Top 10 Driving Roads in the UK?
Discussion
Looking back through the pages here it doesn't look as if the top 10 roads has ever been compiled in terms of NSL, safety camera free, low traffic volume, interesting curves and beautiful scenary.
I'm sure the EVO Triangle, A272, A35, Zig Zag Hill will be in there but how would you rank your top 10?
I'm sure the EVO Triangle, A272, A35, Zig Zag Hill will be in there but how would you rank your top 10?
A personal favourite is Thirsk to Castleton via Hutton Le Hole up in North Yorks. The twelve or so miles from 'H Le H' is good fun!
Fortuitously.......I have a copy of an old Autocar which did an article on this subject several years ago.
I haven't done them all myself but thought it would be worth mentioning anyway.In no particular order, eight worthies were given as:
Tiverton to Minehead A396
Cirencester to Chipping Norton B4425/ A361
Wragby to Louth A157
Newcastle to Edinburgh A696/A68
Congleton to Buxton A54
Ffestiniog to Brecon A470
Llangynidr to Beaufort B4558/B4560
Winchester to Midhurst A272
Others included:
Hereford to Worcester A44
Peterborough to Bedford B660
Craven arms to Abermule (Wales) B4368 ( I can vouch for that one - cracker!)
Scotland!
Fortuitously.......I have a copy of an old Autocar which did an article on this subject several years ago.
I haven't done them all myself but thought it would be worth mentioning anyway.In no particular order, eight worthies were given as:
Tiverton to Minehead A396
Cirencester to Chipping Norton B4425/ A361
Wragby to Louth A157
Newcastle to Edinburgh A696/A68
Congleton to Buxton A54
Ffestiniog to Brecon A470
Llangynidr to Beaufort B4558/B4560
Winchester to Midhurst A272
Others included:
Hereford to Worcester A44
Peterborough to Bedford B660
Craven arms to Abermule (Wales) B4368 ( I can vouch for that one - cracker!)
Scotland!
In addition to the list above which rates the A698 I would recommend the A697 from Newcastle to Edinburgh.
I have not been on it for about 5 years, but when working up there it was a good run.
BUT fixed speed cameras in the middle of every straight bit of road when you got into Scotland, and unmarked cars make it a risky road to hoon on
I have not been on it for about 5 years, but when working up there it was a good run.
BUT fixed speed cameras in the middle of every straight bit of road when you got into Scotland, and unmarked cars make it a risky road to hoon on
PH5121 said:
In addition to the list above which rates the A698 I would recommend the A697 from Newcastle to Edinburgh.
I have not been on it for about 5 years, but when working up there it was a good run.
BUT fixed speed cameras in the middle of every straight bit of road when you got into Scotland, and unmarked cars make it a risky road to hoon on
Both great roads until you hit the border, but I'd head south instead on the A686 Hartside pass. Other notable beauties are the Hawes-Ingleton Road in N yorks (can never remember its name), the A701 around the Scot/Eng border and A82 up through Glen Coe and onto Mallaig.I have not been on it for about 5 years, but when working up there it was a good run.
BUT fixed speed cameras in the middle of every straight bit of road when you got into Scotland, and unmarked cars make it a risky road to hoon on
Edited by Gad-Westy on Sunday 3rd February 00:48
Eventhough its now got a 50mph limit (not that I kept to the previous 60mph limit) and you rarely get a clear run I still love the A57 Snake Pass, when you get everything right its a blast. Came over it on Sunday evening with the wife and kids onboard and it was snowing!
Went over it a few months ago in my MKII GTI and got a clear run, every car I came across seemed to coincide with a passing oppurtunity, the weather was excellent, I had the Stone Roses on the CD and the car ran well apart from the brake fade at the Glossop end!
Went over it a few months ago in my MKII GTI and got a clear run, every car I came across seemed to coincide with a passing oppurtunity, the weather was excellent, I had the Stone Roses on the CD and the car ran well apart from the brake fade at the Glossop end!
