Tracking the Queensland coast for over 1,000 miles from Brisbane to Cairns is the Bruce Highway. There’s little danger of getting lost, but it’s not always plain sailing.

We were already well north of Townsville when I began to worry. The fuel warning light of our rented motorhome had just flicked on and there were no signs of civilisation.

I was mentally kicking myself for not stopping to fill up at the last servo (as the locals call it), which was now at least 20 miles in the rear-view mirror. We had two choices; press on in the hope of finding fuel ahead or track back. Either way it would be touch and go.

It was a rookie error, made worse by the fact that it wasn’t just me who was at risk but the whole family. The only consolation was that it was so noisy in the back that young Max and Oscar couldn’t hear the swearing up front.

Since leaving Brisbane it was a problem I hadn’t even contemplated. While not exactly densely populated, the Sunshine Coast is well-geared up for travellers and we passed plenty of big-name fuel stations as we headed north.

We’d stocked up on food and water for our five-day drive, and initially our biggest concern was the aftermath of a typhoon which had done considerable damage to buildings and hurled palm trees across the highway.

As the A1 Bruce Highway cut inland towards Gympie the lush green bush seemed even more vivid after the storm, and we made steady and uneventful progress to our first overnight halt. A small township pub near Marlborough was happy for us to stay in its car park as long as we tucked into their grub. We also managed a few games of pool before retiring for the night, to the sounds of the local fauna.

The next morning, we paralleled the coast once more, running alongside old railway tracks, the ocean just tantalisingly out of view to our right. At Townsville, though, we’d get a proper taste of it, taking a boat tour out to the barrier reef for snorkelling and a desert island visit.

All in all, it was proving to be an amazing family adventure. Until it almost went wrong. On the next leg of the Bruce Highway there are few fewer places to refuel and refresh. 60 miles or more might separate the two closest servos. So, after a quick look at a map which we’d barely needed to refer to until this point, we pulled a U-turn and made it back to the pumps on fumes.

Cairns came as a relief, a bustling city, with no shortage of amenities and family activities. Any lingering anxiety was washed away in the warm ocean, and the kids had barely noticed the unplanned detour anyway.

We made plenty of memories on this trip, but that one moment I’d rather forget.

If you’re planning on following the Bruce Highway don’t make the same mistake I did and keep your tank topped up.

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: OCEAN DRIVE

NAME: BRUCE HIGHWAY

ROUTE: Brisbane to CAIRNS

COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA

Distance: 1,060 Miles

Ineos, maker of the rugged Grenadier 4×4, has partnered with navigation platform onX Offroad to release a new trail route for every state in the USA this summer.

Already well underway, the campaign will see a trail a day added until 4 July. It’s a topical time for some British-American collaboration as this year marks the 250th anniversary of the declaration of American Independence.

The onX Offroad app already includes 615,000 miles of unpaved roads and more than half a million points of interest across the USA, and Grenadier owners will be granted 50 days of Elite membership.

“The Grenadier was born from the belief that adventurers need real capability,” says George Ratcliffe, President of the Americas for INEOS Automotive. “It’s a modern successor to the legendary 4X4s of the past – built for those who live, work, and explore off-road, engineered with durability, longevity, and exploration in mind. With 50 States, 50 Trails, we’re inviting people to get out and experience the incredible diversity of the American landscape, supported by a vehicle proven through rigorous off-road testing.”

Off-road enthusiasts who don’t own a Grenadier can take advantage of a 50 per cent offer on onX Offroad’s Premier and Elite packages.

The Isle of Man may be synonymous with the TT, but coastal roads, open moorland and empty tarmac tell a wider story.

Starting at Port St Mary in the island’s south, a sleepy fishing village where masts bob gently in the harbour, this route begins with a climb over Meayll Hill past an abandoned WWII radar station and Cregneash, its cluster of traditional croft cottages untouched by time. Below lies The Sound, the rushing channel separating the island from the Calf of Man, but the islet broods beneath a stubborn cloud, refusing to reveal itself properly.

Looping back uphill, the horseshoe bay at Port Erin is framed by tall grassy headlands, before the road turns inland to the Sloc Road. The tarmac winds and climbs steadily through open moorland as the rearview mirror fills with an expansive, misty sweep of the southeast coast stretching towards Douglas. Somewhere out of sight, the whistle of the steam railway drifts across the hills.

Descending towards Niarbyl through pine forests and moorland, the road narrows and loses its centre line. A long, deep blue stretch of the west coast is visible beside the gently undulating asphalt. Heading inland, a sharp switchback swings around picturesque Glen Maye, tucked into the folds of a valley.

