Roads To Drive (UK)

[Scott.T]

Thought it would be worth starting a thread on UK Roads that are worth a drive or a minor diversion whilst on your UK Holidays or maybe in the area.

A39 Lynmouth to Porlock.

• Approach from South on the A361 (From the M5)
• Turn Right onto the A399 North of South Moulton (signed Lynton/Lynmouth)
• Nice flowing twisties through tree lined valley, past a couple of quarries. 'WARNING' watch out for wet surfaces as heavy tree coverage/shade prevent drying.
• Turn Right onto A39 (signed Lynton/Lynmouth)
• Follow road to Lynmouth (do not spur left to Lynton)
• This then rises and drops back down to Lynmouth via some very steep accents/decents.
• Pass Watersmeets NT parking (or park and go for a very nice Cream Tea, but maybe not the 5 mile walk we did)
• Decend into Lynmouth, turn right a junction.
• Climb out of Lynmouth, with spectacular views.
• Continue along to Porlock via the 1-in-4 decent into Porlock Village (not the Toll Road for Caravans/HGV's).

Map :


Watersmeet :



View from Road :

Very nice.

This is a good idea. I will get details of the road I drove up in Lancashire / Cumbria borders, that was a cracker. The sort you can drive at the speed limit and would test you.

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by worzel

Very nice.

This is a good idea. I will get details of the road I drove up in Lancashire / Cumbria borders, that was a cracker. The sort you can drive at the speed limit and would test you.

Cool yeh, know what you mean about legal limits.
Parts of this Porlock road were almost vertigo inducing....even more so on the passenger side ....

[Hongkongfooi]

Lake district

coniston to a593 - a595 to well just keep going!


Cornwall....so many roads but the ones over Dartmoor are sweet.

A30 and A38 were quick roads!

and then North wales...betws y coed and roads around...alos used by evo mag for testing

[BIG"E"]

Lake District,

Eskdale

Hardknott pass. Is a must!!!

[666subaru]

Snake pass in the peak district, or horseshoe pass in north wales

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by BIG"E"

Lake District,

Eskdale

Hardknott pass. Is a must!!!

Hardknott and Wrynose pass in the Lakes, off the A593 near Ambleside are very good roads, but more scenic then drivers roads, as too narrow and steep, with too many sight see'ers. Defo worth a look though.

HardKnott Pass & Wrynose Pass :






Kirkstone Pass :

This is a better/wider road to drive when quiets from Windermere/Ambleside to Ulsewater. There's a pub half way to for a bit of lubrication.

A good loop would be :

• Take A592 North Of Windermere (right at mini-roundabout as you leave Windermere, or straight over if approaching from Bowness).
• Travel Up to Kirkstone Pass, passed Pub, then drop down into Paterdale/Glenridding
• Stay on A592 as far as A66
• Left onto A66, then Left onto A5091.
• Rejoin A592 to return back over Kirkstone Pass.
• Stop at Pub on Kirkstone Pass, have pint, then Scramble up Red Scree's (on foot, not in car)
• Return to car, turnright opposite pub for alternative route back to Ambleside.
• There is a 'jump' 100yds past the initial hairpin bends and a steep decent down into Ambleside.
• This can can cook your brakes, mine were very smelly and as good as useless on my old XR4x4 a few years ago. Which I also grounded after the jump mentioned above.

'Jump' is in Centre of Image, where Red Dottedfootpath meets the yellow road :


kirkstone Pass Pub, viewed from top of Red Scree's


Route down towards Patterdale/Glenridding

Camber Twisty heven & very close to home.

There is something I have said for a while, about finding somewhere in this country, like the lake district, or as Nige has said even closer to home around camber.

Not to just go and stand in a Pub car park, but to go for a Drive

To drive roads that you don't have to drive at silly speeds down, but are a test for car and driver alike.

I think Scott has hit on a winner here

[SUBARMAN]

Great idea this!!

[Tyler]

These places look like a must see to me... :thumb:

some great roads and scenery.
Have done the lakes ones a few times, happily go back up there though.

[Scott.T]

Brecon Beacons Circular Route (South Wales)

• West of Merthyr Tydfil take the A465
• At Penywaun take the exit onto the A4059 and head North
• Pass through the Village and 30mph limits
• Once leaving the village the road opens up accross the mountain plateau with quick twisties and undulating road....Watch out for Sheep playing Chicken....
• Overtaking of slow movng vehicle on bends can be achieved due to fantatic visibility (although you are in S.Wales so likely to be misty and raining).
• This road was used on Top gear for the original RS Focus Test :
• whilst on this road you will see the Peaks of the Brecon Beacons directly infront of you.
• As you near the end of the A4059, the A470 will come into view
• Watch for slow moving traffic on the A470 as it rises to meet the A4059...if there is a que try to beat it to the junction as both roads run in near parrallel (this can be quite fun).
• Join the A470 and continue North.
• There are a number of stopping points along here with a large car park on the right, if you want to stop.
• Continue on the A470 and take the A4215 turning on your right.
• This joins the A4067, continue South West the A4067, skirting the edge of the Black Mountains.
• This is quite a nice stretch which passes a resovoir, (on-right) which IIRC is quite a bit lower then the road and can appear through the cloud (if low level cloud)
• The road then passes Danny-Yr-Ogof showcaves, which are worth a visit : http://www.showcaves.co.uk/index.html
• Continue on the A4067 and take the A4221 and A4109 back onto the A465 to return to your start point.

