Britain's Best Drives is coming to DVD

DRIVING IN the 1950s wasn't the traffic fuelled stressful bore that it is now. With fewer cars on the road, driving was less of a means to an end and more of a pastime, with a family drive often being a much looked forward to Sunday treat. The introduction of the motorway in 1958 gave a new efficient and most importantly speedy way of getting from A to B and killed the leisurely Sunday drive off forever.

Travel back in time to this golden age of motoring in the wonderful BBC series Britain's Best Drives. National treasure Richard Wilson (One Foot In The Grave, Merlin) armed only with an old guidebook, takes on six of the nation's favourite drives from 1958, seeing Britain through a car window. Leaving his modern automatic at home, Wilson hits the road in a variety of classic cars including a Mini, Morris Minor and an Austin A30. As with every road trip Wilson meets a wealth of colourful characters, all with valuable insights as to how the routes have changed and how Britain has changed with it.

Sounds easy doesn't it? Classic car, classic map and some of Britain's favourite journeys, however, there are problems and pitfalls on the road ahead. In 50 years routes have changed, slip roads, bypasses and new junctions have been built making routes less peaceful and scenic than they once were.

Stopping off at famous historical sites such as Tintern Abbey, sites of natural beauty like The Duddon Valley in Cumbria and The Pass of Llanberis in Snowdonia. Britain's Best Drives is an exploration of Britain at its best and most beautiful. Richard Wilson takes the scenic route in this hugely entertaining and educational series coming to DVD courtesy of Acorn Media on 6 April 2009.

Debuting on BBC Two on Thursday 19 February 2009 with fantastic viewing figures, Britain's Best Drives is sure to be a huge TV favourite.