- New research from Jeep UK has revealed Britain’s major roads used by the fewest number of vehicles each day
- The A844 on the Isle of Bute is Britain’s quietest major road with an average of just 77 vehicles estimated to use it on a daily basis
- Top 10 features A-roads all located in Scotland across the Highlands, Orkney, Isle of Islay and the Shetland Islands
- The A4085 in Eryri (Snowdonia) is the quietest major road outside of Scotland
- The A686 in the North Pennines is the quietest road on mainland England
A list of Britain’s quietest major roads has been revealed, with research showing that some routes are almost entirely traffic-free.
The analysis of road traffic statistics from the Department for Transport1 by Jeep UK found that a section of the A844 on the Isle of Bute in Scotland is Britain’s quietest major road. It is estimated that an average of just 77 vehicles travel the five-mile-long stretch of road between the B881 and B878 junctions each day in both directions – fewer than four vehicles per hour.
The road passes Scalpsie Bay, which is the ideal location to spot seals thanks to the large colony that resides there. Census data shows that the population on Bute is in decline, perhaps explaining why the A844 is now ranked as Britain’s quietest major road.
In comparison, Britain’s busiest road – the M25 motorway surrounding Greater London – typically sees more than 200,000 vehicles per day between certain junctions.
In a close second is the A838 near Lairg in the Scottish Highlands. The road cuts through the centre of the popular North Coast 500 tourist route yet sees an average of just 88 vehicles per day travelling along the 34-mile length of road. Despite its A-road categorisation, it is a single-track road with dedicated passing places, but thanks to good visibility it is still a highly enjoyable road for driving enthusiasts. The road offers breath-taking mountainous views of the northern Highlands and runs parallel to a number of secluded lochs.
Completing the top three is a stretch of the A941 between the villages of Elrick and Rhynie, northeast of the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. An average of just 113 vehicles use this stretch of road each day.
Outside of Scotland, the quietest major road can be found in Wales along a six-mile length of the A4085. With only 318 vehicles estimated to travel the single-carriageway every day, the road is ideal for those seeking a quiet Welsh road set in the country’s infamous Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. The road parallels the Welsh Highland Railway – a heritage line that offers passengers magnificent views of the surrounding mountainous countryside.
In second place is the A3110 on the Isles of Scilly, seeing just 324 vehicles on average per day. With just over 2,000 residents living on the islands, and only a small number of vehicles between them, it is no surprise that the A3110 ranks highly. Rounding off the top three outside of Scotland is the A4069 in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Wales, with 397 vehicles per day.
On mainland England, a short one-mile section of the A686 near the village of Langley takes the top spot with 511 vehicles per day. The whole road, which spans the North Pennines National Park, offers outstanding scenic views of northern England. In second place is the adjoining A689, with the A3078 in Cornwall rounding off the top three.
Kris Cholmondeley, Managing Director at Jeep UK, commented: “At Jeep, we’re all for taking the road less travelled. By shining a light on the most traffic-free roads, we hope Jeep owners will be encouraged to explore some of these more remote and beautiful parts of the country and escape the rush of everyday life.
“With more than 40 million vehicles now on UK roads, most places are more congested than ever, but our research proves it’s still possible to enjoy wonderfully peaceful stretches of road that showcase some the nation’s most picturesque locations.”
The research by Jeep UK was completed as part of its newly launched Compass ‘Any Excuse to Get Lost’ campaign to encourage owners to escape the rush of everyday life by revealing some of the UK’s most scenic and lesser-known locations.
Priced from £34,580 OTR, the Jeep Compass C-SUV is designed for adventurers looking to explore places that are off the beaten track, in keeping the brand’s ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ philosophy.
It is available with two advanced electrified powertrains: the Compass e-Hybrid mild hybrid (MHEV) and Compass 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a 1.3-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and an advanced all-wheel-drive system, blending fuel efficiency with the renowned off-road capabilities of Jeep. It produces a combined power output of 240hp and 270Nm of torque, and is capable of offering up to 30 miles (WLTP) zero-emissions freedom in full-electric mode.
Top 10 quietest major roads in Britain:
|
Ranking |
Road Name |
Start/End Point |
Location |
Estimated Daily Traffic Count |
|
1 |
A844 |
B881/B878 |
Isle of Bute, Scotland |
77 |
For more information on the Jeep range, visit www.jeep.co.uk.
ENDS
Sources:
- Data sourced from the Department for Transport (www.roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/downloads). Figures obtained from the ‘AADF Data – major and minor roads’ data set, and reference the average annual daily flow (the number of vehicles that travel past (in both directions) the location on an average day of the year) in 2022. Figures are obtained using estimation based on the last available average annual daily flow measured using a manual or automatic traffic count. Some roads have been omitted from the lists where factors such as road closures have resulted in data anomalies.
Jeep Brand
Built on more than 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep® is the authentic SUV brand that delivers legendary off-road capability, interior refinement, high-tech features and versatility to people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a broad portfolio of vehicles that continues to provide owners with a sense of safety and security to handle any journey with confidence. Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep 4×4 line-up, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep brand owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support. The legendary Jeep brand’s off-road capability is enhanced by a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into the new 4×4 in pursuit of the brand’s vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom and added 4×4 capability. All Jeep brand vehicles will offer an electrified variant by 2025.
Contacts
Alice Cross-Watson, PR Manager, Jeep
alice.cross-watson@jeep.com
07395 375272