Peel arrives in pastel shades and narrow streets before the marina opens out beneath Peel Castle, sprawling across St Patrick’s Isle just offshore. The route follows the coast northeast towards Kirk Michael, sparkling sea on one side, low sandy cliffs ahead and another pleasing switchback. The mountainous interior recedes, replaced by the patchwork fields of the northern plains.

The TT begins to make its presence felt here. Orange course signage appears intermittently, and every bend invites thoughts of superbikes attacking the same corners at impossible speed.

The route towards The Ayres has an almost East Anglian feel: open fields, scattered cottages, distant rolling hills and occasional flashes of sea. At Bride, a detour heads to the island’s northern tip where the red-and-white Point of Ayre lighthouse stands above dunes, shingle beaches and nesting grounds for migratory birds.

Turning south, Snaefell, the island’s highest peak, dominates the skyline inland above Ramsey, and before long the road follows the long sandy beach past the town’s elegant seafront buildings.

A meander onto the Maughold Road passes whitewashed cottages and a stone church clustered around a sharp bend in the eponymous village, surrounded by neatly divided fields high above the shoreline.

Back on the main road, the Manx Electric Railway runs alongside, tram tracks and tarmac tracing the coastline in parallel towards Laxey. Broad switchbacks lead to Baldrine, while King Edward Road crosses the high stone arches of Groudle Glen Viaduct. Moments later, a wide sweep around the headland brings Douglas into view: the promenade stretches ahead beneath Victorian seafront buildings, the ferry moored across the bay as the water to the left merges into the horizon.

The Old Castletown Road follows the coast through grassy hills, with more fleeting sea views, before the route glides past the airport into Castletown and beneath the walls of Castle Rushen, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortresses. Minutes later, the rocky shoreline returns on the approach to Port St Mary.

The Isle of Man feels like a nation of country roads: coastal drives, mountain routes, forests, plains and fishing villages all compressed into one small island. Traffic is scarce. Congestion, if it exists, seems confined to Douglas.

But the island’s appeal isn’t speed. It’s freedom: empty, pothole-free roads, no speed cameras in sight, and the rare pleasure of simply driving without constantly watching the dial.

Words & Photography Indi Bains

ROADBOOK

CLASS: ISLAND LIFE

NAME: Alternative ISLE OF MAN

ROUTE: Port St Mary to Port St Mary

COUNTRY: ISLE OF MAN

Distance: 76 Miles

The Rainbow Bridge linking Port Arthur and Bridge City in southeast Texas is set to scare motorists again after being closed for a year for vital repair work.

From certain angles it looks like the crossing over the Neches River is an almost vertical climb and, since 1938 when it first opened, it has set hearts racing as drivers approach its 680 ft long span. In 1997 the bridge, which clears the river by 177 feet, was made one-way westboard, which has helped to alleviate anxiety, but last year, to add to drivers’ fears the Rainbow Bridge was deemed unsafe.

Among more than $10 million of repairs, the whole length of the concrete deck has now been replaced, along with 1200 rivets, so it is ready to take around 30,000 cars and trucks that brave it every day.

In Taylor' Sheridan’s Yellowstone the Dutton clan are forever driving their pickups (or a Bentley in Beth’s case) across the breathtaking Montana landscape. here’s how to follow them.

Yellowstone – and all its spinoff shows – must have done wonders for Montana tourism. The Big Sky state never looks anything other than beautiful, even when the storyline is at its most brutal.

This road trip through the show’s locations starts (spoiler alert) where John Dutton’s story ends: in the State Capitol of Helena. Here you’ll find the Governor’s Office which dates back to 1896, just over a decade after the Dutton family first arrived in Montana. Taking US 12 westwards is a gentle warm-up to what the state has in store, as flat pastureland gives way to gradually more mountainous terrain.

At Garrison you pick up the I-90. There was a time when Montana had no daytime speed limit, but drive at the posted 80mph and you’ll reach Missoula in less than two hours. Here you’ll find the Community Medical Center, which doubled for Bozeman General Hospital, along with the settings for Ruby’s Cafe on Regent Street, the real life Gray Wolf Casino (season five) , and the Missoula County Court House which was used for Summer’s trial in the season four finale. Missoula Montana airport also featured.

Take 93 south through vast open plains to Hamilton where you’ll find the location of the Montana Livestock Commission office, and then rejoin the 93 which will lead you to Darby and Dutton Ranch. Actually it’s really called the Chief Joseph Ranch and has been a Montana landmark since 1883. There are cabins to rent if you want to sleep where the Duttons did.

