Chapter Two: The Car as a Way to Ramble

By Bruce Shawkey

Some hardcore wanderers avoid cars altogether. They worry about gas prices or more about getting hooked on speed and convenience. To them, cars felt like an extension of city life, bringing along all its noise, stress, and excess. If the goal was to keep thing simple—just staying warm, dry, and fed outdoors—then loading up a car with gear and picnic supplies seemed to miss the point.

But times changed. Cars became more reliable and harder to ignore. Now, they’re often just another tool for getting out there. Used well, a car can actually expand your options—letting you start your journey right from home instead of a train station or bus stop.

The real challenge is not letting the car take over. Even when everything runs smoothly, it’s easy to slip into treating the drive itself as the main event. But it shouldn’t just be about cruising through nice scenery. A good road trip is still about paying attention—taking in the landscape, the villages, the details, the weather. The car just gets you there. What matters is how you experience everything along the way.

The basics are simple: plan your drive the same way you’d plan a hike. Maps and guidebooks are essential—not hard to find, just a matter of choosing which ones to use.

With modern roads, signs, and roadside assistance, it’s easy to get lazy and barely look at a map. You might even feel proud of how effortless the trip was—but that ease can dull your awareness. A good trip starts with studying the map ahead of time and checking it regularly along the way.

When planning your route, don’t just stick to the fastest path. Look for worthwhile detours—old churches, historic buildings, bridges, or anything interesting off the main road. These are much easier to spot if someone else in the car is helping navigate. Having a second set of eyes can turn the whole experience into something more engaging.

Food planning matters too. There are plenty of places to stop—hotels, inns, cafés—but their names don’t always tell you what they’re actually like. The best spots are often found through experience or word of mouth, not just what’s written in a guide.

Guidebooks can only tell you so much. They won’t capture the feel of a place—or warn you when an “inn” is disappointing or when a simple-looking spot is actually something special. If you want a good experience, it pays to listen to people who’ve been there before.

Picnics are often the better option—but only if you do them right. Too many people stop right by the road, eating with traffic rushing past, when a much better spot is just a little further on. A bit of effort in choosing your location can make a huge difference.

On bad weather days, it’s smart to be prepared to eat in the car. Bringing a thermos or a simple portable stove can make things much more comfortable. It’s also worth planning around the time of year. Spring brings wildflowers, autumn lights up the landscape with color, and late summer offers things like blooming heather and fresh fruit. Every season has something to offer—you just need to go to the right place at the right time.

So far, this has mostly been about traveling by car—but there’s another side to it. Some of the best places aren’t reachable by car at all, and can even be tough to get to on foot alone because they’re so remote. That’s where combining driving and walking really pays off. You can drive as far as the road allows, leave the car somewhere safe, and then continue on foot to reach the more untouched spots.

For hikers and climbers, this opens up a lot more options. You can stay in comfortable villages but still access more remote areas without spending hours just getting to the starting point. Instead of a long road walk, you’re straight into the good stuff.

It’s the same for photographers and campers. A car lets you carry better gear—or a bit of extra comfort—without worrying so much about weight. It makes longer, more flexible trips possible.

The main idea is simple: a car should expand your range, not limit your experience. Used well, it’s a great tool for exploring. Just don’t get so focused on driving, traffic, or the mechanics of it all that you forget to actually notice the world around you.

A bit of planning—like you’d do for a hike—adds shape and purpose to trips, whether it’s a day out or a full holiday. A car makes it easier to mix and match different plans, especially if you’re heading out to walk, climb, or explore.

Some roads are worth the trip all by themselves. High passes through places like the Pennines or Wales offer incredible views and a real sense of the landscape. These routes reveal the land’s structure—rock layers, ridges, and valleys shaped over time—giving you a deeper feel for the terrain you’re moving through.

But it’s not just about big sights. Part of the fun is noticing the small, unexpected things—odd roadside details, unusual buildings, or bits of local character you’d never find in a guidebook. Exploring village architecture, local traditions, or seasonal events can turn a simple drive into something memorable.

And sometimes, the best moments aren’t planned at all. Heading out just to watch a sunset, a moonrise, or to experience the quiet of the countryside can be just as rewarding as any carefully mapped route.

Even difficult conditions can become part of the adventure. A tough drive through bad weather might not sould appealing, but it can be just as memorable—and even fun—as a perfect day in the hills.

The takeaway? Adventure isn’t limited to big or remote places. It can happen anywhere—sometimes you just have to go out and find it.