Tour of Britain -- Wow Factor -- Suggestions.

Tour of Britain -- Wow Factor -- Suggestions.

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lamboman100

Original Poster:

1,445 posts

120 months

Saturday 27th September 2014
quotequote all
Been to every continent on Earth, but realised there is loadsa great stuff right here at home still to do.

We are doing a 10-day circular tour of Britain by car in December.

Looking for "landmark" places to see. Must have the "wow" factor. Can be famous or obscure. North, south, east, west or central. Onshore or offshore.

Love driving and travelling, so distance not a problem.

Yes, I know it is the off-season. Will do a "tour 2.0" during the on-season next year or year after.

Will prioritise the list into a "top 10" round-Britain tour.

Will head west as the starting point:

  • ******************************************
1. Bristol -- Clifton suspension bridge.
2. ???

wseed

1,501 posts

129 months

Saturday 27th September 2014
quotequote all
There must be loads of lists online but here's a few:

Stone Henge
Falkirk Wheel
Hadrians Wall
Malham cove
Cheddar Gorge
Lands End
Like Windermere
White Cliffs of dover
Loch Lomond

Voldemort

6,086 posts

277 months

Saturday 27th September 2014
quotequote all
To add

York Minster
Holy Island
Humber Bridge
Port Meirion
Beamish
Hard Knock & Wry Nose Passes
Hartside Pass
Buttertubs Pass
Braemar (roads around)
Durness
Gairloch to Ullapool (best drive imo in the UK)
Applecross

SimonV8ster

12,543 posts

227 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
I can't imagine anybody going to Stone Henge and going 'Wow' !
I guess you could be on your way past it so its worth a stop off but not to visit on purpose.
Just the drives around Wales and West Scotland are epic, Black Mountains, road to Bala, EVO triangle, Applecross and all that area (ask GetCarter)

Edited by SimonV8ster on Sunday 28th September 11:10

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
Voldemort said:
To add

York Minster
Holy Island
Humber Bridge
Port Meirion
Beamish
Hard Knock & Wry Nose Passes
Hartside Pass
Buttertubs Pass
Braemar (roads around)
Durness
Gairloch to Ullapool (best drive imo in the UK)
Applecross
Hardknott and Wrynosesmile Nice and quiet in December, but can get a bit slippery!

lamboman100

Original Poster:

1,445 posts

120 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
Great suggestions, folks. Thanks. Keep 'em coming.

This is the tentative agenda for the 1st tour. Will have to factor in the shorter daylight hours and wet / foggy / cloudy / icy / snowy weather for December. Won't spend too long in any one place, which is fine. May tweak if the number of places visited per day is ambitious:

Day 1 = Cheddar Gorge / Bath / Bristol Clifton Suspension Bridge;
Day 2 = Ross-on-Wye / Brecon Beacons / Black Mountains;
Day 3 = Portmeirion;
Day 4 = Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall / Snowdonia / Bala / Holyhead;
Day 5 = Honister Pass / Honister Slate Mine;
Day 6 = Hardknott Pass / Wrynose Pass / Hartside Pass / Buttertubs Pass / Lake Windermere;
Day 7 = Hadrian's Wall Hexham;
Day 8 = Malham Cove Yorkshire;
Day 9 = Heights of Abraham / Peak Cavern Derbyshire;
Day 10 = Buffer day.

Edited by lamboman100 on Sunday 28th September 18:29

chopper602

2,172 posts

222 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
lamboman100 said:
Day 6 = Hardknott Pass / Wrynose Pass / Hartside Pass / Buttertubs Pass / Lake Windermere;
Taking in the Buttertubs, means heading out to the Dales from the lakes and then going back again to Windermere. Better to include it driving through Arkengarthdale/Wensleydale and visit the Tan Hill Inn (Britains highest Inn) whilst you're there

a311

5,789 posts

176 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
chopper602 said:
lamboman100 said:
Day 6 = Hardknott Pass / Wrynose Pass / Hartside Pass / Buttertubs Pass / Lake Windermere;
Taking in the Buttertubs, means heading out to the Dales from the lakes and then going back again to Windermere. Better to include it driving through Arkengarthdale/Wensleydale and visit the Tan Hill Inn (Britains highest Inn) whilst you're there
At that time of year it could be pissing it down, there could be 6 foot of snow, it could be sheet ice and closed. I forget if it was this year or last it shut for weeks in spring..... My point is plan a contingency. You could come up through Winderemere > Ambleside up towards Keswick on the A591. It's the main artery through the lakes so should be kept open in all but the most severe weather the drive is quite stunning IMO.

All being well with the weather not closing any roads the Lakes aren't that big and in a couple of days you could see a lot without having to leave or stray too far from your car. Finish off somewhere in the North to make it quicker and easier to get on the road up to the land of the Scots. The Mrs is from Oban and love the drive up there (once passed Glasgow) the further north you go the scenery gets better and better IMO.

lamboman100

Original Poster:

1,445 posts

120 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Good info. Will tweak a slightly revised itinerary on the weekend.