Maybe a bit off topic but in Corona times I think this is possible. We are talking about top destinations.

Whether you want to be in an aeroplane with 300 people in these times is something everyone must decide for themselves, but a safe alternative could certainly be the cocoon of your car.

And what’s more fun than taking your old-timer out on the road? Well, driving a nice route with your old-timer can certainly be more fun than always driving around in the neighbourhood.

It is certainly not our intention to write out complete road books here, but we would like to give you some inspiration with some nice tips to drive to. One a bit further than the other…

An important tip I would like to give you is to enjoy the ride. In other words, leave the motorways for what they are and go for the smaller regional roads.

Like many of us, I too have a ” still to drive list “. One of them I can already tick off, and that is also the trip I want to start with.

Scotland: The North Coast 500

The North Coast500 in Scotland, it may not sound as fancy as Route 66. Appearances are deceptive, however, for the NC500 is a real gem. Everything is there, narrow lanes with an abundance of bends, wide open landscapes, and considerable height differences.

One downside, well, you can never predict the weather here, of course. During our trip we really had it all. Rain, fog, sunshine and at some moments we just drove through the clouds. But beautiful, there are just no words for it.

We were driving in front of (and sometimes behind) a beautiful Alfa Romeo GT and we both gave our cars a good spur. And yes, that is still possible, on most pieces of road you can drive 60 miles. Believe me, on these kind of roads that is pretty fast.

Would you like to look around with us? Then I will present you with our travel reports.

Distance from Antwerp to NC500 (Inverness): 1270km

Italy: Stelvio Pass

The Stevio pass comes second, simply because it is really next on the agenda.

Starting from Prato Allo Stelvio, the trip counts 48 hairpins that are clearly visible from the tree line and the summit. From Bormio there are 39 hairpin turns.

The peak is at 2758 metres and the gradient is over 7.5%. The road is rather narrow, so overtaking is out of the question. There are, however, many evasive lanes, so, as with the NC500, some courtesy is recommended.

As we have not yet driven this pass, I have to rely on what others write. An important one seems to be that you really have to be careful not to cut corners. They are often difficult to see and there are many oncoming vehicles.

Distance from Antwerp to Prato Allo Stelvio: 900km

Norway: The Golden Route (Geiranger-Trollstigen)

Completely unknown to me, the north of Europe. But quite high on the list. Keep an eye on us, because early next year we will be crossing Norway. Whether this pass will be among them will probably depend on the weather conditions at that time.

Norway is said to be one of the most beautiful European countries to travel through at your own pace by car. Magnificent old castles, the most beautiful fjords and countless fishing villages should not be missed on your trip. Norway even has 18 national tourist routes to explore. One of the most beautiful would be the Golden Route which includes the Trollstigen pass.

This route runs through the West Norwegian countryside and is sometimes called the troll route. The trip offers dizzying views of mountain slopes, deep fjords, valleys and waterfalls. The fact that this route is called the most beautiful in Norway should make you want to drive it.

Distance from Antwerp to Trollstigen: 1950km

France: The Castles of the Loire

That it does not always have to be far away is proven by this destination. The Loire region in France is definitely worth a visit. I have added a map with an ideal route where you can visit six castles in a few days. They are all castles that we have visited ourselves and they are all worth visiting.

Chambord is impressive on the outside, apart from the majestic staircase, there is not much to see inside. The castles of Cheverny and Blois are just the opposite, as they are impressively well preserved, especially on the inside.

If you are more of a garden lover, don’t miss Villandry Castle on your trip. You will not get tired of it!

Apart from the castles, the area is also worth cruising through with your car. Try to avoid the big roads and be surprised by the small and charming villages along the way.

Distance from Antwerp to Chambord: 520km

Belgium: The Dams Route

In our own little country, too, there are some beautiful things to see. Here I have worked out a little trip to 5 dams in Wallonia.

Four of these five are within a few kilometres of each other and can therefore certainly be visited in a single day. However, if you spend more time there, you can certainly combine it with a visit to the Lakes of Eau d’Heure.

Again, the same advice as for all the other destinations. Leave the motorways for what they are and take the smaller local roads. Also, stop whenever you find something beautiful, it’s holiday you know. So don’t rush!

Distance from Antwerp to Bütchenbach: 190km

We at Wheels & Things hope that by the time you start this or any other trip, the bars and restaurants will have reopened. That way, you can enjoy a terrace or two during your trip. If you have good weather, you will soon realise that it does not always have to be far to have fun.

Of course, there are plenty of other routes to drive. And both at home and abroad, you can find a lot of inspiration on the internet.

Perhaps an interesting tip would be to buy a booklet with completely written routes in it. My advice is to take a look at the website of The Grand Touring Company. They have written out a ready-made tour of Belgium. That way, you can explore our whole country in 11 nice trips.

Report: Patrick Verheeken
Photos: Patrick Verheeken & Shutterstock