Are there any good driving roads in north east london

Are there any good driving roads in north east london

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Discussion

Chris71

21,535 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th January 2010
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Fair enough. Hanningfield resevoir is worth a look if you're only going out for a quick trip, but I wouldn't personally say it was worth travelling to. The mileage is perhaps better spent adding to a trip around west Essex and Herts.

jackincaves

20 posts

124 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but googling 'Best driving roads in London' brought me here this morning, so I thought I'd share the drive I did today.

Loughton - Epping Green - Roydon - Ware - Much Hadham - Little Hallingbury - Hatfield Heath - Fyfield - Ongar - Abridge - Loughton

Google Maps: http://bit.ly/1fRUOak

Crimefighter

152 posts

135 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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jackincaves said:
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but googling 'Best driving roads in London' brought me here this morning, so I thought I'd share the drive I did today.

Loughton - Epping Green - Roydon - Ware - Much Hadham - Little Hallingbury - Hatfield Heath - Fyfield - Ongar - Abridge - Loughton

Google Maps: http://bit.ly/1fRUOak
Thanks for sharing that, will give this a go when I have a spare Sunday morning! Have been looking for a decent drive in this area.

m3m35

3 posts

85 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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Hi guys.

Sorry to dig up an old thread.

Fancy a run out when the weather gets better and while starting to plan routes, google brought me to this thread.

Would anyone in the know please give my route a crit please? If there's anything I shouldn't miss, either good roads or something worth seeing, please shout.

Cheers!

M

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Waltham+Cross/Ch...

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Not sure of the attraction of Saffron Walden/Wendens Ambo. I would cut out that bit in favour of some extra B road action. smile
Including, depending on what time of day you go, the obligatory stop at Bosworth's in Finchingfield for breakfast/lunch/tea.
Also why go into the centre of Bishops Stortford when it can be easily bypassed using the A120/A1184?
The changes omit Thaxted but if you want to visit it it's only half a mile off route.

https://goo.gl/maps/F1wjefbrrMK2

m3m35

3 posts

85 months

Monday 20th February 2017
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Red Devil said:
Not sure of the attraction of Saffron Walden/Wendens Ambo. I would cut out that bit in favour of some extra B road action. smile
Including, depending on what time of day you go, the obligatory stop at Bosworth's in Finchingfield for breakfast/lunch/tea.
Also why go into the centre of Bishops Stortford when it can be easily bypassed using the A120/A1184?
The changes omit Thaxted but if you want to visit it it's only half a mile off route.

https://goo.gl/maps/F1wjefbrrMK2
Hey Red Devil (GOOD name!) thanks for the reply mate. Some food for thought in there.

Wendens Ambo was purely for the Bell Inn as it has a good car park which has a nice background so it would be a good photo opportunity and it's also roughly half way round the loop so it would be a natural stop off for a recharge over a swift half. Glorious beer garden too if the weather allows.

I was also considering having a look at Audley End House as that might also present a chance for some photos.

I'd actually linked the wrong version of my route there, you are completely correct, no need to go through Bishops Stortford, I've rectified that now.

Bosworth's Tearoom looks excellent and a possible other photo op too. Will definitely look into that. Do you know what the parking situation is like? There may be a few of us.

Thaxted was purely because I've done those roads before and really enjoyed them. If you think your route is better I'm more than happy to take local knowledge on board.

Appreciate your help mate, nice one.

M

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Apologies for the belated response.

m3m35 said:
Wendens Ambo was purely for the Bell Inn as it has a good car park which has a nice background so it would be a good photo opportunity and it's also roughly half way round the loop so it would be a natural stop off for a recharge over a swift half. Glorious beer garden too if the weather allows.
My route merely cut off a corner after Howletts End. Nothing to stop you reinstating Wendens Ambo. smile

m3m35 said:
I was also considering having a look at Audley End House as that might also present a chance for some photos.
Nothing to lose by speaking to the Estates Manager to see if you can get permission for a photo op in front of the house - https://goo.gl/maps/GkLooHVezgF2

Don't ask, don't get. wink





m3m35 said:
Bosworth's Tearoom looks excellent and a possible other photo op too. Will definitely look into that. Do you know what the parking situation is like? There may be a few of us.
Define 'a few' smile

Re parking: depends on the time of day.
Most of mine with a group have been for breakfast.
You can usually squeeze in somewhere.
https://goo.gl/maps/q6z3mb3bL9r
https://goo.gl/maps/4vf8Q99vp852

If push comes to shove, try the other side of the pond and walk back.
https://goo.gl/maps/8RP3ZRsdzNU2

m3m35 said:
Thaxted was purely because I've done those roads before and really enjoyed them. If you think your route is better I'm more than happy to take local knowledge on board.
I would never claim it to be better.

