Best driving road in the NW

[nakedninja]

I don' know if this has been done before as I'm still quite new on the forums but I was wondering what is the best place to drive in the North West, specifically in and around the merseyside region, where I am. There's not a lot so thought I'd like to get some other peoples opinion's.
I quite like the A565 once you get a while out of liverpool heading north, where it becomes a single carriage way quite swoopy road and then a dual carriage way thats usually pretty good for ... spirited *ahem* driving.
Anyone got any favourites? They don't have to be places that are stupidly quick, but they can be challenging roads, a particular bend that you love etc.

[Taita]

tag

[Lois22]

Is it the A537 where the Cat and Fiddle is?

[TL84]

If you go down that road to the Tesco's and turn right as if you're going in, go straight ahead over the roundabout and carry on forward past AltMoto.

Explore the hell out of those roads, some nice driving/riding to be had around there

T

[nakedninja]

Thanks for the tip TL, I've only ever been to that Tesco to fill up, I may have a little explore next time I'm free.

[paul911]

TL84 said:

If you go down that road to the Tesco's and turn right as if you're going in, go straight ahead over the roundabout and carry on forward past AltMoto.

Explore the hell out of those roads, some nice driving/riding to be had around there

T

I’ll second that, follow it all the way to Ormskirk on the twisty bits . But I wouldn’t use too much heavy right foot on the A565 - Formby to Southport section.

[NWTony]

It's not very long but the A49 between Northwich (which just happens to have Lotus dealer to mooch around) and Warrington is quite good fun. You can always turn round at the roundabout at the Warrington end and do it all again if you haven't had enough!

[derestrictor]

It's called The Schleife and it exists.

Just rejoice.

[Combover]

You need to head over the Widnes-Runcorn bridge for the best ones...

Also the roads around parbold are lovely too...provided you can see where the road goes. Oh and have your lights on if it's dark....

[AJI]

without a doubt it has to be the A686.
From Penrith to Hexham.
Its been voted best road for a few years now.

[EvoBarry]

Combover said:

You need to head over the Widnes-Runcorn bridge for the best ones...

Also the roads around parbold are lovely too...provided you can see where the road goes. Oh and have your lights on if it's dark....

Both points are correct, I used to live in Parbold (parents and mates still do), head out towards Hilldale, Mawdesley, Eccleston etc all round that area is fun in short bursts.

Wales is the place to head for though as the first post suggests, get on the Denbigh moors or head for Llangollen/Horseshoe Pass area...

[riwiho]

NWTony said:

It's not very long but the A49 between Northwich (which just happens to have Lotus dealer to mooch around) and Warrington is quite good fun. You can always turn round at the roundabout at the Warrington end and do it all again if you haven't had enough!

Fully agree, a great road.

Have you also tried the A559 which branches off at the M56 J10 roundabout? Its the first left off the motorway if you are traveling east on the M56 J10, here is a link:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&ge...

As you say this more or less ends at Christopher Neils Lotus dealership and they always have a good selection of Porsche, Nobles and what not kicking around the dealership.

[blueyonder]

EvoBarry said:

Wales is the place to head for though as the first post suggests, get on the Denbigh moors or head for Llangollen/Horseshoe Pass area...

Agree...just got back from the North Wales hoon and the Evo triangle, including the roads around Bala towards the Evo are spectacular....did the Horseshoe pass aswell!

[cityboy1066]

Hard Noc Pass - Lake District after going over the pass, head out towards Sellafield the you canpick a road to take you back into Windermere. Something to eat and a fuel up then home !

Watch out for loonies on 2 wheels tho !

[the prescotts]

I got back from the Lakes last night after enjoying a "lakeland passover tour" with 23 XK8/R's and we all included Hard Knock amongst most of the other passes. It was a little hairy for one guy with a 450bhp R on the steep (1 in 3) twisty bit to get traction but we all made it over. It was one of the best driving weekends I have ever enjoyed. Over 200 miles mainly on single track roads with spectacular scenery.

[Mr POD]

TL84 said:

If you go down that road to the Tesco's and turn right as if you're going in, go straight ahead over the roundabout and carry on forward past AltMoto.

Explore the hell out of those roads, some nice driving/riding to be had around there

T

I live about 200 yrds from the FORMBY Bypass, so if you are heading north, turn left at tesco, next left again, and 3rd right, stopping at Colley Cottage. Knock on the door and ask for Jacko. I make a mean cup of coffeee (Tesco Value with Skimmed UHT milk if I'm really feeling mean).

Seriously: Be careful through Ince Blundell Woods - The speed indicator signs are there for a reason. People Die on the bend - usually after 10 pints at 3 in the morning on ice - but that's a good reason not to make the speed limit 40 mph is it.

When you get to TESCO if you do turn right and head towards Ormskirk you are on my route to work. 17 miles of Country B Road to Skelmersdale. Be careful of tractors coming straight off the fields and only looking one way (I've nearly died in an ill concieved overtaking manover)

About 4 miles from Tesco you come to the Worrel Farm Larder - a sort of organic butchers shop next to Farmer Ted's. The meat is cheaper than Tesco and the Lamb is very nice (as is the steak, the pork and the sausages)

Be very careful of picasso driving numpties.

[nakedninja]

That Mr of Doom is a quality post. in the language of the locals; ta la.

[Mr POD]

nakedninja said:

That Mr of Doom is a quality post. in the language of the locals; ta la.

When I say beware of picasso driving numpties I'm of course refering to a one MRS ALISON CAMPBELL of Birch Green Formby (14 I think) who whilst employed at Tesco in January 2004, Thwarted my very ambitious overtaking whilst still in the 30 MPH zone. By braking, steering left towards the curb and slowing to a near stop, I was encouraged to stay in 3rd and accelerate as hard as I could, only to find that her unsignaled intention at 7.05 am was to turn into the Tesco staff car park, unfortunately I never recorded her saying "I did not indicate and I'm not injured" so I might have made that up. Luckily I was able to negotiate a reasonable value for my astra from my insurance company even though the fault apparently was all mine.

Other Near misses on that road include my overtaking 3 cars to find the 4th car braking hard and the gap disappearing where I'd planned to go. (A piccaso driver)

A picasso driver that emergency braked and swerved to avoid a peasant as I overtook.

A picasso driver that parked on a blind bend in order to deliver something to a house

A picasso driver that ran over a horse

A picasso driver that drove into an telegraph pole

A picasso driver that flashes when you overtake a car and he/she thinks you are going to have a head on despite the fact that you are 400 yrds away.

A picasso driver that pulls out of farmer teds in 3rd.

I think they are all picasso drivers. If not they chose the wrong car.

[the prescotts]

The picasso driver that emergency braked and swerved to avoid a peasant as you overtook. Was the said "peasant" walking aimlessly down Victoria Road seeing if there were any scraps he could pick up from the bins of the more affluent folk of Formby village?

[Mr POD]

the prescotts said:

The picasso driver that emergency braked and swerved to avoid a peasant as you overtook. Was the said "peasant" walking aimlessly down Victoria Road seeing if there were any scraps he could pick up from the bins of the more affluent folk of Formby village?

Most of the walls are 8 foot high. No,It was on Bells Lane near the canal side pub on the edge of Maghull.