The UK's 10 most beautiful places, according to its postmen

Nobody sees more of the UK than the trusty workers of the Royal Mail. Serving communities in the farthest reaches of the country, they deliver six days a week to over 30 million addresses.

Having scoured their extensive network of delivery offices, Royal Mail have chosen their 10 favourite scenic postal routes. They might even have you considering a career change.

Harris, Scotland

Route: Harris, 80–85 miles
Postcode: HS3
Duration: 5 hours
Postman: Donald Morrison

Found in Scotland’s Western Isles in the Outer Hebrides, the West Side route on Harris passes beautiful Luskentyre beach, which features on our list of Britain’s 40 best. Donald Morrison has worked on the same route for the last 27 years and still loves it. “All the roads have fantastic views, whether it is mountains, the beaches or the small villages,” he says.

Callander, Scotland

Route: Callander, 53 miles
Postcode: FK17
Duration: 5 hours
Postman: Paul McKendrick

Spanning three separate lochs (Katherine, Venachar and Achray), this route in the Trossachs of Perthshire crosses the Highland Boundary Fault Line, with lowland Scotland to the south and east and the mountains and traditional Gaelic culture of the Highlands to the north and west. Parts of it may be familiar from the popular TV series Outlander.

Postman Paul McKendrick said: “It’s great to travel through beautiful countryside, meet the locals and get paid for it. I don’t have a favourite road as such – they’re all beautiful.”

Torrhead, Northern Ireland

Route: Torrhead, 35 miles
Postcode: BT54
Duration: 5 hours
Postman: Matt Woodhouse

The Antrim Coast has long been renowned for its natural beauty and sections of it have starred in Game of Thrones. “It’s a pleasure going to work all year round “, says Matt. “During the summer I can see Scotland, experience the amazing views from Troyhead and just enjoy the coastal road”.

Trebetherick, Cornwall

Route: Trebetherick, 25 miles
Postcode: PL27
Duration: 4–5 hours
Postman: Andy Rogers

With so much beautiful countryside to choose from in Cornwall, Royal Mail has decided that this route, which covers the northern coastal village of Trebetherick, is the best because it simply has it all – sand dunes, churches, railways, beaches, river views and even shipwrecks.

Upper and Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire

Route: Upper and Lower Slaughter, 35 miles
Post code: GL54
Duration: 5–6 hours
Postman: Les Grant

Running between Upper and Lower Slaughter, this route is chocolate box Cotswolds. Historic mills are set against a backdrop of houses built from Cotswold stone and the meandering River Eye. Les Grant has worked for Royal Mail for almost 40 years.

Tresco, Isles of Scilly

Route: Tresco, 2–3 miles
Postcode: TR24
Duration: 3 hours
Postwoman: Daphne Jenkins

Tresco is a family-owned island in the Isles of Scilly and a popular weekend escape, with a helicopter route planned to launch in 2019. But no cars are allowed on the island, so 73-year-old Daphne Jenkins has been riding the route on her bike five days a week for the last 17 years.

Troutbeck Valley, Cumbria

Route: Troutbeck Valley, 25 miles
Postcode: LA23
Duration: 5 hours
Postman: Steven Lishman

The route that serves the edges of Lake Windermere includes historic Troutbeck village and the allegedly haunted Kirkstone Pass Inn – found at the end of a winding 20-minute drive. Steve’s route is made up a collection of small clusters of delivery areas. He says: “The whole area is like a picture postcard – what’s not to like?”

Holy Island, Northumberland

Route: Holy Island, 3–4 miles
Postcode: TD15
Duration: 2–3 hours
Postwoman: Claire Morgan

A tiny island in Northumberland, there are up to 400 delivery points on this route, including the famous Lindisfarne Priory. Being late is not an option – if Claire gets her timings wrong, she could end up stuck on the wrong side of high tide. “No day is ever the same”, she jokes, “and with the tides stretching across to the island, the weather can certainly keep things interesting”.

Henley-In-Arden, Warwickshire

Route: Henley-In-Arden, 28 miles
Postcode: B95
Duration: 5–6 hours
Postman: Ed Lane

Henley-in-Arden, in the middle of Shakespeare country, is set amid rolling hills and winding roads. Ed Lane sees his job as a pleasure, no matter what the season. His favourite section of the route? “The view across to Preston Bagot and Lowsonford on Ireland Lane.”

Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

Route: Laugharne, 25 miles
Postcode: SA33
Duration: 5–6 hours
Postman: Adrian Nicholls

This route around rural Carmarthenshire in Wales includes Dylan Thomas’s boat house, home to his Writing Shed. There are great views of the Taf estuary and Adrian Nicholls, who has been serving this community for the last 22 years, praises the “friendly and interesting characters he meets along the way” as well as the “fantastic scenery”. His favourite part of the route is Pendine Sands, venue for numerous British land speed record attempts.