
Zig Zag Hill in Shaftesbury is the bendiest road in the UK
England, europe
1.6 km
N/A
hard
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
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.6 km
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 55.2159, -0.9570
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