The road continues through the Bitterroot Mountains where many a spectacular scene was shot. Talking of shooting, the infamous Train Station, where the Duttons would dispose of troublemakers, is actually based on a real area called The Zone of Death. This 50 square mile part of Yellowstone Park includes parts of Freemont County, Idaho, and Gallatin and Park Counties in Montana. With a conflict between state and judicial district boundaries, it’s not possible to assemble a jury from residents of the same county and jurisdiction if a crime took place here, which is how the Duttons got away with murder.

The ride to the real train station location is long, taking MT 43 through a truly sparse landscape, then northwards on the 569 to Anaconda. Join the I-90 all the way to Belgrade and you can detour to explore the Zone of Death or head into Bozeman, where the Y-branded Dutton Ranch cowboys would head to let off steam. You’ll see Main Street in many scenes, although interiors were mostly shot elsewhere.

John Dutton’s reign over Yellowstone may have ended, but with shows such as Marshals, Dutton Ranch and the upcoming Yellowstone 1944 continuing the legacy there’ll be more locations and more reasons to visit Montana for many years to come.

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: TV tour

NAME: DRIVE LIKE A DUTTON

ROUTE: Missoula to Bozeman

COUNTRY: USA

Distance: 430 Miles

The Isle of Man’s reputation may rest on two wheels, but tucked away on the former RAF Jurby airfield is one of the British Isles’ most eclectic motoring collections.

The Isle of Man Motor Museum houses more than 500 vehicles spanning over a century of motoring history, from TT-winning motorcycles and steam cars to military vehicles, buses, fire engines and even spacecraft – with plenty of Americana thrown in for good measure. The vast, pristine showroom in the island’s north feels more like an aircraft hangar – apt for its setting.

At its core is the Cunningham Collection, assembled by father and son Denis and Darren Cunningham. It began with a simple passion, as Darren explains: “Dad and I love cars and anything unusual that has an engine in it”. The collection grew steadily from the 1980s before expanding rapidly after 2003. “It got to the point where we needed to find somewhere to put all of the vehicles under one roof,” he says. The museum opened in 2015.

The sheer variety is striking. One moment you are admiring the Peel P50 – the world’s smallest production car, built on the island in the 1960s – and the next you are standing beside the Royal Humber Super Snipe used by the late queen and Prince Philip during their 1953–54 Commonwealth tour, before suddenly coming across the Almaz-206 Soviet space capsule.

Some exhibits are personal. “It was the first car I rode in,” Darren says of the Jaguar XJ12 Coupé, which later became the museum’s first exhibit after restoration.

On the mezzanine level, a wall of historic TT signage overlooks more than 300 motorcycles, including Joey Dunlop’s Honda CBR600, ridden by the 26-time TT winner.

Allow at least half a day to explore. If time permits, The Old Guardhouse Café next door serves homemade food in the airfield’s original WWII-era guardhouse.

Words & Photography Indi Bains

ROADBOOK

CLASS: Museum

NAME: Isle of Man Motor Museum

ROUTE: Jurby, Isle of Man IM7 3BZ

COUNTRY: UK

Two of the greatest race tracks in Europe are less than two hours apart if you take the most direct route. There’s a longer way, however…

This being Detour, it’s the only option I consider when plotting my drive between the Nürburgring in Germany and Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps. But first there’s the small matter of collecting a car for this racy road trip, and it’s at Frankfurt airport, around 100 miles to the east of the ‘Ring.

And what a car it is. A 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. With a 6.2-litre mid-engined V8 developing almost 500bhp, America’s sports car is finally ready to mount a serious challenge to Europe’s supercar elite. It’s even available in the UK, in right-hand drive, but this car is configured for the Continent.

Ultimately, my destination is the WEC 6 hours of Spa-Francorchamps where I’ll watch the LMGT3 Corvettes and their Cadillac Hypercar GM stablemates compete against the European establishment, but for now the focus is to get there by 6.30 pm to obtain my accreditation.

I’m in the car by 1pm so there should be plenty of time, but the Friday afternoon traffic around the airport has other ideas and I crawl along for almost an hour. The ‘Vette is less bothered than I am, with its eight-speed dual clutch transmission left in automatic, it seems content enough to trundle along with its engine barely above idle.

Eventually, I am through the worst and heading north on the A3. German autobahns have a reputation for their lack of speed limits, but the reality is that the majority of the network is restricted. Variable limits are used to manage the traffic flow, there are plenty of roadworks, and so for a while I’m see-sawing between 100 and 130 km/h with everyone else. Then, at last, there’s a gap in the traffic that coincides with an unrestricted section and I floor it. The Stingray surges forwards, numbers on the head up display rising rapidly.

