Top 10 Driving Roads in the UK?

[Si_steve]

sorry but the roads i posted before have a long way to go to beat this one, cant remember the name of it but the loch in the picture is loch maree

[whirligig]

(Above) That's the A832 between Achnasheen and Kinlochewe (top of Glen Docharty in top pic)- indeed an excellent drive!

Edited by whirligig on Thursday 12th June 16:49

[Si_steve]

cheers for pointing that out, been over it in a less that thrilling cowprint refrigerated van, then again at least that was driven with the rear wheels

[BckFlash]

Si_steve said:

IM gonna throw this one in, the B9016 between buckie and keith brilliant road lots of nice corners and ive never seen any camera's on it as im on it everyday for work, also the A96 between keith and aberdeen is a nice drive

I've heard of the TrafPol sitting in at Aultmore a few times... Cracking bit of road! Better heading in the Buckie diection though!


I was up the west coast on the Highland Hoon back in April, up past Applecross / Kinlochewe / Achnasheen etc... Amazing roads up there!

Edited by BckFlash on Friday 13th June 13:16

[Si_steve]

Yeah tis a good road, wehn i had the courtesy car (1.0 corsa)i managed a pretty good time of 6mins, ill have to get a pic or 2

[johnnyddaman]

[/quote]
Additionally, although most roads in Scotland are simply sublime, I have to recommend the B863 from Ballachulish to Kinlochleven. Amazing mix of bends, dips and rises on great tarmac with awesome views. North Ballachulish to Kinloch is my fave, but you can do it both ways and on both sides of the Loch. Even turn it into a circuit by linking in with the A82.

Anyone read Raw Spirit by Iain Banks? Some great descriptions of the GWRs (great wee roads) across Scotland. Worth a read for anyone planning a trip up there.
[/quote]


I was gonna post this road till I read this. Absolutely stunning. Amongst the best in Scotland (depending on what car you drive). Fast and flowing 3rd gear corners with plenty of tight 2nd gearers to keep you busy! Couple of negative radius corners too so be careful! I reckon Glen Coe Village to Kinlochleven to Ballachulish is the best direction. It's only 15ish miles long but if your fortunte enough not to have anyone in front of you, it's a real workout! ;-)

Edited by johnnyddaman on Friday 20th June 22:46

[johnnyddaman]

I'm very VERY surprised that this post has gone on so long without anyone mentioning the A93 between Blairgowrie and Braemar (continue on to Banchory and further if you so wish.

I reckon I've driven almost every good road in Scotland (except those in the North Highlands and the Applecross road - top of the list!) and I reckon this is the best by far!

Tight and twisty 2nd gear corners like no other, places to open up 3rd gear and a couple of straight bits to get a rest (you'll need it!)
Plenty of undulations an pretty much every type of corner imaginable/in existance!

Once you get past the tight and twisty bit at Spittal of Glenshee road opens up to long fast 3rd and 4th gear sweepers that really test your guts (it takes at least 2 or 3 runs until you can persuade yourself that you really don't have to dab the brakes before that fast 3rd/4th gear corner! :P)

Scenery (as you come to expect and take for granted in Scotland) is immense. Mountains are Snow topped 8/9 months of the year - Glenshee has a ski centre with a loch or 2 along the way.

Only downsides are that since its so tight and twisty, there are often long spells where you cannot overtake and that it gets busy with tourists/coaches over summer months :-(

If your visiting Scotland, this is a definate detour :-)

[Mostro]

I've done two trips lately and would recommend:
(Northumberland)
B6277 Middleton-in Teesdale to Alston - up the side of the Tees valley - brilliant.
B6357 Canonbie to Saughtree, alongside Kershope Forest, then right onto:
Unclassified, but widened and resurfaced alongside Kielder Water
B6278 Edmundbyers through Stanhope and down to Barnard Castle

(North Wales)
B4501 north from Cerrigydrudion, then left back down the A543 to Pentrefoelas (evo Triangle)
B4407 south from Ysbyty Ifan, then B4391 and A4212 to Bala
B4391 out of Bala to Llangynog
A470 practically anywhere!
A4085 from Garreg through Beddgelert up to Caernarfon
A4086 Llanberis pass across to Capel Curig

All are absolutely fantastic driving roads.

[Beebop]

Top Gear sometimes shows a route through the Black Mountains. For the AMG CLK show, they filmed on a beautiful clear road from the Black Mountains, ending on the coast somewhere. Ok that may be editorial "exageration". I think I recognise the road, but I can't put my finger on where it is. Anyone know?

