’t a performance on the day you visit.

Eat this: You can’t visit this county without eating a traditional Cornish pasty. Grab one from tiny SH Ferrell & Son in St Ives or feast on fresh crab sandwiches with an incredible view at the Island Café on St Michael’s Mount. And for sustainable and ethically sourced seafood, spend a dreamy evening at The Shore in Penzance, where the menu changes each day.

Stay here: Cosy up in Artists Residence Penzance, where all the rooms are decked out with eclectic furniture, plush soft furnishings and fun, original artworks. Bag The Lookout for sea views, a log burner and a lush free-standing tub.

How far? Four hours 50 minutes.

Why go? Twinkly in the winter, raucous for Hogmanay and buzzing with creativity during the summer’s festival season, the Scottish capital is a stellar spot for a quick trip whatever time of year you visit.

Do this: Start by wandering through the city’s historic centre. Explore Edinburgh Castle and potter round the indie shops that line Grassmarket and Victoria Street before heading out of town through the wide grasslands of Holyrood Park to climb Arthur’s Seat. Once you’ve reached the top of this extinct volcano your reward is incredible views of the city, the coast and the countryside beyond. Finish your trip by seeing a play at one of Edinburgh’s best and biggest playhouses, the Festival Theatre, or dance the night away at vibrant live music venue Sneaky Pete’s.

Eat this: The Gardener’s Cottage is a leader in slow, sustainable cooking. It serves super-high-quality seasonal produce, with no printed menu to speak of. Don’t wait for a sunny day to indulge in weird and wonderful gelato flavours from Mary’s Milk Bar in the shadow of the castle. For an old-school blowout dinner in spectacularly gothic surroundings, eat at The Witchery.

Stay here: Excitable ‘Harry Potter’ fans won’t get a second of sleep in the JK Rowling suite at The Balmoral. Not because the bed isn’t comfortable or the room super plush, but because it’s the very room where the author holed up to finish ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.