If You Love to Drive, You'll Love the N308-1 Road

If You Love to Drive, You'll Love the N308-1 Road

Portugal, europe

Length

19.5 km

Elevation

822 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# N308-1: Portugal's Thrilling Mountain Descent

Ready for an adventure? Head to northern Portugal's Braga district, right where the Spanish border beckons, and you'll find N308-1 – a seriously impressive 19.5km (12.11 miles) stretch of road that'll have you gripping the wheel in the best way possible.

This winding beauty starts high up at Portela do Homem, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 822m elevation, and winds its way down to the charming riverside town of Rio Caldo at just 161m. That's a dramatic drop, and boy, do you feel it on the drive.

What makes this route so special? The 18 hairpin turns combined with narrow sections create an exhilarating driving experience. The pavement is solid throughout, but you'll definitely need to stay sharp around those tight corners. Some steep sections keep things interesting too.

The real magic happens when you take in the scenery. Multiple natural viewpoints offer breathtaking vistas, and you'll pass by stunning waterfalls like Cascata de Leonte and Cascata da Portela do Homem – perfect spots to pull over and catch your breath (literally and figuratively).

This is one of those roads that combines technical driving with genuine natural beauty. It's the kind of route that sticks with you long after you've descended into Rio Caldo.

Where is it?

If You Love to Drive, You'll Love the N308-1 Road is located in Portugal (europe). Coordinates: 39.4097, -7.9247

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Portugal
Continent
europe
Length
19.5 km
Max Elevation
822 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
39.4097, -7.9247

Related Roads in europe

Where are the Gorges du Guil?moderate

Where are the Gorges du Guil?

🇫🇷 France

Cruising through the Gorges du Guil in the Hautes-Alpes, France, is an absolute must. This stunning canyon road, also known as Gorges du Queyras or Combe du Queyras, is nestled in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, a real gem within the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras. Built between 1905 and 1911, this 19.7 km (12.24 miles) stretch of the D902 runs from Guillestre to Arvieux, offering jaw-dropping views at every turn. The road is carved by the Guil River, a haven for white-water sports enthusiasts. Expect a 25-30 minute drive (without stops!) as you wind through the gorge, a gateway to the Queyras region. Be prepared for a thrilling ride! The road can be narrow, with a mix of short rock tunnels and exposed sections guarded only by low walls. Keep an eye out for potential rock slides, a known hazard in the area. You'll pass through four tunnels: Tunnel de la Maison du Roy, Tunnel de Roches Brunes, the 320m-long Tunnel de Roches Violettes, and Tunnel de Montgauvie, both of which were rebuilt after the 1948 floods. This "balcony road" is a truly unforgettable experience.

Driving the Britain's bendiest roadshard

Driving the Britain's bendiest roads

🇬🇧 England

Okay, buckle up, because we're ditching the autobahn for some seriously twisty roads right here in the UK! Forget those drawn-out alpine passes; here, it's all about quick reflexes and mastering your car's balance through relentless bends. Think racetrack levels of sideways action! First up, the legendary Cat and Fiddle Road. This 7.5-mile blast between Macclesfield and Buxton throws corner after corner at you. Sure, average speed cameras keep things (sort of) in check, but this remains *the* spot to test your car's grip and suspension on its crazy off-camber turns. Next, we're off to Wales and the Rhigos Pass. Finally, a road that *feels* like a proper alpine pass! This Pricetown-to-Treorchy beauty has a dramatic switchback section that demands some serious engine braking on the way down and smooth throttle work on the way up through the Rhondda Valley. Then, there's a stretch near Cann Common, often called the "bendiest road in Britain." It's a concentrated dose of tight hairpins, coupled with rapid elevation changes. Get ready to manage your weight distribution like never before! Forget horsepower; it's all about feeling the road through the steering wheel and brakes. Whether you're carving the sweeping A39 in Somerset or threading the needle on the tree-lined B2130 in Surrey, it's a tires-meet-tarmac experience that'll leave you buzzing. Pro tip: dial in those tire pressures before you hit these roads; you'll be pushing the limits of grip!

Where is Cimabanche Pass?moderate

Where is Cimabanche Pass?

🇮🇹 Italy

Ciao, road trippers! Let's talk about Passo di Cimabanche, a totally sweet mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,530 meters (5,029 ft) in Italy! You'll find this gem, also known as Gemärkpass, straddling the Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions in the northeast. Think stunning scenery! The Strada Statale 51 di Alemagna (SS51 Road) winds its way through here. It’s paved and mostly a smooth ride, perfect for cruising, though keep an eye out for a few spots where the road gets a little rough. Heading north from Cortina, after you crest the summit, you can hang a right and explore a bit more. Just south of the pass, you'll find the remains of Lake Bianco, and the pretty Lake Nero and Lake Rufiedo. This epic road stretches for 30.8 km (19.13 miles), connecting the famous resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo with Toblach-Dobbiaco in the Val Pusteria. Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! You're in the Dolomites, people! Near the top, the views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are postcard-perfect. Plus, you can check out Strong Point No. 4 (Blockade Cimabanche Pass), a massive bunker built into the rocks as part of Mussolini's Alpine Wall defense system. Inside, you’ll find it was armed with three machine guns back in the day. Pretty wild!

Piedra de San Martín is a drive worth takinghard

Piedra de San Martín is a drive worth taking

🇪🇸 Spain

# Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin: Spain and France's Hidden Pyrenean Gem Ready for one of the most thrilling drives in the Pyrenees? The Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin sits at 1,760 meters (5,774 ft) on the French-Spanish border, connecting the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in southwestern France with Navarre in northern Spain. And trust us—this isn't your typical scenic mountain pass. Spanning 52 kilometers (32 miles) between the French town of Arette and the Spanish village of Isaba, this fully paved route (D132 on the French side, NA-1370 on the Spanish side) is an absolute masterclass in dramatic driving. We're talking narrow sections, endless switchbacks, and a seriously famous pigtail turn called the *Nudo de Corbata*—a mind-bending 270-degree loop that passes under itself. It's the kind of curve that makes you laugh and white-knuckle the steering wheel simultaneously. The climb is genuinely steep: 11% max gradient on the French side, 7.4% on the Spanish side. You'll earn every meter of elevation gain. Though it might not quite rival legends like Tourmalet or Hautacam in difficulty, the jaw-dropping scenery—dramatic western Pyrenean peaks, contrasting landscapes, and endless panoramic views—absolutely matches them. The payoff? A huge parking lot at the summit and the bragging rights of conquering one of Europe's most spectacular mountain roads. Fun fact: cyclists have tackled this beast during Tour de France stages, and it's one of only five Spanish roads featuring a pigtail turn.