Get off the motorway

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Not turning off the motorway until we reach our destination is understandable. But, get off the motorways in Britain and you see a new face of the country - one that isn' t covered in tarmac and dodgy drivers. realbuzz looked at the main arteries of Britain ' s transport system to find places within a short drive of the motorway with which you could punctuate long drives.

Where to get off the M1
Driving the M1 is like a stretched out rush hour, so how better to get away from it than an ancient forest? Just 10 miles to the east of Junction 29 is Sherwood Forest. World famous but often overlooked for the nearby Peak District, Sherwood is home to the Major Oak which folklore says was the hangout of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. The forest surrounds the town of Edwinstowe which offers food and somewhere to sleep as well as being the site of the ultra grand Thoresby Hall . It 's now a hotel but still well worth a nose around and a great place to stay if you can afford it. If you are travelling with kids try the Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest Lodge Park with its Robin of Loxley theme and collection of props from the Kevin Costner movie about the famous fugitive. If that ' s not quite your scene there is also YHA in Edwinstowe.

Where to get off the M5
Construction on the M5 began in the late 60's but it cuts through land with an ancient history. It's not on a map but the Michael Eavis lay line runs near the motorway and is thought to give Glastonbury the energy which makes the festival so special. But there's more to Glastonbury than mud. Glastonbury Abbey was the first Christian sanctuary in Britain, the final resting place of King Arthur, and the birthplace of Christian Britain. Legend has it that when Joseph of Aramathea arrived with the Holy Grail he planted his staff in the ground on Wearyall Hill where it grew into the Thorn Tree which still crowns the hill. If you have some time to spare try and navigate through the 3D labyrinth which surrounds the Glastonbury Tor on what used to be the Isle of Avalon. If all that leaves you hungry head to Knights Licensed Fish and Chip Restaurant in the town, its nearly 100 years old making it one of the oldest in the country. There are numerous B&B's in Glastonbury or a YHA in nearby Street. This is the Holy Land and its just 15 miles from junction 23.

Where to get off the M6
The M6 skirts the Yorkshire Dales but with one short detour you're in one of the most archetypal dale villages. Dent is Last of the Summer Wine country. The cobbled streets, and ancient settlement patterns make this a haven for those looking for Ye Olde England. The Dent Brewery is one of most remote in the country and its award winning ales are on sale along with food in the three village Inns which also offer accommodation. After a couple, you won ' t be able to drive so head to the nearby Dent railway station, the highest in Britain. Catch a train and head through the Blea Moor Tunnel and over towering aqueducts on the most challenging engineering feat of the Victorian British railway explosion. If you still feel cloudy in the morning stroll out of the village and on to the surrounding dales before the drive back to junction 37 to continue northwards or 36 to head south.

Where to get off the M62
As you hit the half way point of the M62 turn off at junction 23 (from the west) and head to West Bretton . This beautiful countryside hides an unexpected but pleasant juxtaposition of tradition and modernity. Set in 500 acres of 18 th Century parkland the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is scattered with contemporary sculpture and is in stark contrast to much of the British countryside which is often farm land or manicured in a very traditional way. Accommodation and food is available in nearby Midgely . Once you're ready to leave head east drive a few miles up the M1 and reconnect with the M62 at junction 29. If you're coming from the east just flip the junctions around - come off at junction 29 and rejoin at junction 29.

Where to get off the M74
As you head north, twisting through the barren Southern Uplands on the M74 you emerge on the cusp of the industrial city of Glasgow . Bothwell can offer a history lesson on the area and a place to prepare for the shock of a city. Construction of Bothwell Castle started in the 1200's and embodies the struggle between the English and their Auld Enemy, the Scots. The battle at nearby Bothwell Bridge brought an end to the Scottish Presbyterians who fought against Charles II 's supposed divine right to rule. Also in the village is St Bride' s Church , the oldest Collegiate church still in use in Scotland. Bothwell is 10 miles south east of Glasgow near junction 5. For somewhere to rest your eyes try the Bothwell Bridge Hotel or the Avonbridge in neighbouring Hamilton .

Motorways offer the fastest route from A to B, but you may as well fly for all the memories they will give you. So do yourself, and your passengers a favour stop halfway and spend some time in one of these ideal spots to rest up and see some of the country which would otherwise fly past your window.

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