Six epic road trips that start from Glasgow

How far? Three hours, 40 minutes.

Why go? Famous for cream teas and Turkish baths, Harrogate is a classic English spa town with quaint streets, independent shops, glorious antique stores and cosy pubs, all surrounded by rolling green hills. It’s a total treat for anyone visiting.

Do this: Peruse brilliant nineteenth and twentieth-century art in the beautiful Mercer Art Gallery before exploring RHS Garden Harlow Carr, a 58-acre garden at the foot of the Yorkshire Dales. Next up, soothe yourself into serenity at the Turkish Baths Harrogate. Visit the colourful and decoratively designed spa, mosaicked steam room and plunge pool, or indulge in a massage with warmed Himalayan salt stones.

Eat this: A trip to Harrogate would be incomplete without a mid-afternoon stop at Bettys. The Yorkshire institution has been serving up fat rascals (that’s fruit-studded scones) with jam and clotted cream since 1919. If you’re still hungry, order a generous Sunday lunch from The Fat Badger.

Stay here: Got a taste for that spa life? Stay at Rudding Park on the outskirts of Harrogate. The grand country house is home to a luxe rooftop spa, indoor pool and log sauna. It also has 300 acres of parkland to explore, complete with a kitchen garden that supplies the chef with herbs and salads.

How far? Three hours to Inverness; five hours, 30 minutes to Duncansby Head.

Why go? There’s no better antidote to urban living than deserted beaches and long, expansive horizons – and the Scottish Highlands are as remote and awe-inspiring as it gets in the UK. Shake off the city with a road trip along the North Coast 500 from Inverness to what seems like the edge of the world.

Do this: Stop off for a little monster-hunting at Loch Ness before heading north on the NC500 out of Inverness. Chanonry Point is your next pitstop, where you can spot bottlenose dolphins from the edge of the peninsula. Pull over to see one of the route’s brochs: iron-age fortifications found only in Scotland. Eventually, you’ll arrive at John O’Groats, the northernmost inhabited spot in mainland Britain. Take the blustery walk out to see the fang-like stacks at Duncansby Head.

Stay here: Bed down for the night in one of The Crofter’s Snug Glamping Pods, with fields, cliffs and the ocean as your only neighbours. The tiny, simple structure contains everything you need for a relaxing and cosy stay, as well as a little campfire to keep you warm while stargazing. You might even see the Northern Lights if you’re lucky.

How far? Two hours, 50 minutes.

Why go? One of the downsides of city living is the constant light – and that means no stargazing opportunities. For stellar star-spotting, head to Northumberland National Park, which has been internationally recognised as a Dark Sky Park.

Do this: During daylight you can spot red squirrels in the trees, hire boats or bikes, or get lost in The Minotaur Maze at Kielder Water and Forest Park. Walk the route of Hadrian’s Wall, hike the Cheviot Hills or wander through a free exhibition at The Sill. As soon as night falls, look up to see glittering star clusters, the Milky Way, distant galaxies and meteor showers. Not sure what you’re looking at? Visit Kielder Observatory for one of their evening events to learn about the Northern Lights or take a Night Sky Safari.

Eat this: Order hearty homemade pies and warming puddings at The Pheasant Inn, near Kielder Water. For something fancier, head to nearby Langley Castle for French-inspired cuisine in a grand, candlelit dining room.

Stay here: Stargaze from the comfort of your bed in the Sky Den: an architectural masterpiece in Kielder Water and Forest Park. In good weather, you can open the entire roof of the treehouse for unobstructed views of those spectacular skies.