Edited by GreatGranny on Tuesday 20th November 15:32
I wouldn't put this in the top 10 but a fantastic road on a nice day (treachorus on a bad occasionally!) is the B4494 from Wantage to Newbury... has some amazing bends, lots of scenery and lots of altitude changes and some lovely views as well! Not to mentiona top pub at the end, "The Crab" @ Chieveley
I do believe that TV Police use it for part of their police pursuit driver training as well
I do believe that TV Police use it for part of their police pursuit driver training as well
Rob S said:
I wouldn't put this in the top 10 but a fantastic road on a nice day (treachorus on a bad occasionally!) is the B4494 from Wantage to Newbury... has some amazing bends, lots of scenery and lots of altitude changes and some lovely views as well! Not to mentiona top pub at the end, "The Crab" @ Chieveley
I do believe that TV Police use it for part of their police pursuit driver training as well
It's a cracker, you're right. Used to work in Newbury and use this on summer eves to get back to N Oxfordshire. Hood down, 7 pm, light traffic = great fun.I do believe that TV Police use it for part of their police pursuit driver training as well
Let us not forget the infamous 'Cat and Fiddle' A537 Macclesfield-Buxton extravaganza. Quite heavily policed and dangerous with all the lunatics but lovely when lightly populated/policed.
And lots of other roads in that area which I wouldn't like the long arm of the lore to trouble me on.
Plenty of joy to be had in the area around Meltham too.
And lots of other roads in that area which I wouldn't like the long arm of the lore to trouble me on.
Plenty of joy to be had in the area around Meltham too.
my ultimate top five roads you have to "do" before you die.
excellent fun on either two or four wheels:
i) take the A515 from buxton to ashbourne in the peak district ... half way along turn off onto the A5012 at newhaven .... take this road all the way to cromford... it becomes more and more twisty as you near cromford ... don't do it during truckers hours ... at cromford you hit the A6, turn left and enjoy fish & chips in matlock bath.
ii) take the A686 from penrith to alston ... best bit is the middle section between melmerby and the hartside top cafe ... you'll want to have a cuppa in the caf, and then do it all again ... if you head north to penrith via the A6, you will enjoy an added bonus.
iii) take the A5004 from whaley bridge to buxton ... sorts the men from the boys .... watch out for buses.
iv) take the A4212 from bala to trawsfynydd, in north wales .... awesome ... among the finest !
v) finally back to home tarmac .... take the A18 from ramsey to douglas in the isle of man ... this is known as the mountain section of the TT Course ... no speed limits (honest !) ... no speed cameras ... 12 miles of motoring heaven on racetrack smooth roads ... be prepared to be humiliated by the locals.
d
excellent fun on either two or four wheels:
i) take the A515 from buxton to ashbourne in the peak district ... half way along turn off onto the A5012 at newhaven .... take this road all the way to cromford... it becomes more and more twisty as you near cromford ... don't do it during truckers hours ... at cromford you hit the A6, turn left and enjoy fish & chips in matlock bath.
ii) take the A686 from penrith to alston ... best bit is the middle section between melmerby and the hartside top cafe ... you'll want to have a cuppa in the caf, and then do it all again ... if you head north to penrith via the A6, you will enjoy an added bonus.
iii) take the A5004 from whaley bridge to buxton ... sorts the men from the boys .... watch out for buses.
iv) take the A4212 from bala to trawsfynydd, in north wales .... awesome ... among the finest !
v) finally back to home tarmac .... take the A18 from ramsey to douglas in the isle of man ... this is known as the mountain section of the TT Course ... no speed limits (honest !) ... no speed cameras ... 12 miles of motoring heaven on racetrack smooth roads ... be prepared to be humiliated by the locals.
d
Not that long, but the road alongside Kielder reservoir is superb. About 8-10 miles fast sweeping 2lane, built for the dam construction/forestry wagons, do it out of hours and enjoy the stunning scenery and utter lack of BiB and scameras and major junctions!
There are many roads in the north Pennines worth trying. Have a glance at your map. In the area north of the A66 up to the A69 many of the roads (even the yellow or white ones) are two lane unfenced driving heaven, built for long gone quarry trucks.(Apart from the A689 east of Cowshill-avoid). The singletracks you do come across up here are often fast too with wide walls and long views ahead. Enjoy!
There are many roads in the north Pennines worth trying. Have a glance at your map. In the area north of the A66 up to the A69 many of the roads (even the yellow or white ones) are two lane unfenced driving heaven, built for long gone quarry trucks.(Apart from the A689 east of Cowshill-avoid). The singletracks you do come across up here are often fast too with wide walls and long views ahead. Enjoy!
Edited by beermaddavep on Thursday 29th November 01:27
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff