Seven of the World's Most Spectacular Road Bridges

Road Trips

Jan 9

Written By Nik Berg

In Detour’s book there’s no such thing as a bridge too far. Leaving solid ground to shoot across the span of suspension bridge is the closest thing to flying you can experience behind the wheel. (Well at least until those flying cars we’ve been promised for decades finally arrive). Here are seven of our favourite crossings.

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Detour #129: Llosa del Cavall, Catalunya, Spain

Imagine if all your favourite features were found on one single stretch of road. Twists, turns, climbs and falls, forests, tunnels, bridges and vistas to make you brake to standstill and grab your camera. It’s the smash hits of road trips: an incredible compilation album.

Detour #64: Grand Pacific Drive, Sydney, Australia

Australia’s Grand Pacific Drive is one of the most Instagram-friendly routes in the world. Honestly, just spend a few minutes on the planet’s most popular photo-sharing platform and you’ll find thousands of shots of this scenic Sydney adventure.

Detour Pit Stop #28: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, China

The world's longest road link across open sea joins Hong Kong to Macau.

Detour #52: Florida Keys Overseas Highway, USA

Skimming the Florida Keys just metres above sea level, the Overseas Highway links Miami to Key West via a series of spectacular long low-slung bridges.

Detour Pit Stop #19: Oresund Bridge, Denmark-Sweden

Oresundsbron isn’t just a bridge - it’s a bridge, a man-made island and a tunnel that link Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmo in Sweden and is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year.

Detour Pit Stop #08: Millau Viaduct, France

Rising 1,100ft from the floor of the Tarn gorge this Norman Foster designed wonder is the tallest bridge on the planet.

Detour #08: Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

Eight bridges span a series of small islands, some so low that you feel you’re skimming the sea, while fishermen catch cod from the side. Others a roller coaster ride into the sky and down again.

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Detour #666: Britain’s Most Spooky Motorway

If you’re heading up the M6 this Halloween you might want to call Ghostbusters.

Detour #276: Motoring Through Mythology in Kefalonia, Greece

Ben Barry takes a road-tripping, beach-hopping detour to Kefalonia – land of Greek myth and a Hollywood flop.

Detour #275: Driving into the Jaws of Martha’s Vineyard, USA

Terror took hold of the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard in 1975 when Jaws hit cinemas. Detour tracks the infamous shark sightings and movie locations on a road trip around the Massachusetts island.

Detour #274: Island hopping from Copenhagen to Møns Klint, Denmark

Nik Berg gets misty-eyed as he recalls a childhood road trip.

Detour #273: Winding Through the Wild West on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, USA

Jamie Hearne takes his mobile home to where the buffalo still roam on a road trip through Wyoming.

Detour #272: Florida Car Culture, USA

From the awesome oval at Daytona to the Art Deco excess of Miami Florida is a must-visit destination for any auto enthusiast.

Detour #271: Going Topless on the Kentish Riviera, UK

A roof-down road trip along the Kent coast from Margate to Dungeness reveals a gallery of art, nature and science.

Detour #270: Turbo Charging in the Stuttgart Hills, Germany

Time to cosplay a Seventies Porsche development driver in the original ‘widowmaking’ 911 Turbo.

5 Incredible Italian Road Trips for a Dash of Driving Dolce Vita

Is there any other country where the Romance of the Road Trip is so strong? There’s simply so much on offer that when planning a driving adventure you’re spoiled for choice. Try these five for starters.

Detour #269: Beachcombing in London, UK

Did you know that London has a string of seven beaches? Neither did we until we got hold of a beach car and went exploring the city.

Detour #268: Dreams Come True on the Yellowhead Highway, Canada

Driving the Yellowhead Highway is, quite literally, a dream made real for James Hearne.

Detour #267: Following Don Quixote from Madrid to Ciudad Réal, Spain

Miguel de Cervantes’ hero defined the term quixotic for his fantastical adventures. A road trip from Madrid to Ciudad Réal is very real, but no less fantastic.

Detour #266: Driving from Seoul to the DMZ, South Korea

Ben Barry drives as far north as Kim Jon Un will allow.

Detour #265: The Wolds and Bends of Lincolnshire, UK

Across the flat fenlands of Lincolnshire you’ll find some of the straightest roads in the UK, but if you know where to look there are brilliant bends to be discovered.

Detour #264: Revisiting the Old Military Road, Scotland

Time travelling in a futuristic MG Cyberster, John Mahoney returns to a road full of memories.

Detour #263: Off the Beaten Track in Baviaanskloof, South Africa

Sudhir ‘Banzai’ Matai heads into the wild as he explores the Valley of the Baboons.

Detour #262: Going Slow in Slovenia with a Ford Explorer

A road trip in Slovenia is like journeying into a pastoral past, discovers Charlotte Vowden, even when you’re doing it in an EV of the future.

Detour #261: The Col du Portillon is Borderline Bonkers, France/Spain

High in the Pyrenees mountains, on the Col du Portillon, there’s a brief moment where your front wheels will be in Spain, while the rears remain in France.