
Where is The Burway?
England, europe
7.88 km
488 m
hard
Year-round
The Burway, nestled in Shropshire's Cardingmill Valley in the West Midlands, is a wild ride! This isn't your average Sunday drive – it's a proper adventure up Long Mynd, a mountain plateau reaching 488m (1,601ft).
Clocking in at 7.88km (4.9 miles) from Church Stretton to Longmynd (where it's known as The Port Way), this paved road is narrow. Really narrow. We're talking single-track narrow, with gradients hitting a punchy 20% in places. Inexperienced drivers, be warned!
The views from the top are absolutely stunning, stretching across Shropshire and beyond. But getting there? It's not for the faint of heart. One side offers a sheer, unprotected drop into the valley below. Seriously, this "high shelf road" can be intimidating! Forget about bringing a caravan – it won't fit.
Starting from Church Stretton, the first 3.24 km (2.01 miles) climb 281 meters, averaging an 8.6% gradient. And a word to the wise: this "highest public road in Shropshire" isn't maintained in the winter. Deep snow and icy conditions can make it totally impassable – and incredibly dangerous. One slip, and you're over the edge. So, check the forecast and drive with extreme caution!
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.88 km
- Max Elevation
- 488 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateRing Road (Route 1)
🇮🇸 Iceland
# Iceland's Ring Road: The Ultimate Icelandic Road Trip Ready for an epic 1,322-kilometer adventure? Iceland's Ring Road is basically the country's greatest hits tour on asphalt and gravel, looping around the entire island and hitting pretty much every corner where people actually live. The road got its final piece in 1974 when they finished the Skogar River bridge, and honestly, it's been the ultimate bucket-list drive ever since. What makes this route absolutely mind-blowing is the sheer variety of scenery you'll encounter. Imagine cruising past massive lava fields that look like alien terrain, then rolling up to impossibly blue glacial lagoons, volcanic wastelands, and geothermal hotspots where the earth itself seems alive. The fjords on the east coast? Dramatic doesn't even cover it. You'll pass right by some of Iceland's most Instagram-famous spots—think thundering waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, the otherworldly Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and the otherworldly geothermal wonderland of Myvatn. Most of the route is paved these days, though some stretches in the northern and eastern sections still stick to gravel, adding a bit of adventure to the mix. Plan on spending 7 to 10 days to really do it justice. One heads-up: Iceland's weather is moody and unpredictable, changing faster than your mood on a road trip. If you're going in winter, come prepared with studded tires and keep tabs on road closures—it's not something to mess around with.
moderateHow to get by car to Szrenica on the Polish-Czech border
🌍 Czech Republic
Way up high on the Polish-Czech border, nestled in the Karkonosze Mountains, you'll find Szrenica peak, towering at 1,347m (4,419ft). This gem, hidden in the Karkonosze National Park, is all about wild landscapes and views that stretch forever. Connecting Poland's Jelenia Góra County with the Czech Republic's Liberec Region, this peak sits pretty on the Karkonosze's main ridge. It’s a hiker's paradise, but getting here by car? Tricky! The road to the top is totally unpaved, a bumpy service route mainly for maintenance and getting to the private mountain hut. Forget about taking your own car, unless you've got a 4x4, it's off limits to most. You'll mainly find trailheads and forest tracks here. Most people hike or hop on a chairlift from Szklarska Poręba to get to the top, rather than driving. Perched high in the Giant Mountains, expect a blanket of snow for much of the year. Winter can make getting around Szrenica tough, so be careful. At the summit, there's a mountain hut serving hikers from both sides of the border. Don't miss the cool rock formations like Trzy Świnki and Końskie Łby, plus those incredible panoramic views of the peaks and valleys. Szrenica is super popular in the Karkonosze Mountains. With its amazing scenery, marked trails, and a chairlift from Szklarska Poręba, it's a must-visit spot for everyone.
Driving the iconic paved road to Bernina Pass in the Alps
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Passo del Bernina: A Classic Alpine Adventure Want to experience one of Switzerland's most iconic mountain passes? Head to Passo del Bernina in Graubünden, near the Italian border, where you'll find yourself 2,332m (7,650ft) above sea level surrounded by some of the Alps' most stunning scenery. This legendary route stretches 53.3 km (33.11 miles) from the charming resort town of St. Moritz down through the Engadin valley all the way to Tirano in Italy. What makes it special? The fully paved Hauptstrasse 29 has been connecting these two regions since 1865, following in the tire tracks of medieval traders who once hauled goods across these mountain passes on horseback. The drive itself is no joke – expect some seriously steep sections hitting up to 10.4% gradient – but it's totally manageable in regular conditions. Most people take between 1 to 1.5 hours to drive through without stopping, though you'll want to pump the brakes and soak in the Alpine vistas. One unmissable sight is Lago Bianco (the "White Lake"), which hugs your right side for much of the drive heading south toward Val Poschiavo. Here's the cool part: you'll share the road with the Bernina Express, one of Europe's most spectacular railways. In some spots south of Poschiavo, the train literally runs alongside (and sometimes on!) the road itself – yes, cars have to yield to trains here. The pass stays open year-round since 1965, though expect snow for about eight months annually. Winter weather can trigger temporary closures, so check conditions beforehand. At the summit, grab lunch or coffee at one of the restaurants or even stay overnight at the mountain hotel.
extremeCol de Fours
🇫🇷 France
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Col de Fours! This stunner sits way up in the French Alps, practically winking at Italy from its perch at 2,318 meters (7,604 feet). You'll find it nestled in the Ubaye valley, in the northern reaches of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Now, this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking rocky, gravelly terrain—basically a chairlift access trail. As you climb, the landscape gets wilder and the slope gets seriously steep. Think loose stones giving way to an even steeper, rockier upper section. Starting from Le Super-Sauze, you've got 3.6 km to conquer, packed with a whopping 607 meters of climbing. That's an average gradient of nearly 17%! This trek is only doable during a tiny window in summer. Be warned: the wind here is no joke—it’s pretty much a permanent fixture. But keep your eyes peeled! You might just spot marmots, chamois, and ibex hanging out along the way. Oh, and did I mention there's an old chairlift from 1971? This place is epic!