I’m looking far ahead, intensely watching the closing speeds of the cars ahead in case one should pull into my lane. For a brief moment the speedometer reads 260 km/h – that’s a tad over 160 mph, before I have to hit the brakes. Sustaining such a high speed would definitely put me back on target, but the reality is that it’s impossible.

Nonetheless, the miles fly by and soon I’m joining the A48 west. At Kaisersesch I take the exit in search of something more scenic and I certainly find it on the L98 to Cochem.  Passing first through farmland, then forest it’s a lovely road that becomes increasingly curvaceous, before dropping down to the banks of the Mosel river, at the postcard-pretty town. River boats cruise the water and multi-coloured houses front its banks, while the whole lot is overlooked by its dramatic castle. Definitely worth the detour.

Leaving Cochem requires a hairpin-heavy climb, the Corvette powering out of each bend with just a little shimmy from the rear end before the traction control intervenes. It’s not a small car, but it’s extremely agile, with pointy steering and plenty of feel. Even in sport mode it’s quite supple, too. This is not the American muscle car of old.

I join the B259 which wiggles back to the A48 at Ulmen. A quick sprint down the autobahn and I’m off again on the B257 to Vulkaneifel, the road cutting through deep forest in this landscape, formed, as the name suggests by ancient volcanic activity.

The L46 to Kelberg and the B257 takes me the final stretch to the Nürburgring. It’s a public day on the circuit, and all manner of fast cars are joining the queue for tickets to a lap, but I only have time for a quick photo if I’m to take the most enjoyable route to Spa.

The B258 leads to the Belgian border and, if like me, you don’t manage to lap the ‘Ring, it’s the next best thing. It’s a brilliant road with even more bends than the Nordschleife’s legendary 157 corners. True, there are speed limits (rigidly enforced by cameras in the towns along the way) but locals certainly drive it with gusto.

Approaching the Belgian border the road suddenly straightens beyond Schöneseiffen, becoming a tree-lined avenue through a valley of wind turbines, before bringing back the bends as it crosses into Belgium. The route to Spa is in parts densely forested, in others desolated empty as I follow the N649, N647, N676, N68, following signposts for Malmedy, Hockai, checking my watch on the final stretch to the circuit.

I arrive in the nick of time as the circuit office readies to close. Of course, the more direct route would have been much faster, but with a car like the Corvette at your disposal would you have done anything different?

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: Circuit tour

NAME: Nürburgring to SPa-Francorchamps

ROUTE: FrankFurt to The Nürburgring to SPa-Francorchamps

COUNTRY: Germany / Belgium

Distance: 200 Miles

People have crossed the sand between the tides for centuries, and now Porsche has electrified the experience by driving a Macan over Morecambe Bay.

The near-ten-mile route that links Arnside to Grange-over-Sands in Lancashire is a public right of way, but these days few brave the crossing. Fewer still in electric cars, where salt water and high voltage aren’t exactly an ideal combination.

In preparation, the Porsche team wisely consulted the King’s Guide to the Sands, Michael Wilson. It’s a role that dates back to 1548 and Wilson’s job is to read the sands and pick the safest route across.

“People have always crossed at low tide,” Wilson explained. “It used to cut as much as three days off their journeys, and there was a scheduled stagecoach service before the railway was built. Today, the official right of way is not defined to one particular route. The Monk’s Road, as it’s called, is actually the whole bay – wherever the Guide deems safe.”

“It can be very dangerous out there if you don’t know what you’re doing,” he added. “There have been tragedies on the sands all through recorded history, and they sadly still happen when people venture out on their own.”

Under Wilson’s guidance the Macan set out. “As the journey continues, the sense of scale grows,” reports Porsche. “The shoreline fades and the fells become more distant. It almost starts to feel more like a desert than the seabed. The Macan remains quiet, allowing the sounds of the wind, water and birdlife to come through. Timing remains critical. Areas that are dry will soon be submerged. In order to stop before an impassable bed of sinking sand and to avoid disturbing the wildlife, Wilson sticks to the plan and retraces our wheel tracks before the incoming tide erases them.”

If you fancy taking a trip across the bay yourself then a guided walk is the safest option, but we’ve got also plenty of other choices if you want to go for a beach drive.

Charging down a desert highway towards an infinite horizon, racing through city streets, or in hot pursuit along a curvy coastal road. These are the movie scenes that car fans remember.

If you want to follow the stars of the silver screen on an unforgettable blockbuster road trip of your own then let Detour be your director.

To mark the centenary of Route 66 Google has put together a guide to 48 places to visit along the Mother Road.

“Buckle up for the ultimate journey down Route 66 in honor of its 100th anniversary, crafted with Ask Maps. Explore this historic 2,400-mile-long stretch through iconic landmarks, roadside attractions, delicious bites, and more, from Chicago to Santa Monica,” reads the description.

Surprisingly it’s not a detailed route map – although given it’s just one road it would be pretty hard to get lost – but the 48 Pit Stops aren’t listed in the order you’d find them either. Nonetheless there are some good tips here, and not just the obvious spots, like the Springfield Route 66 Welcome Center in Missouri, the Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, California, or the finish line at Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific coast.

You’ll find the site of the first ever McDonald’s, countless diners, museums and motels, as well as oddball attractions like Cadillac Ranch, Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios and the Gemini Giant.

Check out the Google guide, and discover more of Detour’s Route 66 stories here.

ThE Alta Via Del Sale isn’t for the fainthearted, but the payoff is worth it.

High in the Ligurian Alps this ancient trade route remains much as it has for centuries. The unpaved road hugs the mountainside as it follows the border ridge between Italy and France, barely a car wide, with next-to-nothing in the way of barrier to prevent a precipitous death.

Sitting at above 1,800 meters, and climbing as high as 2,100m, the Alta via del Sale is wisely closed in the winter months when snow and ice would make it even more perilous. From June 21 until the end of September, however, it’s open to all-comers – in cars, on motorcycles, mountain bikes and on foot. Thankfully not at the same time, with Tuesdays and Thursdays closed to anything with an engine.

To keep numbers manageable drivers and riders need to buy a €20 ticket, and while you don’t necessarily need four-wheel drive or knobbly tyres, they would add a little extra assurance on the loose gravel surface. Not that it’s some kind of rally stage, mind. The reality is that you’ll be pottering along, keeping a keen eye on the edge, and another on the wall of rock as you thread the needle between the two. There’s no room for error. There’s not much room for passing, either, so be prepared to reverse quite a distance to find a spot that’s wide enough for two.

If this sounds stressful, what makes it all worthwhile is the utterly stunning scenery you encounter as you traverse the ridge towards the French border. The clear mountain air helps get your breath back after the vistas have taken it away.

There’s a number of different itineraries to explore, as listed on the Alta Via del Sale website, and you can even take an overnight stay in a mountain hut. When the gravel ends the adventure is far from over, as the route onwards and downwards towards the Mediterranean coast is strewn with switchbacks until you join the SP64 that takes you into Ventimiglia.

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: Mountain Pass

NAME: Alta Via del Sale

ROUTE: Limone to Ventimiglia

COUNTRY: Italy / France

Distance: 42 Miles

Bugatti’s CEO, President and Managing Director have just completed a grand tour of South Africa with a group of owners.

One of the perks of running a hypercar company is driving its cars and Mate Rimac (CEO), Christophe Piochon (President) and Hendrik Malinowski (MD) seized the chance to join in on an eight-day adventure from Cape Town.

The multi-million pound convoy (and multi-milllionaire drivers) left Cape Town and immediately took on the coast-hugging curves of Chapman’s Peak Drive, before continuing over mountain passes to the valley of Tulbagh, and the Western Cape’s famous vineyards. A third stage took the Bugatti buyers and bosses to Cape Agulhas - the southernmost point on the African continent, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge. The cars then followed the Garden Route, took in a game reserve and explored the Karoo, before a final run up the wild Atlantic Coast and through the Cape Winelands, the Franschhoek Pass and back to Cape Town.

Bugatti quite accurately described this 2026 Grand Tour as “A journey through the captivating beauty of South Africa.”

Of course you don’t need to be rich to enjoy the wealth of wonders on the superb South African roads. No matter what you drive, you’ll find detailed guides to these routes, and many more, right here at Detour.

A tight and twisty climb that’s rewarded with terrific views of Table Mountain.

Thanks to its geological make up, the Western Cape, on the very tip of Africa, is chock-full of mountain passes. Snaking sections of tar that either wind along the scenic coastline, such as Clarence Drive, or climb over dragon-like mountains on the Franschhoek Pass.

About three dozen of the many, many passes in and around the Cape, were designed by just two men: father Andrew and son Thomas Bain, and it is the former after which our feature road is named. A local whisky was also named after him.

Scottish-born Andrew Geddes Bain wore many hats, one of them being that of an engineer. His handiwork included overseeing the construction of Mitchell’s-, Gydo-, Houw Hoek- and Bainskloof Pass. This connects the farming community of Wellington on one side of the Slanghoek Mountains to the fruit-producing Ceres region on the other. The pass technically starts on the outskirts of Wellington and ends at the Breede River bridge in the valley on the other side.

