Do all motorways and dual carriageways look the same to you?
Are you tired of choking on petrol fumes when you stop for a cup of tea at a lay-by?
Do you need a change of scenery?

Then you need to get off the beaten track and experience the view from the UK's ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads. But before you head off into the unknown, make sure your car is in tiptop condition. Breaking down in the middle of nowhere could put a damper on your trip. If you have car insurance, check that it includes breakdown insurance. That way you can drive off into the sunset knowing that help is just a phone call away.
Here are some useful tips to help you get the most out of country driving.
• Preparation
Give your car a four-point check before you set out.
1. Check your tyre pressure
2. Top up your oil
3. Top up your windscreen washer bottle
4. Clean all windows. You won’t see much if they’re dirty
It’s also wise to take water, soft drinks and snacks with you. Plus a roadside emergency kit with a torch just in case the unexpected happens and you breakdown.
• Map it out
Plan your route before you leave and take a map with you. You don’t want to spoil your trip by getting lost. An Ordnance Survey map details every highway and byway including narrow tracks and unmade roads.
• Don’t get distracted
Pay attention to the road at all times. If you want to stop and admire the view, pull off the road in a safe place.
• Explore the Countryside
The quickest route to your destination is not always the most scenic. The quickest route to Dartmoor is via the M4 and M5. But if you take the A303, you pass Stonehenge and the road winds its way through the picturesque countryside of Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon.
• Enjoy the view
See the best of the UK from the comfort of your car. A drive along the A82 takes you around the western edge of the stunning Loch Lomond. At low tide, a tiny B road will take you to the tip of Lindisfarne causeway in Northumberland, and offers the only access to the ancient isle of Holy Island.
On the UK’s western shores, you can leave the windswept A66 behind at Brough in Cumbria and head south-west on the switchbacks through the picturesque villages of Brough Sowerby, Kabel and Winton. The road will take you under the M6 and onwards toward Kendal in the Lake District. The Lake District is bursting with beautiful Lakeland passes like Kirkstone Pass that rises 1,300 above sea level, the aptly named Snake Pass and Hardknott Pass on the outskirts of Ambleside.

With all the stunning scenery on display, you’ll want to make sure that your windscreen in is perfect condition. Here are some useful tips on how to get the best view from the driver’s seat.
• Chips
If you have a chip in your windscreen that is wider than 10mm and is directly in the driver’s line of vision, you will fail your MOT.
• De-frost
Keep an ice-scraper and de-icer in your car in winter. They are safer and more effective for removing frost from your windscreen than boiling water. Make sure you de-ice all your windows and not just a small area that allows you to see the road ahead. All round vision is essential for safe, legal driving.
• Wiper blades
To avoid your wiper blades sticking to the windscreen in snowy conditions, pull them off the windscreen when you park.
• Demist
If you drive an older model car with a dodgy windscreen demister, you might want to invest in a can of anti-mist spray treatment and some anti-mist screen cloths. For safety, never wipe your windscreen while driving. Rather pull off the road in a safe place, dry the windscreen thoroughly and then wait until the car interior has warmed up enough to prevent condensation from re-forming.
• Windscreen repairs
If you do experience a broken windscreen on the road, it pays to keep the name and phone number of a reliable windscreen service in your glove box like Autoglass 0800 36 36 36.
• Roadside assistance
Even the best-laid plans can go wrong. That’s why breakdown cover is an important add-on to have on your car insurance policy. Most breakdown services operate countrywide and offer fast, efficient roadside assistance when and where you need it.