[smiller]

Beebop said:

Top Gear sometimes shows a route through the Black Mountains. For the AMG CLK show, they filmed on a beautiful clear road from the Black Mountains, ending on the coast somewhere. Ok that may be editorial "exageration". I think I recognise the road, but I can't put my finger on where it is. Anyone know?

The one over the Black Mountain is the A4069 between Brynaman and Llangadog.

Another favourite on TG is the A4059 between Hirwaun and the junction with the A470.

[Mostro]

Pics from Northumberland - going back again on Tuesday

B6277 Middleton to Alston



into Kielder



out of Kielder



B6278 Edmundbyers to Stanhope

Edited by Mostro on Tuesday 1st July 20:22

Edited by Mostro on Tuesday 1st July 21:09

[noisebox]

A686 is my favourite - the view of the lakes from the top is hard to beat.

Talking of the lakes - that Hardknott and Wrynose Passes, too slow and twisty to be great driving roads, but surely one of the most dramatic routes.

[dcb]

noisebox said:

Talking of the lakes - that Hardknott and Wrynose Passes, too slow and twisty to be great driving roads, but surely one of the most dramatic routes.

For England, yes.

BTW, interesting little road north from Wrynose Pass
Fell Foot to Great Langdale and the B5343.

I went over it a couple of weeks ago and it's
got a couple of 1 in 4 steep inclines on it that
I didn't know about.

For more laughs, try the little lanes around
Grassholme, Selset and Balderhead reservoirs,
about ten miles NW of Barnard Castle.

Much fun getting the underneath of the five series
cleaned the hard way by brushing the grass in
the middle of the road.

[noisebox]

First time I did Hardknott was as it was getting dark and starting to rain. Ended up at the top in pitch dark and pouring rain - interesting...

[joepane]

A44 Worcester- Aberystwyth, and then back again! A good 6 hour drive

Edited by joepane on Wednesday 13th August 11:25

[Hoofty]

The valley floor section of the Hardknott/Wrynose pass is a hoot - as long as you find the proximity of the roadside rocks, deceptively sharp humps and constant sheep risk an added thrill. I do Reasonably well sighted, but you'd be a real fool to commit too hard.

Had a fantastic set of blasts along the B970/B9152 Aviemore to Kingussie and return whilst stuck there on holiday recently. I say fantastic, until I hit a deer that is. Takes the edge off things, somewhat. Anyway, B970 extremely twisty so best suited to hot hatches. And small ones, at that.

[v6ter]

smiller said:

Another couple to add to me list from today:

Unclassified road from the other side of Lochcarron to Applecross. Not fast. But, by f!!ck, until I do Stelvio that will be the most spectacular road I have driven.

I agree, the best road I have ever driven!

see here:

http://www.lochalsh.com/beallach/slides/IMG_4990.h...

and here

http://www.lochalsh.com/beallach/index2.html

[Pooh]

johnnyddaman said:

I'm very VERY surprised that this post has gone on so long without anyone mentioning the A93 between Blairgowrie and Braemar (continue on to Banchory and further if you so wish.

I reckon I've driven almost every good road in Scotland (except those in the North Highlands and the Applecross road - top of the list!) and I reckon this is the best by far!

Tight and twisty 2nd gear corners like no other, places to open up 3rd gear and a couple of straight bits to get a rest (you'll need it!)
Plenty of undulations an pretty much every type of corner imaginable/in existance!

Once you get past the tight and twisty bit at Spittal of Glenshee road opens up to long fast 3rd and 4th gear sweepers that really test your guts (it takes at least 2 or 3 runs until you can persuade yourself that you really don't have to dab the brakes before that fast 3rd/4th gear corner! :P)

Scenery (as you come to expect and take for granted in Scotland) is immense. Mountains are Snow topped 8/9 months of the year - Glenshee has a ski centre with a loch or 2 along the way.

Only downsides are that since its so tight and twisty, there are often long spells where you cannot overtake and that it gets busy with tourists/coaches over summer months :-(

If your visiting Scotland, this is a definate detour :-)

I live 5 miles from Blairgowrie and the A93 is my favorite local road for a blast, it is superb but IMO not quite in the same league as the best roads in the NW of Scotland.

[brisel]

A151 from Holbeach to Colsterworth in South Lincolnshire

A153 from Horncastle to Louth

[homicide]

If u are in the south yorkshire area, then come take the road from sheffield towards ringinglow, and then onwards to hathersage then when u get there u r a stones throw from any number of routes around the peak district. and on the way back, in stead of heading for rininglow, keep straight on, there r some ace bits, although watch out for hikers!!