You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I have a friend who has health problems. She cannot walk very far. She saw this article
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/sep/12/10-best-uk-peaks-hill-walks-with-stunning-360-views but all the viewpoints mentioned are at least 2 miles walk from a car park.
Can anyone suggest any similar high up viewpoints that are at or within a few hundred yards of a parking place?
Anywhere in mainland UK is good.
This trip will not happen until deeper into next year, so COVID restrictions may vary by then, in case anyone is concerned over distant travel by people.
Thanks lots.
Bealach Na Ba for starters
Actually, there should be plenty of options in the North Pennines, iirc there’s often some stopping spaces on quite a few of those roads, been a while since I’ve been that way.
I don't know where you are based but Sutton Bank on the North York Moors claims to have the finest view in England. Also we'll set up for disabilities with some made paths, off road scooter hire etc.
Accessibility details in this link:
https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiting/see-and-do/sutton-bank-national-park-centre/accessibility
Also on the NYM the road from Castleton to Hutton Le Hole has great view and Hutton itself is very pretty for a potter about it the folk museum.
On the North Edge of the Moors Carlton Bank has great views a couple of hundred metres from the car park.
Lord Stones is the name of the car park, cafe, view point
https://lordstones.com
Its not exactly a mountain but the top of arthurs seat has quite the views and you can get pretty close*.
*Not sure distance and its very much up from the highest carpark.
Whiteleaf Princes Risborough and Combe Hill Wendover both have car parks and level gravel paths to view points 🤔
Cairngorm (or even take in a few of the ski centres in that neck of the woods)
with a bit of careful choosing there are a few nice paths off of the ski road up to Cairngorm that get you out of site of the road and into quite lovely landscape and flora without too much effort and you’re sometimes lucky to cross paths with the reindeer herd
The quiraing on skye is technically mainland now there’s a bridge and gives you mountains and sea views
Top of Holme Moss has 2 car parks, each with views down different sides.
Mam Nick has a lay-by or 2 with good views.
Ditchling Beacon near Brighton. Park right next to the view over the Weald (NT car park).
Oh, and car park on the Quantocks near West Bagborough. Beautiful view across the valley to the Brendon Hills (and a passing steam train if you're lucky).
Top of Latrigg looking over Keswick and Surprise View over Derwent Water - both a couple of minutes walk from car parks.
Also +1 for Sutton Bank.
There's a road along the top of the Long Mynd in Shropshire - good views over towards Wales.
In my neck of the woods (Dales), there's a minor road which leaves the Fleets Moss near the top which then follows the Cam High ridge for a couple of miles to a couple of parking places at the junction with the Pennine Way and leaves you with a good view in all directions at Kidhow End. That's probably as high as you can get in the central Dales.
At risk of awakening the Captain - how about Yat Rock, above Symonds Yat...
Pretty much anywhere in glen Coe. Not high up, but probably the most stunning roadside views.
Surprise view, Borrowdale. The car park at honister slate mine. Both just outside keswick.
Cairngorm for sure.
Fort William for the gondola and then a short walk around there too.
Mam Ratagan for the view to the Seven Sisters.
The road to Diabaig from Torridon. Not massively high but you're close to the sea so everything seems bigger.
From the car:
Hartside - North Pennines (view of N Cumbria and the Lakes)
Swinhope Head - North Pennines (road is very quiet and lay-by at summit) view of N Pennines
Lodge Forest Visitors Centre Aberfoyle
Glencoe Chair Lift / walk on plateau
Nevis Range Gondola / walk on plateau
Glenshee Chairlift
Cow Green Car Park - North Pennines
Flat walks - as long or as short as you want
Maryport Prom / Allonby Cycleway - views of Solway Coast / Dumfries and Galloway
Cat and Fiddle - bridleway heading to Danebower Hollow - views Peaks / Cheshire plain
C2C / Waskerly Way - moorland. Depending on which bits views of N Pennines and Northumberland out to the Cheviot
Low Force / Winch Bridge - County Durham (about 250m from roadside)
Miles without stiles paths:
National Parks - over view / links to Parks
Titterstone Clee with views South/South West over Worcestershire, Herefordshire and in to Wales
Another in the Peak is Monsal Head. Cracking view, right from the benches next to the car park. Plus cafe & pub.
https://goo.gl/maps/brPibVLQ1aZMvm2e7
another favourite view of mine - it is a long way north tho but one heck of a scenic drive
https://goo.gl/maps/tB1dr5TDkd9epgio9
Old Mam For road carpark lets you get a nice view down the Hope Valley in the Peak District.
