Zig Zag Hill in Shaftesbury is the bendiest road in the UK

Zig Zag Hill in Shaftesbury is the bendiest road in the UK

England, europe

Length

1.6 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up, road trip lovers! You absolutely HAVE to check out Zig Zag Hill in Dorset, England. Seriously, it's rumored to be the windiest mile of road in all of Great Britain.

Tucked away near the charming town of Shaftesbury (think rolling hills and that classic English countryside vibe), this little gem is part of the B3081. The whole thing is paved, so no worries there, but get this – it's like a mini Alpine pass right in the UK. Four hairpin bends in just one mile? Mind blown! You’ll start near Cann Common and shoot straight up.

Now, I'm not gonna lie, it's STEEP. We're talking gradients up to 13% on some of those ramps. Those hairpin turns are tight and can be a bit slick with leaves, especially in the autumn when the foliage is just spectacular. Just take it slow, enjoy the views, and embrace the challenge. Trust me, it’s worth it. This one’s a definite contender for best driving road in Great Britain.

Where is it?

Zig Zag Hill in Shaftesbury is the bendiest road in the UK is located in England (europe). Coordinates: 55.2159, -0.9570

Share this road

Road Details

Country
England
Continent
europe
Length
1.6 km
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
55.2159, -0.9570

Related Roads in europe

Puerto de Hondurashard

Puerto de Honduras

🇪🇸 Spain

# Puerto de Honduras: Spain's Twisty Mountain Challenge Perched at 1,433 meters (4,701 feet) in the northern mountains of Cáceres, Spain, Puerto de Honduras is a mountain pass that'll get your adrenaline pumping and your steering wheel working overtime. The road up is the CC-102, and let's be honest—it's seen better days. The asphalt's rough in places, the lane is tight, and there are more hairpin turns than you can count. But here's the payoff: the views of the Jerte Valley are absolutely spectacular. Fair warning though—if your travel buddies have sensitive stomachs, they might want to skip this one. All those curves mixed with a hearty meal beforehand? That's a recipe for regret. Pack some ginger candies and maybe eat light. Coming from Hervas, you're looking at a 15-kilometer climb with 750 meters of elevation gain (averaging 5%), though some sections hit a steep 9.6%. If you're starting from Cabezuela del Valle instead, it's an 18-kilometer push with 844 meters of gain at around 4.7% average gradient. The road is narrow, winding, and demands your full attention, but if you love a proper mountain drive with killer scenery, this Spanish gem won't disappoint. Just grip that wheel tight and enjoy the ride.

Orrido della Val Taleggio is an Italian balcony roadmoderate

Orrido della Val Taleggio is an Italian balcony road

🇮🇹 Italy

Orrido della Val Taleggio is a stunning canyon tucked away in the province of Bergamo, Italy, that'll absolutely blow your mind. The river Enna carved out this magnificent 3 km gorge over centuries, and someone had the brilliant idea to build a road right through it. Also called Orrido dei Serrati or Orrido di San Giovanni Bianco, this beauty sits in Lombardy in northern Italy. Built between 1902 and 1910 by two visionary companies, Strada Provinciale 25 (SP25) is the fully paved marvel that winds through the canyon. Picture this: a succession of curves and bridges hugging both sides of the river, with the road literally carved into the rock formations. It's basically Italy's answer to those famous French balcony roads, and honestly? It's just as thrilling. The real showstopper is the 12.9 km (8.01 miles) stretch running west-east from Vedeseta to San Giovanni Bianco. Fair warning though — this isn't for the faint of heart. The road is incredibly narrow with blind turns around every corner, so large vehicles should probably find another route. Motorcycles? Now *that's* the way to experience this beast. Keep your eyes peeled for falling rocks, and if you're planning a winter visit, watch out for ice. Once you navigate these legendary curves, you'll understand why this gorge is pure driving gold.

Rio-Antirrio bridge is an engineering marvel on the Gulf of Corinthmoderate

Rio-Antirrio bridge is an engineering marvel on the Gulf of Corinth

🇬🇷 Greece

# The Rio-Antirrio Bridge: Greece's Engineering Wonder Spanning the stunning Gulf of Corinth is one of the world's most impressive bridges—the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, officially named after 19th-century Greek prime minister Charilaos Trikoupis. At 2,880 meters long, this cable-stayed marvel connects the Peloponnese town of Rio to Antirrio on the mainland and holds the title of the world's longest cable-stayed bridge with a suspended deck. When it opened in August 2004, it was immediately hailed as an architectural masterpiece. And for good reason—this bridge had to overcome some seriously challenging conditions. The Corinth Gulf sits in one of Europe's most seismically active zones, perched right above one of the world's fastest-opening geological rift zones. Yet engineers designed it to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 7 on the Richter scale, winds exceeding 250 kilometers per hour, and even the impact of a 180,000-tonne tanker moving at full speed. Building here meant tackling some unique obstacles: incredibly deep water (65 meters), unstable foundation materials, powerful winds, constant seismic activity, tsunami risk, and ongoing tectonic movement. But the engineering team pulled it off with innovative solutions that make this bridge one of the most spectacular in the world. Today, the smooth asphalt road carries European Route 65, offering drivers a spectacular crossing between the two regions. It's a stunning drive that showcases human ingenuity at its finest.

The road from Agiassos to Kalantos is not a Sunday drivemoderate

The road from Agiassos to Kalantos is not a Sunday drive

🇬🇷 Greece

# The Epic Coastal Drive from Agiassos to Kalantos Ready to test your driving skills? This 10.8 km unpaved road stretching along the southernmost coast of Naxos in the Cyclades is absolutely not your typical island drive. Connecting the tiny, isolated villages of Agiassos and Kalantos, this track has a reputation for humbling even confident drivers—and for good reason. Here's the honest truth: conditions matter *a lot* here. On a dry day, it's manageable for experienced drivers. But throw some rain into the mix, and this road transforms into a muddy, slippery nightmare that can become completely impassable. This is definitely a "check the forecast first" situation. What makes this route genuinely challenging are the steep sections, relentless sharp boulder terrain, and those heart-stopping coastal dropoffs—we're talking hundreds of feet, sometimes more. This isn't a road for the faint-hearted or anyone who gets queasy around heights. You'll want to be completely comfortable with your vehicle and know it inside and out. A lightweight enduro bike with solid off-road tires or a proper 4×4 with good ground clearance and short gears is essentially required here. The payoff? Those incredible panoramic views sweeping across the Aegean toward Mount Anathematistra, the Small Cyclades, Amorgos, and beyond. You'll encounter the occasional closed gate (open them, drive through, close them again—respect the local goat herds!), and you'll have the road almost entirely to yourself, even in peak season. Pro tip: If the driving feels too intense, the hiking along this same route is equally spectacular. Either way, bring your camera—this is absolutely one for the photo collection.