Discussion
I did Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston and on to Hartside Height Cafe, then back to Alston and on to Haydon Bridge, the other day (Tuesday). It's my favourite drive in Northumberland. IMO the drive from Alston to Haydon Bridge is the better part; the road surface is smoother. The road up to Alston is a bit too bumpy in parts but still great fun.
Had a play with the bikes (they allowed me!) and a couple of cars...great fun. You WILL enjoy yourself.
Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston is the B6277. Alston to Hartside Height is A686. Alston to Haydon Bridge is A686.
Happy days
Joe (314 bhp Audi TT with all the right kind of mods!)
Had a play with the bikes (they allowed me!) and a couple of cars...great fun. You WILL enjoy yourself.
Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston is the B6277. Alston to Hartside Height is A686. Alston to Haydon Bridge is A686.
Happy days
Joe (314 bhp Audi TT with all the right kind of mods!)
Edited by ttcool on Tuesday 4th September 16:50
Great road...I prefer the run down the other side to melmerby....a bit more challenging! Only just mind. Why not try it and stop at the bakery for a scone and a cuppa then just turn round and head back up!
My old cerbera was great on that road so you should have fun!
Let us know how you get on
My old cerbera was great on that road so you should have fun!
Let us know how you get on
One of the PH drives I attended did just that. A few of us went to Melmerby and back to Hartside and joined up with those who weren't so keen! We didn't stop to buy any cakes, though. Like you say Hartside to Melmerby is extremely chalanging and not for the feint hearted if pushing.
Joe
Joe
Have fun and be careful!
Heading west towards the Lakes is the more challenging route IMO. Especially if the downhill parts are slippy, so take it easy and always keep your view up. Also, watch out for the suicidal bikers, especially those who come round blind corners on the wrong side of the road. This is less of an issue across the hilltop but the surrounding roads aren't always well sighted. The cafe is usually rammed too. I'd go on a rainy day when it should be quieter.
Also, beware that the police regularly patrol the road in marked and unmarked vehicles. They won't spoil anyone's fun as long as they're taking it easy, but anyone being silly or reckless will find themselves in trouble. They are notoriously quick up there too...
Overall, a good day out. Not the best drive in Northumberland, but definitely the most popular. Have fun!
Heading west towards the Lakes is the more challenging route IMO. Especially if the downhill parts are slippy, so take it easy and always keep your view up. Also, watch out for the suicidal bikers, especially those who come round blind corners on the wrong side of the road. This is less of an issue across the hilltop but the surrounding roads aren't always well sighted. The cafe is usually rammed too. I'd go on a rainy day when it should be quieter.
Also, beware that the police regularly patrol the road in marked and unmarked vehicles. They won't spoil anyone's fun as long as they're taking it easy, but anyone being silly or reckless will find themselves in trouble. They are notoriously quick up there too...
Overall, a good day out. Not the best drive in Northumberland, but definitely the most popular. Have fun!
ttcool said:
The more drives I know about the better!! Please point me in the direction of more of the same or better. I'm also interested in North Yorkshire.
There are some great roads out there. You've just got to go out and find them. From border to border, Northumberland is littered with great roads. I particularly like a morning drive with lunch at the tea room in Kirkharle before heading home round the back of Ponteland via Belsay. There are also some excellent hairpins near Carter Bar.Hartside Pass is probably one of the most dramatic roads in the area, and a fine drive but it can be very busy because it's so well known and accordingly policed to keep things in check. You are a long way from help if you come to grief, particularly on a bike.
did Hartside today, as I went to Whitehaven and back (from hexham area). Great drive over, fairly clear roads, fantastic weather... ran out of brakes a little down the Melmerby side, not drastically, they were just starting to get a touch spongey... might invest in some yellowstuff pads 
coming back, had a great run up to about halfway between Melmerby and the cafe, bloody bimblers doing 25mph. got passed them towards the top though, where it opens up a bit and you can see through all the bends.
Do love that piece of road, the bit between Hartside and Alston I just don't enjoy anywhere near as much, and once you're back into Northumberland there's just way too many broken bits of road.
coming back, had a great run up to about halfway between Melmerby and the cafe, bloody bimblers doing 25mph. got passed them towards the top though, where it opens up a bit and you can see through all the bends.
Do love that piece of road, the bit between Hartside and Alston I just don't enjoy anywhere near as much, and once you're back into Northumberland there's just way too many broken bits of road.
jmb88 said:
Do love that piece of road, the bit between Hartside and Alston I just don't enjoy anywhere near as much, and once you're back into Northumberland there's just way too many broken bits of road.
Funnily enough I do prefer the ascent to the actual crest and plateau over the moors at the top. The road surface is patchy is some places though. It is quite scenic though.Great road, I love the hairpins through the forrest section on the way up, and then the faster open section passed Melmerby on the way to the M6. I'm have to go over it 3/4 times a month with work and it always put a smile on your face.
Be careful though, I've seen some nasty accidents, and nearly came close myself a couple of months back when the wheel fell off my kit car on the way down the other side.... I caught it on camera here if you haven't already seen it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IabDnoWVR9w
Be careful though, I've seen some nasty accidents, and nearly came close myself a couple of months back when the wheel fell off my kit car on the way down the other side.... I caught it on camera here if you haven't already seen it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IabDnoWVR9w
i was up there on sunday just gone in my lupo, i took this pic while at the top, it was a lovely day and good fun driving the road, although its not nice to see police diverting us around a crashed bike and car on the first part of the road 
hope the accident wasnt too bad for those involved
lupo gti by bradmole, on Flickr
hope the accident wasnt too bad for those involvedlupo gti by bradmole, on Flickr
brad mole said:
i was up there on sunday just gone in my lupo, i took this pic while at the top, it was a lovely day and good fun driving the road, although its not nice to see police diverting us around a crashed bike and car on the first part of the road hope the accident wasnt too bad for those involved
lupo gti by bradmole, on Flickr
I saw you up there on Sunday- I was in a blue R32 and tried to wave but think I was too late... hope the accident wasnt too bad for those involvedlupo gti by bradmole, on Flickr
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