While Bain was the brains, the heavy lifting was carried out by convict labourers and reportedly the cause of slow progress. In 1854 the pass was opened and the (then) wagon track was lauded for its gentle rise and descent.

The road, which has since been completely tarred, is narrow and has a strict height limit as overhanging rock formations such as Dacre's Pulpit have remained in place since the very early days of construction. The initial stretch is characteristed by many hairpins and blind corners as it climbs from Wellington through a canopy of trees on mountainside forest. At its peak, some 590 metres above sea level, there are spectacular views over the vast plain that looks back towards Table Mountain in the distance.

The descent towards Ceres snakes its way into the kloof or valley. Bainskloof Pass is surrounded by the Limietberg Nature Reserve. As a result there is an abundance of fauna and flora for nature lovers to enjoy. In addition there are hiking trails and natural plunge pools to explore.

A recent revamp has left it with a near billiard-smooth finish. As a result it is now even more appealing to sportscar and superbike owners. Speed seekers have been known to scare rare and elusive wildlife in the area, such as leopards, which has irked local conservationists. Better to take a more gentle cruise down into the valley, soaking up the scenery and make a stop at the local bush pub, an ideal spot to enjoy a cool drink or warm coffee on a winter’s day. The deep Vee of the kloof means that there aren’t many hours of sunlight in the valley, which can be one of the coldest places in the Cape during winter.

Once over the Breede River the road flattens out into the plain, the occasional floodplain, that is. Keep going and you’ll eventually hit another arterial road, opening up routes to explore more of the surrounding countryside. Most people who have made the trip purely to experience this road simply turn around and head straight back up to double their thrills.

Words and Photography Sudhir “Banzai” Matai Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: Mountain Pass

NAME: Bainskloof Pass

ROUTE: Wellington to Ceres

COUNTRY: South Africa

Distance: 35 Miles

The Piotto Vogts completed the Rally dos Sertões - known as one of the toughest events in South America – in their factory-specification Porsche.

The marathon event covered 3,482 km through the wilds of Brazil, from Goiânia, southwest of the capital city, Brasília, to Marechal Deodoro on the Alagoas coast. With a roof tent mounted atop the car, and their Cayenne as a support vehicle, Fredy and Susele Piotto Vogts and their 14-year-old son João Pedro completed the rally route without a hitch.

“To start with, we weren’t sure if the Porsche would be able to handle the route,” admitted Susele. “But those concerns evaporated the moment we crossed the river. The Dakar also served as our hotel. We slept in the roof tent in the heart of the wilderness. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience.” 

Just to get to the start involved a 1,200 km from their home in Campo Largo, and they obviously had to make the return journey as well in their cars. The family clearly loves life on the road, however, and their very first trip in the 911 Dakar took them to Praia do Cassino – the longest beach in the world, at 220 kilometers – in Rio Grande do Sul, and from there, on to Chui in Uruguay.

“We buy cars to drive them,” said Fredy, and, when they’re not on rally duties, both vehicles are used as daily drivers. “It’s about the dynamism, the feeling, and the experience of driving a Porsche to work in the morning.”

With its seemingly endless vanishing point, Saudi Arabia’s Highway 10 is officially the longest, straightest road in the world.

That’s according to Guinness World Records which says: “Built originally as a private road for King Fahd (SAU), the stretch of Highway 10 connecting Highway 75 in the Haradh area to Highway 95 in the west of Saudi Arabia is 240 km (149 mi) long. It cuts through the desert with no bends left or right, or any appreciable gradient up or down. The super-straight stretch has an estimated driving time of around 2 hr.”

Those are the bare facts, but they fail to convey the relentlessness of this desert drive that slices through the sand with an almost surreal precision. There’s not a kink in sight, not an incline to alter your altitude, just arrow-straight asphalt for almost 150 miles.

After the initial awe of the harsh desert and infinite blue sky fades, the view of the limitless flat sandscape soon becomes monotonous. The biggest driving challenge is simply to stay alert. Barrelling along at the 75mph speed limit sounds like it should be enough to maintain attention, but such is the empty vastness that any sense of speed is diminished. In daytime hours heat haze turns the road ahead into a disturbing blur. It’s a recipe for highway hypnosis.

Although accidents aren’t that common, when they do occur, they are catastrophic. With no central divider between the two lanes, a head-on collision at high closing speeds is more like a plane crash. In July 2023 five people died and eight more were injured when two mini buses collided.

