Once you’re at Tintagel, stretch your legs along the empty cliffs of Trebarwith Strand. Then it’s a quick drive on to Bude for supper at Life’s A Beach (01288 355222), just moments from the ocean you’ve skirted all day.

Cornwall and Devon Classic Car Hire (0845 4581108, www.cornwallclassiccarhire.co.uk) has vehicles from £187 per day (£289 for the Healey). Stay at the Watergate Bay Hotel (01637 860543, www.watergate bay.co.uk; doubles from £152, B&B).

THE GRANDE CORNICHE, FRANCE: Nice to Menton (32km)

There are three main thoroughfares along this chichi stretch of coast: the Basse Corniche (crammed with tourists), Moyenne Corniche (crammed with lorries) and, finally, top of the lot, the famous Grande Corniche, an engineering masterpiece built by Napoleon.

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It’s a splendid route that takes you from Nice to Menton in great smooth swoops above chic resorts. The Rolls- Royce Corniche model was built specifically for this drive – and it’s probably the only road where you can use a car worth more than your house and not feel out of place.

The trip takes about three hours going full throttle – but linger a little at the wonderful stop-offs of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat and Monaco; and stop for lunch at Le Chateau de La Chevre d’Or (00 33 492 106666) in Eze, which serves up perfectly pitched food with its spectacular sea views.

Elegant Resorts (01244 897515, www.elegantresorts.co.uk) has a three-night trip of a lifetime from £7,785pp, B&B, at Cannes’ five-star Hôtel Martinez, including Rolls-Royce Corniche hire and return flights from Heathrow.

HIGHWAY 1, USA: Miami to Key West (257km)

America’s most magnificently ‘movie-star’ day trip. From the neon tomfoolery of Miami’s South Beach to the most southerly town on mainland USA, it’s best done in an all-American convertible with a sound system that could shake the O2 Arena. Press play on your favourite CD and set off along this long, straight road, with flat,

reef-protected ocean on either side. You’ll skim over low bridges – one is 11km long – connecting a necklace of islets, as pelicans swoop overhead.

You’ll be ravenous by the time you get to the Islamorada Fish Company (00 1 305 664 9271) at Milemarker 81.5; dine on the deck here and dream about buying a boat. Back in the driving seat, it’s more of the beautiful same all the way to Key West, where you can celebrate with a Margarita at Sloppy Joe’s bar on Duval Street.

BA Holidays (0844 493 0758, www.ba.com) has seven nights at the Ocean Five Hotel, South Beach, Miami, from £755pp, B&B, including return flights from Heathrow and car hire (upgrade locally to a convertible).

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