The route for Fast And Frugal is one which will allow both the GT86 and Prius Plug-in to not only showcase their particular virtues but also to demonstrate how easy each car is to live with over various types of roads and environments.

Linking the three capital cities of England, Scotland and Wales, as well as driving close by each country’s highest peak, the drive will take us north on the eastern side of Britain and down on the west, before heading back to the English Midlands to Silverstone for the final leg.

So, does the route pass close to where you live and work? Can we count on a much needed mug of tea as we go by?

When we tweet we’ll have the location function switched on so you can monitor progress against the challenge of the route.

Full details of the complete route are shown at the end of this post but the highlights are:

Start: Palace of Westminster, London 

  • Heading out of Parliament Square, towards Buckingham Palace, along Park Lane and A5 towards the M1.
  • The M1 will be left at Junction 32, heading towards the A1 North via the M18.
  • Leaving the A1 for the A69 and A68 in north-eastern England, before rejoining the A1 heading into central Edinburgh.

The Prius Plug-in will excel in EV mode in London

End of Leg 1: Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh 

  • Departing Edinburgh heading west along the A8, before turning north over the Forth Bridge towards the meandering A9.
  • General Wade’s Military Road, the A889, leads us to the A86 before heading back south towards Fort William on the A82.

End of Leg 2: Ben Nevis, Fort William 

  • Continuing along the A82 alongside Loch Lomond, over the Erskine Bridge and south along the motorways around Glasgow. The M74, A74M and M6 mark the transition of the journey back into England.
  • At Junction 40 the westbound A66 is picked up, driving towards Lake Thirlmere with Scafell Pike in the distance.

Winding, mountainous roads will allow the GT86 to shine

End of Leg 3: Scafell Pike, Lake District 

  • Using the A591 and A590, the M6 is rejoined at junction 36 before taking the westbound M56 from junction 9 to 15.
  • The A494 links the motorway to the A55 Welsh coastal road, which includes the Conwy and Pen-Y-Clip Tunnels, before heading south alongside Llyn Padarn to get close to Snowdon.

End of Leg 4: Snowdon, near Llanberis 

  • The A4086, A498 and A4085 lead us to the winding A470, running past both Llyn Trawsfynydd and the Brecon Becons before heading into central Cardiff.

End of Leg 5: Welsh Assembly, Cardiff 

  • Venturing back out of Cardiff on the A4119 and then the A48 before joining the M4 to cross the Severn estuary.
  • When back in England, the M5 leads us northwest along the A417, A436, A40, A34 and M40 before finally picking up the A43 to complete the final leg towards Silverstone.

End of Fast And Frugal: Silverstone

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fast And Frugal – The Route In Full

For the intrepid map-readers amongst you, this is the full Fast And Frugal route:

Start: Palace of Westminster, London 

  • Parliament Square
  • Birdcage Walk towards Buckingham Palace
  • Constitution Hill
  • Duke of Wellington Place
  • Piccadilly
  • Park Lane
  • Cumberland Gate around Marble Arch
  • Bayswater Road
  • A5 – Edgeware Road, Maida Vale, Kilburn High Road, Cricklewood Broadway and Edgeware Road
  • A406 – North Circular Road
  • M1 – Junction 1 to 32
  • M18 – Junction 1 to 2
  • A1 and A1M North
  • A69
  • A68 through the Northumberland National Park
  • A720
  • A1 – Milton Road West, London Road and Montrose Terrace
  • Abbeymount
  • Abbeyhill
  • The Cannongate

End of Leg 1: Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh 

  • Saint Marys Street
  • Cowgate
  • Grassmarket
  • West Port
  • East Fountainbridge
  • Semple Street
  • Morrison Street
  • A8 – West Coates, Roseburn Terrace, Corstophine Road, Saint Johns Road and Glasgow Road
  • M9
  • A90 over the Forth Road Bridge
  • M9 – Junction 1 to 10
  • A9
  • A889 – General Wade’s Military Road
  • A86 alongside Loch Laggan
  • A82

End of Leg 2: Ben Nevis, Fort William 

  • A82 alongside Loch Lomond
  • A82 – Stirling Road and Great Western Road
  • A898 over the Erskine Bridge
  • M898
  • M8 – Junction 30 to 21
  • M74 – Junction 1 to 13
  • A74M – Junction 13 to 22
  • M6 – Junction 45 to 40
  • A66 West
  • B5322 – Station Road
  • A591 alongside Lake Thirlmere

End of Leg 3: Scafell Pike, Lake District 

  • A591
  • A590
  • M6 – Junction 36 to 20
  • M56 West – Junction 9 to 15
  • A494 – Welsh Road and Aston Road
  • A55 including the Conwy and Pen-Y-Clip Tunnels
  • A4244 – Felln Hen Road
  • A4086 alongside Llyn Padarn

End of Leg 4: Snowdon, near Llanberis 

  • A4086
  • A498
  • A4085
  • A487
  • A470 alongside Llyn Trawsfynydd
  • A40 West
  • A470 alongside the Brecon Becons
  • Castle Street
  • Heol Y Porth
  • Heol Eglwys Fair
  • Saint Marys Street
  • Callaghan Square
  • Lloyd George Avenue
  • Bute Place

End of Leg 5: Welsh Assembly, Cardiff 

  • A4119 – James Street, Clarence Street, Corporation Road, Clare Road, Clare Street, Cathedral Road, Pen Hill Road and Cardiff Road
  • A48 – Western Avenue and Eastern Avenue
  • A48M
  • M4 – Junction 29 to 20 over the Severn Bridge
  • M5 – Junction 15 to 11A
  • A417
  • A436
  • A40
  • A34
  • M40 – Junction 9 to 10
  • A43

End of Fast And Frugal: Silverstone