Old Mam Tor Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/p6qdjJbibXHF6VsV9
Dear All, some great suggestions, thanks for the ideas.
If you think of any more keep them coming...
Here
https://goo.gl/maps/jCTofavM7h8WZZHY6
And here in the Peak District
https://goo.gl/maps/iP2yvCuMTToUwqk8A
Ok, so not a patch on some of the Lakes and Highland spots but pretty good for the Peak. And the second one is right by the pub. Oh and forgot to mention Surprise View. Clue is in the name.
You could get the train up Snowden
OP, Where are you based, how far do you want to travel? It might make the choice more focused.
Devoke water
Corney Fell
Hardknott
Blea Tarn Langdales
Woodland Fell or Kirkby Moor for the sunset over Blackcoombe
Tarn Hows (obvious but cracking panoramas)
Some crackers on the Penrith Alston road
Garsdale head in the dales
Must be loads on the south downs
When I saw this I thought Carlton Bank / Lordstones and Sutton Bank as suggested by Slowol in the North York Moors. Great views from the plateau very close to car park. Danby Beacon another option in the area.
Bwlch y Groes out the back of Lake Vyrnwy is nice, with a little car park at the viewpoint. As a bonus some of the roads around there are very picturesque too, so would be nice just for a drive out.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Na6mun26bBpj2Bgq5
Bowland Knott has a sweeping panorama north to the Dales, as far as the Lakes and over towards Pendle and Winter Hill to the South.
There's a blue badge car park overlooking the valley at Whitehorse Hill, Oxon. Just north of the castle where the trig point is. Lovely up there.
South Stack on Holy Island, Anglesey. Good views of the cliffs, the birds (RSPB observatory), the sea. Geograph.
This is a cheeky one but worth knowing about... If you were heading North near the Lakes and looking to treat someone with limited mobility to the highest possible view as a main goal and are happy with a mildly controversial adventurous spirit - then it would be hard to beat the access road up to Great Dunn Fell radar station. A narrow but well surfaced road up to 848M, popular with roadies for the ability to climb up to effectively the same height as some of the Lakes summits. Technically it is a bridleway and not allowed for cars with signs saying so...but as a frequent user I can tell you that cars do occasionally go up to set off walking from, or just for the view - there are only a few small spots to park up though, hard to turn (definately no car park). If you decide to take it on then the only risk would be being confronted by a farmer on the lower slopes, but they'd have to be in particularly foul mood to have an issue with it if you explained the situation and aims. You'd be unlikely to encounter another vehicle higher up. On a clear day one gets a full panorama of the Eden valley with the Lakes off in the distance - not a place to go in bad weather or in winter conditions though as it gets proper harsh up there.
Sorry for long delay in getting back to this thread, did not expect to be missing so long. Such is life. Apologies.
Just another thank you to everyone who has kindly taken the trouble to suggest locations.
The lady in question will be starting her journey from midway between Preston and Leeds, but longer distance suggestions are fine, as she is not ill/sick so has no problems with travel itself - its the walking on rough ground she has problems with, and lots of good viewpoints etc are more than a few hundred yards from car parks.
Anyway, thanks again folks. All the best.
Loch Tulla on the A82 heading upto Glencoe.
Passed it when driving to Fort William for work once, I was a good 20min late after having to stop to look at the view!
If you're heading dannn sarfff then Walbury Hill is decent. Highest point in South East England
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walbury_Hill
There's a few parking spaces at the foot of Mam Tor up in the Peak District. There's steps to the top and I think a longer gentler path nearby.
Near Mam Tor Bridleway, Hope Valley S33 8WA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5BrukuYTLrpwBEQh9
Also near Stockport there's Bowstones which has great views on a clear day.
Bowstones
Stockport SK12 2AW
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rAwkk8J1LSQKqERb6
Pym Chair carpark might be an option. A few others round that area too.
Pym Chair Car Park
High Peak SK23 7RF
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NkwM94AoSrSYPqw78
A82, so many awesome places to stop and take in the views.
Glenelg road over to ferry.
Some local to me - string road on Arran, Fairlie moor road, views across all the Clyde islands, mull of kintyre, paps of Jura....
Or just drive the Fred Whitton route...
Westbury White Horse, Wiltshire - big wide view off the N edge of Salisbury plain.
