1. The M6 Motorway: Legions and Long-Haulers
England, europe
N/A
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for a spooky road trip across the UK! Forget boring tourist traps – we're chasing ghosts and urban legends on these haunted highways!
**The M6 Motorway: Roman Ghosts and Phantom Trucks!**
Get ready for weirdness on the UK's longest motorway! Word on the street is, between Cheshire and Lancashire, Roman soldiers march right across the road – maybe because it's built on their old stomping grounds? Keep an eye out for hitchhikers who vanish into thin air and trucks that appear and disappear in your rearview mirror. This one’s a wild ride!
**The A9, Scottish Highlands: Spooky Stagecoach Alert!**
The A9 is already known for its crazy isolation and tricky twists, but the real legend here is a phantom coach. Near Berriedale Braes, drivers swear they've been overtaken by a full-on Victorian coach, complete with footmen! It drifts silently through the mountain mist and then poof – vanishes into the hillside. With weather that changes on a dime, the A9 serves up the perfect spooky atmosphere.
**Platt Lane, Manchester: Eyes in the Bushes!**
This narrow, rural road winds alongside the site of an old mining disaster. Locals and drivers report seeing "gleaming eyes" staring from the bushes, and the feeling of being followed by unseen figures. Hit this one on a foggy autumn night for peak creepiness!
**The B3314, Cornwall: Lady in Victorian Dress!**
Near the legendary Tintagel, the B3314 twists and turns through the rugged Cornish landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for a lady in Victorian dress standing at the side of the road, waiting for a carriage. Drivers who stop to help often find she's disappeared. The sharp bends and steep coastal drops are already intense, but the ghost story adds an extra layer of suspense!
**Drews Lane, Birmingham: Silent Traffic Jam!**
Get ready for a weird one! Drews Lane isn't about seeing ghosts; it's about *hearing* them. Drivers parked or waiting at the lights report hearing the sounds of a massive traffic jam – engines, horns, tires – even when the road is totally empty. This is one seriously unique haunting – where the ghost is the sound of the road itself!
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Klausen Pass?
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Okay, buckle up for the Klausen Pass, a Swiss thrill ride punching in at a lofty 6,417 feet! Located smack-dab in central Switzerland, straddling the Uri and Glarus cantons, this beauty throws down 136 curves as it climbs a whopping 4,058 feet from bottom to top. You'll be cruising on Road 17 (Klausenstrasse), a totally paved path that's been charming drivers since '48. Think smooth surfaces, killer views, and a biker/cyclist haven. Keep an eye out for the historic cobblestone section near the start - it’s a little tight and twisty, but totally worth it. A few tiny tunnels will add to the adventure. Clocking in at just over 28 miles, this east-west route links Altdorf to Linthal. Coming from Zurich? You can ditch the highway and be carving these Alpine roads in just over an hour! Expect some steep sections, hitting around a 9% gradient, but the traffic is generally light. Heads up: this road's a snow bunny from November to June/July, so plan your trip accordingly. And forget about bringing any big rigs - longer vehicles are a no-go. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Budget an hour to an hour and a half for a non-stop blast. You'll be snaking your way up, soaking in insane mountain views at every turn. The summit is your reward – a gift shop, snack bar, and even a public toilet! Don't miss the Bruder-Klaus-Kapelle, a historic chapel from 1938. Plus, the whole pass is dotted with those impossibly cute Swiss alpine villages. Get ready for a postcard-perfect drive!
moderateWhere is Aukštojas Hill?
🌍 Lithuania
Okay, so you're in Lithuania and itching for an adventure? Forget the crowded tourist traps and head to Aukštojas Hill, the country's highest point! We're talking a modest 294 meters (965 feet) above sea level, so don't expect Everest. It's tucked away in the Medininkai Highlands, east of Vilnius and practically waving hello to Belarus in the southeast. Getting there is half the fun. You'll cruise along the paved 5213 road, but then things get interesting. A 1.4 km (0.86 mile) unpaved stretch leads you to the Aukštojo parkingas - the highest parking lot in Lithuania at 280 meters (918 feet)! From there, it's a short walk to the summit. Is it worth the drive? Totally! You're surrounded by the Migūnai forestry, a sea of pine trees. Up top, you'll find a viewing tower perfect for snapping those panoramic shots, a cool circular monument with horse heads (yes, you read that right!), and a big boulder marking the actual highest point. It's quirky, it's scenic, and it's a great way to experience a different side of Lithuania.
extremeTake the Brutal Via del Sole and Discover Punta Veleno
🇮🇹 Italy
# Punta Veleno: Italy's Most Gloriously Brutal Mountain Pass Perched at 1,171 meters (3,841 feet) above sea level in Verona Province, Veneto, Punta Veleno is basically the mountain pass that makes you question your life choices—especially if you're attempting it by bike. ## The Road (If You Can Call It That) Via del Sole is a teeth-grindingly narrow, fully paved ribbon of pavement that climbs 10.7 km (6.64 miles) from Porto to Prada Alta. Fair warning: only one vehicle can pass at a time, and that's if everyone's being polite. The pass features 21 numbered hairpin turns—each one a little gift from the mountain gods—with gradients hitting a stomach-dropping 25%. Buses, trucks, RVs, automatics, and scooters? Not welcome here. ## The Views (Your Only Consolation) Hugging the eastern shore of Lago di Garda above the village of Brenzone, this route delivers knee-wobbling drop-offs straight down to Italy's largest lake. It's breathtaking in the most literal sense—both from the scenery and the sheer effort. ## The Real Challenge Don't let the total distance fool you. The middle 6.5 km is absolutely relentless, averaging over 14% gradient with some sections hitting nearly 25%. Those first and eighth turns? Prepare your quads. This is officially one of Italy's toughest climbs, earning legendary status from Giro d'Italia icon Vincenzo Torriani back in the '70s. The race has featured this punisher multiple times, and honestly? That tells you everything you need to know.
moderateDriving a paved mountain road to San Glorio Pass in Picos de Europa
🇪🇸 Spain
# Puerto de San Glorio Want to experience some serious mountain driving? The Puerto de San Glorio is a stunning high-altitude pass sitting at 1,604m (5,262ft) right on the border between Cantabria and Castile and León in northwestern Spain. It's the kind of place that makes your heart race just thinking about it. The 36.8 km (22.86 miles) route connects the charming village of Potes in Cantabria with Portilla de la Reina in León, snaking through the dramatic Picos de Europa mountain range. You'll be tackling the N-621—a fully paved road that used to go by San Clovis or San Clovio—and yes, it gets seriously steep. We're talking maximum gradients of 11.0% on some sections that'll definitely test your nerve and your brakes. The summit area is pretty cool too. There's a parking lot where you can catch your breath, plus a paved road leading to the Collado de Llesba viewpoint—perfect for those Instagram-worthy mountain vistas. Word on the street is they're planning to build a ski resort up here, which would be incredible. Good news: the pass stays open year-round, so you can tackle it whenever you want. Fair warning though—this pass is famous enough to regularly feature in the Vuelta a España cycling race, so you know it's no joke. Oh, and keep an eye out for local wildlife; the area is crucial habitat for Spain's bear population, so drive respectfully through this natural treasure.