Route Diversions : From the A4059 take the left hand turn to Ystradfellte, Park at the 2nd 'P' on the map below (A4059 is the red road in bottom corner) which has Loo's available.
Follow the Footpath south to see the Waterfall, and head for the one called Sgwd Yr Elra which you can walk behind.

[Steve_PPP]

The South Wales route above is awesome, driven those roads a lot over the years whilst getting around to RallyGB stages. The sheep on the A4059 always make it interesting, especially if the weather is poor as the visibility drops quickly as you end up in the low cloud They're not difficult narrow twisties like some of the roads in the lake district - but faster A roads where its easy to take the sweeping corners at high speed (not that i'd do that, officer!)

The caves (i call them Danny Bogoff as i can't pronounce them) are pretty good too

[BIG"E"]

Lets get it sorted,

Why not have a drive of some of these roads over a long weekend ??

Originally Posted by worzel

There is something I have said for a while, about finding somewhere in this country, like the lake district, or as Nige has said even closer to home around camber.

Not to just go and stand in a Pub car park, but to go for a Drive

To drive roads that you don't have to drive at silly speeds down, but are a test for car and driver alike.

I think Scott has hit on a winner here

Yes it's a good idea & yes there very good roads & yes you do drive at silly speeds down them thats what makes them fun

Originally Posted by Nige

yes you do drive at silly speeds down them thats what makes them fun

I know what you mean mate, we have all done it.

It's just that some test you without having to go "significantly" over the top.

This idea should be further investigated, I reckon it's a cracker. And they would be cracking away days or even overnighters?

Crown hotel in Harrogate Nige?

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by worzel

This idea should be further investigated, I reckon it's a cracker. And they would be cracking away days or even overnighters?

I agree its a good idea

Only thing is that its gonna cost a lot in fuel just to go somewhere to drive the roads, then head back. Would be better to make it an overnighter (to at least have some beers in a nice pub somewhere!) or tally it up with another event somewhere.

First thing that jumps to mind is the Welsh roads and Wales Rally GB

I know some people in the past have said they'd like to go to RallyGB but haven't got round to it - would anyone be interested this year as it would certainly lend itself to driving some great Welsh mountain roads!

I think it does add up to an overnighter as well, as you say, a few beers and a chin wag etc.

But also, we could do some local stuff, same day and finish of with a shandy.

[Scott.T]

Brenzett Double Loop (Kent Sussex Boarder)



Loop 1 :

• Start at the Little Chef on the A259 at Brenzett
• Head South West on the A259 towards Rye
• This road contains several straights, some twisties and some 90 Degree Bends
• 3 Level Crossings (Non-Gated), with semi-smooth surface, so can be taken at the national speed limit
• After the 3rd Level crossing take the Left Hand Turn to Camber
• Nice stretch of road leading to Camber, watch for cars parked on verge during summer months.
• Upon leaving Camber the road opens up and passes the Lydd Military Ranges.
• Lots of good bends with plenty of visability
• Bear Left as you enter the Village of Lydd
• Follow the B2075 passed Lydd Airport (Ashford International) back to the A259
• Turn Left onto the A259 back towards Brenzett

Loop 2 :

• If a continuation of Loop 1, go straight over the Roundabout (Pass the Original Start point) towards Brenzett Village.
• If departing the Little Chef, Turn right off the Little Chef Forecourt and Left at the roundabout towards Brenzett Village.
• Follow the road towards Appledore.
• As the road takes a hard right over the river (Military Canal), take a left immediatley after the bridge.
• If you end up driving through the village you have missed the junction
• Follow the Military Canal back towards Rye
• Turn Left at the end of this stretch, then left again at the mini-roundabout in Rye.
• Follow the A259, in the opposite direction to the previous loop, back to Brenzett and the Little Chef.

Originally Posted by worzel

I know what you mean mate, we have all done it.

It's just that some test you without having to go "significantly" over the top.

This idea should be further investigated, I reckon it's a cracker. And they would be cracking away days or even overnighters?

Crown hotel in Harrogate Nige?

How did you know that the Crown is my fav hotel?????

Originally Posted by Nige

How did you know that the Crown is my fav hotel?????

Admin power mate!

I know everything


You told me about it when me and Laura stayed in Harrogate last year We went and found it and had a drink there too, it's pretty bloomin nice mate

[Chunk]

My Auntie lives in Deri in Wales. Lovely driving roads round that area