You’ll find no fuel along the way, so a full tank, a well-prepped car and a supply of water and snacks are musts before taking on this drive. Avoiding the most extremes of temperature is wise and also throws in some added benefits.

Sunrise on Highway 10 is something special as the light spills across the desert floor in soft gold, casting long shadows that slowly retreat as the day warms up. But it’s sunset that steals the show. As the sun dips low, the sky ignites in shades of orange, pink, and deep violet.

It’s a lonely road for sure, but that in itself can be bonus as it resets your perspective. You can find yourself reflecting as there’s nothing else competing for your attention. Call it motoring mindfulness.

And maybe that’s the real beauty of Highway 10 – a space to think, to simply exist in motion. Sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys are the ones that appear, at first glance, to be the simplest.

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: Desert Drive

NAME: Highway 10

ROUTE: Haradh to Al Batha

COUNTRY: Saudi Arabia

Distance: 250 Miles

Max Adventure is offering a unique chance to drive from below sea level up to 2,782 feet on a three day off-and-on road trip.

The route begins at Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire, which is the lowest navigable track in the UK, sitting at nine feet below sea level, with the final destination being Great Dun Fell in the North Pennines, some 250 miles away. Highlights of the journey include the chance to stop at the highest and lowest pubs in the country, drive the Buttertubs Pass and take on the highest green lanes in the UK.

Participants will need to have a 4×4, but Max Adventure says: “This event isn’t about serious mud plugging or extreme off road driving, but exploring the stunning UK wilderness and getting away from it all.” The Max Adventure team will be on-hand in its own expedition-ready off-roaders to provide support if it’s needed.

The drive, dubbed Fen to Fell 2026, takes place from 17-20 July and prices vary from £399 per person if you’re going solo to £149 per person with four people in a car.

Whether you make a dash for the last of the snow, or wait for the summer sun, Europe’s mountain passes are always a drivers’s delight. The challenge of serial switchbacks and stunning views are what put these routes on bucket lists.

Our guides to six of the best European mountain roads are now available for free on the MIVIA app, with accurate, turn-by-turn navigation for every one. You can also use the app to book accommodation and sign up for discounts and deals to improve your driving life.

Just download MIVIA and use the links below to tackle these six very special Detours in Switzerland, France and Italy.

A trio of Toyota trucks has travelled from Montanta, USA to Cape Town, South Africa to put a new Mobil oil to the test.

Having refreshed its two Tacoma Trailhunters and one Tundra with Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil, a 13-strong crew from XOverland embarked from their U.S. base for a four-month on-and-off-road trip through 35 countries.

“Our most ambitious expedition to date required equally ambitious partners,” explains XOverland founder and expedition Leader Clay Croft. “When you’re crossing three continents and taking on some of the most dynamic terrain in the world, confidence in your equipment matters. For us, this journey was about removing variables, reducing risk, and knowing our vehicles were supported every mile of the way. It was a test for Mobil 1 Extended Performance, but for us, it was the removal of variables and the peace of mind we had knowing that we could push this product further than any other motor oil. Protecting our vehicles and, frankly, sometimes our crew.”

“The Mobil 1 brand has always been about pushing limits in ways that matter for real drivers,” says Mobil 1 North America marketing manager Austin Johansen. “With the new Mobil 1 Extended Performance formula, drivers get guaranteed protection for up to 25,000 miles, and there’s no better way to put that promise to the test than on this bold adventure with XOverland.”

The entire journey, dubbed Milestones Global Expedition, has been documented in a multi-part YouTube series and you can check out the first episode below.

Ben Barry journeys from relaxing Playa de Mogán to the spectacular Mirador del Balcón in Gran Canaria – retracing a World Rally Championship route along the way.

When the World Rally Championship made its first ever visit to Gran Canaria in 2025, it showed car fans that the Canary Islands didn’t just boast spectacular volcanoes and golden beaches – they also offer some truly exceptional driving roads.

Ahead of the WRC’s return from 23–26 April 2026, Detour set out to explore the GC-200 route used on the opening day of the rally, only in something a little less spicy and a lot more practical than a full-bore rally car – a VW T-Cross rental.

Located off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa, Gran Canaria is the third-largest of the Canary Islands and – with around 900,000 inhabitants – the second most populous island in the Spanish archipelago.

I land at Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria on the eastern coast and set out south along the GC-1 – a smoothly surfaced stretch of three-lane autoroute that loosely traces the shoreline. It leads first past industrial and commercial zones, then into more desolate expanses further south. It is not particularly appealing, but beyond the southern tip at Maspalomas, the landscape begins to close in around the GC-1. Soon I’m running through long tunnels that cut into the mountainsides, periodically re-emerging into piercing sunlight, before I drop down to the welcome sight of my accommodation at La Playa de Mogán. A fishing village with a crescent-shaped white sand beach, small harbour and calm water, it’s an easy place to switch off and recharge.