Car park / picnic site at the top of Tog Hill S of J18 of the M4. View over Somerset to S Wales. (Go during the day, popular with some very odd people after dark)
Reigate View point off the A217, just off J8 of the M25
Odd one perhaps but the view off the crest of the QE2 bridge over the Thames at Dartford is impressive. That's southbound, northbound is a tunnel.
Head to North Wales and just take a drive. You can't open your eyes without seeing amazing views. We drove up to this spot 52.812321, -4.056795 between Barmouth and Harlech, it was pretty cool.
There's also places like Gospel Pass in the Black Mountains 52.009998, -3.115517 - the ground is pretty smooth grass there so you could get out and walk away from the car with a couple of chairs and a flask of something warm (or picnic, depending on season!), and even the Bwlch at the top of the Afan Valley here 52.812321, -4.056795 but it's more of a layby than a place to chill out.
A few 'down South' Top of Butser hill, just off the A3 outside Portsmouth. And a flat road along the ridge. Also Devils Punch Bowl (Hindhead) great views for somewhere only just outside London.
Summit of Hillside near Gwaenysgor/Prestatyn that hits ~33% has car park right there.
Top of Hard Knott Pass.I sometimes used to have a breakfast stop up there on my way to Sellafield.
Some of the best (and most instagrammed) views in the UK can be had from car parks on the A82. They mostly don't feel that high up, because you're already high but the mountains are higher. But they're still stunning. Every layby from Tyndrum to Onich has an amazing view, I drove back from Kinlochleven one year in the snow and it took me about 6 hours because I could hardly bear to drive past anything.
Snowdon by the little train has to be worth a go?
The dogging car park at the top of the Tak Ma Doon road above Kilsyth. Car park and some scenery (don't really even need to leave the car)
Dogging doesn't seem to happen during the day time there...
Along the hillside there is the car park on the Crow Road overlooking Lennoxtown as well.
Not breathtaking views but certainly scenic.
Portland Heights and admire the view of Weymouth / Chesil Beach. Then jump in the car drive the coast road to Abbotsbury and up Abbotsbury Hill. Pull over in the layby at the top get an ice cream and admire the view back to Portland.
The Singing Ringing Tree at Crown Point in Burnley has some nice views and is a lovely bit of public art as well.
Couple of hundred yards walk from the car park to the sculpture.
Worth a visit.
This was a very nice sight on the way back from Afan a few weeks back
https://www.google.com/maps/ @51.6401634,-3.5342073,3a,75y,30.41h,87.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spOROmvxu0vx3Qt04gFrwGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Or this view after Llandegla last year
Glen Ogle - both sides of the road, but the old railway to viaduct is wheelchair friendly.
Ben Lawers road over to Bridge of Balgie - stop at various places for a stunning view. Back from Ben Lawers road by going up to Lyon Dam and over the (rough but passable) Hydro Board private road to Glen Dochart. Again, lots of great vistas and views.
Queens View above Rimmel. A cheeky stop on the Gary Bridge would work - there was a very elderly couple up there this week doing just that.
Loch Turret dam car park above Crieff.
Glenshee ski centre - not that glamorous, but a good cuppa with a view.
Rattagan Pass and take the wee ferry to Skye.
If there aren't too many doggers in the way, then the car park at the top of Birdlip (known as Barrow Wake) has beautiful views of Gloucester and North to the Malverns
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/ @51.8379805,-2.1002394,3a,75y,284.07h,81.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPdeGjn9_BAY79cwlz15wiQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Mr Kimmerage Dorset. I think Steeple. Views to the sea and I've the downs. It is just a car pack / bit of grass.
You can then head down to Kimmerage and pay for parking with a catering van and loos and a different view but not as good imo.
Excellent thread. I'm in similar position, can't walk more that 100m on the flat, no distance on loose or steep paths, so have marked thos thread as a "favourite".
Feeling foolish now for not accessing the STW hive mind before.
Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
Calton Hill
Beecraigs visitor centre, some great views over the Firth of Forth
Car park just below Cairnpapple radio tower, Bathgate to Linlithgow road
Stirling Castle
If you wanted to be cheeky and had a 4wd the telecomms site at Knockhill racing circuit Fife.
Crow Road Lennoxtown
There's a few laybys on the A5 in Snowdonia near Ogwens Cottage which aren't high up per say but not a bad place for views and the odd military low flying jet.
Near A5, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0EU
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eo3m1rjrJKwir2NA8