Good driving routes

[Rubce]

Hi All

Whilst researching routes out for few trips next year I came across this site.

http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/drivingroads.html

Looking forward to going to Applecross in the Stag next summer

Regards

Bruce

[Tdm]

Bruce I found some nice driving roads when I lived in North Wales - Betws-Y-Coed to Bangor for example and other roads in Snowdonia plus the road leading to Blaenau Ffestiniog (not sure if I have spelt that correctly), and of course the Horseshoe Pass. There are plenty of others all around North Wales and going back to when I lived in Lancashire the roads around the "Trough of Bowland" offer some great scenery as well.

[Valleyforge]

That's a great journey you've planned Bruce, I've often thought it would be great to drive up & down Glencoe in the Stag & then up the coast. (Hint - keep your tank full, petrol stations are very sparse up there) One day maybe.

A circular route I do 2 or 3 times a year is to Kirkby Stephen - Brough - Middleton on Tees - Tea / coffee at High Force (a big waterfall) - then up the long long hill to Alston then down Hartside, Penrith A6 to Shap & home. A good long route, fast roads, usually completely empty. (PS - daughter & family live en route so an excuse to pop in & play). The climb to Alston is awesome as you pass through 3 quite separate climate & terrain settings.

[MandM]

Hi All

Whilst researching routes out for few trips next year I came across this site.

http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/drivingroads.html

Looking forward to going to Applecross in the Stag next summer

Regards

Bruce

Thanks very much for that will have a good look and see if i can tick some off

[StokeyStag]

As the link says, the roads around Buxton are good, I particularly like the run from Buxton to Leek and onto Weston Coyney which is on the eastern edge of Stoke; the A515 south of Ashbourne is also a good run; as for the A50 from Derby to Stoke, it is dual carriageway and fast without cameras but, it is also noisy as a large part of it is concrete. The best bit is the tunnel at Meir as you drop down into Stoke; the A429 south of Jct 15 of the M40 is also good and as a bonus takes you into the Cotswolds; the B4100 form Banbury to Warwick is also an excellent run.

On a personal note I can recommend the A698 / A7 from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Carlisle.

I've recently got my hands on a copy of the book from the BBC series starring Richard Meldrew when he drove a number of routes around the UK in classic cars, I'm hoping to drive each and every one in the next 2 or 3 years. I also have another book detailing other 'great' drives which I've yet to suss out.

Mark

It's good to plan

[Rubce]

Hi Mark

What is the title of the BBC book?

Regards

Bruce

[jleyton]

Hi Bruce,

I too was interested in that so I Googled "BBC series starring Richard Meldrew when he drove a number of routes around the UK in classic cars" and one of the first listings was this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Best-Drives-Journeys-Motoring/dp/0755319001

I guess that's what Mark was referring to.

Cheers

Julian

[Rubce]

That Alston route sounds good. I will put that down on the "to do" list for next summer.

As regards Scotland, yes I am looking forward to it. We know the West Highlands quite well. We even had our honeymoon at Arisaig. I think a refuel for both us and the car will be in order at the Green Wellie shop at Tyndrum

I have started to work out a route between Cheshire and Glasgow which minimises the use of motorways. At the moment I am thinking of Crewe to Rawtenstall via the A556, M60 and M66. Then Accrington, Clitheroe, Settle, Ribblehead, Hawes, Kirby Stephen, Appleby, Alston.

After Alston that I am unsure whether to go:-

a)Brampton, Longtown and then trudge up the M74 to Glasgow and then direct north on the 82 to Tyndrum etc.

or

b) A686 to Hexham, do a visit to the Hadrians Wall Roman Fort, then onto the A68 towards Jedburgh before cutting north west towards Peebles and on to Stirling, Callendar and A85 into Tyndrum etc.

We are planning on two days to get up there, a week at the cottage and then two days to come back. I am looking for things to do on both the out and back journeys to break up the time the family spends sat in the car.

All sensible suggestions welcome.

Regards

Bruce

[DJT]

Hi Bruce,

I too was interested in that so I Googled "BBC series starring Richard Meldrew when he drove a number of routes around the UK in classic cars" and one of the first listings was this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Best-Drives-Journeys-Motoring/dp/0755319001

I guess that's what Mark was referring to.

Cheers

Julian

Love the mix of names: Richard Wilson + Victor Meldrew = Richard Meldrew! Wonder what Victor Wilson is doing these days

[Rubce]

Hi Julian

Cheers for that. I have just placed an order one from Amazon.

Regards

Bruce

[Rubce]

Love the mix of names: Richard Wilson + Victor Meldrew = Richard Meldrew! Wonder what Victor Wilson is doing these days

Yes that confused me initially!

chuckle

Bruce

[arriva1]

After reading this thread decided to order the dvd rather than the book ( rather watch than read ):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Best-Drives-DVD/dp/B001L7XNKU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385202832&sr=8-1&keywords=Britain%27s+Best+Drives

Trev

[jleyton]

Hi Julian

Cheers for that. I have just placed an order one from Amazon.

Regards

Bruce

The only problem I have, with this and any of the guidebooks to Great Britain (pubs, sights, scenic tours etc) is that only about 10 or 20% of the book is ever going to be of interest to me I can fully understand the publisher's thinking, but I wish you could buy regional versions of these sort of guides.

Brilliant though those drives may be, I can't see that I'll ever get the chance of visiting all of, for example, Cornwall, Kent, Scotland, the Lake District and Norfolk

Cheers

Julian

[Rubce]

Brilliant though those drives may be, I can't see that I'll ever get the chance of visiting all of, for example, Cornwall, Kent, Scotland, the Lake District and Norfolk

Cheers

Julian

Julian

This is from a person who has been to France in his Stag! Come on your not trying hard enough in the UK! Your retired and so presumably(?) have loads of spare time. Cornwall is only a stones throw away from you in Somerset.

So come on get planning some trips for your green machine

Cheers

Bruce

[jleyton]

Fair point Bruce ..... but I have to persuade Mrs L

Btw, are you the Cheshire stone throwing champion ? I'm closer to you than I am to some parts of Cornwall

Cheers

Julian