I do just that for a few days, before the pull of those rally roads takes over. I point the VW north, first inland towards the delicious-sounding Pie de la Cuesta, then onto the GC-200, which sweeps up into the mountains like a ribbon in the wind – the very road that, once closed to public traffic, rounded out day one of Rally Islas Canarias last year as drivers raced from La Aldea to Mogán.

My pace today is rather more measured, but that’s no bad thing given the stunning scenery. I climb into the craggy interior, the white walls and terracotta roofs of Veneguera dropping away below, while the jagged peaks of the Inagua massif rise above, their layered rock strata giving the entire vista the feel of a digital image that hasn’t quite downloaded.

Soon the iconic coloured cliffs of Los Azulejos fill my windscreen, where the western face of the massif is streaked with vivid turquoise – the result of a dramatic chemical reaction between lava and water.

The terrain becomes more varied now, richer green vegetation scattered across the otherwise monochromatic palette of ochres and greys. It’s cooler at this altitude too, with clouds periodically rolling through to knock the edge of the heat.

The road is sublime with its smooth surface, good sight lines and curves that wrap invitingly around the mountainside. Tempting as it is to channel a little WRC spirit, the T-Cross’s modest 1.0-litre turbo quickly curbs my enthusiasm, as do the bright warning signs suggesting helicopters – and perhaps even drones – may be monitoring speed.

After a long climb that takes me beyond the rally stage, I descend towards Molino de Viento – literally ‘windmill’ – an apt name given the buffeting crosswinds as I cross the GC-2 near sea level at Las Marciegas.

Blimey it feels stark here – small patches of farmland cling to barren soil, palms bend forlornly in the breeze – but the road soon coils into the Carrizo mountains in an immaculately surfaced three-lane stretch that allows me to slip past a slow-moving lorry.

Before long I rejoin the GC-200, heading into Tamadaba Natural Park. Narrower now, the road threads more precariously between wooden barriers and volcanic rock faces coloured purple and grey like old bruises, and climbs steadily towards Mirador del Balcón – a concrete viewing platform that extends over the cliff edge and is bordered by nothing more than glass.

I park and walk down to the viewpoint, my knees wobbling slightly as I peer over the glazed boundary feeling freakishly exposed. To my left, a chain of peaks descends towards the ocean, aptly named the Dragon’s Tail. Ahead lies the vast Atlantic, stretching endlessly beyond Gran Canaria’s western tip.

Breathtaking in daylight, Mirador del Balcón is also one of the island’s most remarkable places after dark. With virtually no light pollution, the night sky reveals an extraordinary canvas – not only can all the constellations of the Northern Hemisphere be seen from here, but almost 80% of those in the Southern Hemisphere too. On clear nights between January and June, even the Southern Cross can be glimpsed low on the horizon.

It’s a fitting end to a drive that proves Gran Canaria is far more than a sun-soaked escape. For those willing to venture inland and explore the island’s more remote western flank, it offers some of the most scenic driving routes imaginable.

Words & Photography Ben Barry Twitter/X | Instagram

ROADBOOK

CLASS: RALLY STAGE

NAME: GrAn Canaria’s GC-200

ROUTE: Playa de Mogán to Mirador del Balcón

COUNTRY: Spain

Distance: 26 Miles

Researchers in China have discovered that the smell of peppermint in your car can potentially improve your driving.

The study, titled Cognitive activation and emotional regulation effects of olfactory intervention in the context of advanced driver assistance systems, tested a number of different scents with a group of 34 drivers in simulations of urban driving. Their awareness was monitored under three different “odour conditions” which is actually much more pleasant than it sounds. The base line measurements were taken with just the normal smell of the car, and then two distinct scents were added: peppermint and bergamot.

The boffins in Chengdu discovered that peppermint had a positive impact on drivers’ reaction times, while bergamot proved to have a calming effect in the stressful cut and thrust of city driving. “Olfactory interventions exhibit significant context dependence across driving settings. In urban driving, characterized by high information density, bergamot more effectively suppressed low-frequency electroencephalography indices and reduced variability, whereas peppermint sometimes increased variability. In highway driving, which is monotony-prone, peppermint sustained vigilance and reduced attentional drift," reads the study.

We’ve previously reported on how in-car smells can enhance your road tripping experience and now it seems that if you pick the right peppermint pong you might driver better as well.