There is nothing wrong with the B184 from Great Dunmow -> Thaxted -> Saffron Walden.
However the B1057 gives you more mileage and some great 'twisties'.
Which is why it is one of my favourite roads in that area.

The only downside is if/when you encounter a dawdler.
The more cars in your group, the harder it becomes.
Because the overtaking opportunities are more limited.

HTH



whytheory

750 posts

145 months

Saturday 4th March 2017
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Red Devil said:
Thank you so much for this route, didn't think there were roads this good within easy reach for me.

m3m35

3 posts

85 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Red Devil said:
Lots of fantastic stuff...
Ok, my turn to apologise for the delayed response. I was away and then I've been properly full of flu. Sorry.

Mate, what a spectacular response that is. Thanks so much for all your help there.

I've tweaked the route into two legs now, meaning it works with the google maps app so I can just text the routes to someone's phone and they just hit go. Which should be helpful on the day.

Thanks for the info about Audley House, I'll definitely give that a go. Looks well worth it from the photo you posted. Will also try to do something similar at Copped Hall on the way back.

As for how many of us, it's looking like getting on for 20 cars now. Parking is going to be a sketch for sure but we'll just have to do our best. Again, really good helpful info there. Appreciated.

Fully take your point about getting stuck behind dawdlers or tractors, which is why I wanted to make sure as many people had the route on their phone as possible. If it gets really bad they can just pull over and wait for a gap and not have to worry about losing the leading group.

Anyway, routes below (suggest away if you see anything), thanks again for your fantastic help.

Leg 1:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Lee+Valley+White...

Leg 2:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/52.0051303,0.200...

funtimee

109 posts

158 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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There routes look great, might give them a go tomorrow. Are there any good pubs to note along the way for a spot of lunch?

Thanks,
James

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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My picks would be:

Leg 1
The Beehive at Epping Green.
The Fox & Hounds at Hunsdon.

Leg 2.
The Finchingfield Lion at, er, Finchingfield
The Bell at Great Bardfield.
The Black Lion at High Roding.
The Axe & Compasses at Aythorpe Roding
The Black Horse at White Roding (slifhtly off route on the A1060)




Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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reggie82 said:
There is one amazing (for London) road my examiner took me down N London way on my IAM test. I'm not sure where it is, but he said Hendon Police Driving School use it alot for training, so must be around there somewhere. Hopefully someone might know it! It was a bendy B road.
Could be somewhere around Elstree or Borehamwood. Up the A1 till just past Mill Hill then turn left. Not exactly North East London but well within the M25.

funtimee

109 posts

158 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Thanks Red Devil - didn't make it out today but will definitely be doing it soon so appreciate the recommendations. Seems like there's plenty on route!!

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Dr Jekyll said:
reggie82 said:
There is one amazing (for London) road my examiner took me down N London way on my IAM test. I'm not sure where it is, but he said Hendon Police Driving School use it alot for training, so must be around there somewhere. Hopefully someone might know it! It was a bendy B road.
Could be somewhere around Elstree or Borehamwood. Up the A1 till just past Mill Hill then turn left. Not exactly North East London but well within the M25.
There are very few B roads in that area.
The only suitable one I can think of is the B556.
https://goo.gl/maps/zipD5iGmSnt
https://goo.gl/maps/x4gPznx1np92
http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title...

Mallone

204 posts

247 months

Sunday 30th December 2018
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whytheory said:
Red Devil said:
Thank you so much for this route, didn't think there were roads this good within easy reach for me.
Bit of a thread resurrection, but also wanted to say thanks for this route. Did it yesterday morning in the Boxster and had a lot of fun. No idea I had roads like this 30 minutes from my house.

Really varied route and plenty of places to stop for food/drink as needed. Your efforts with Google maps are appreciated!

caminator11

386 posts

97 months

Friday 8th May 2020
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Red Devil said:
Not sure of the attraction of Saffron Walden/Wendens Ambo. I would cut out that bit in favour of some extra B road action. smile
Including, depending on what time of day you go, the obligatory stop at Bosworth's in Finchingfield for breakfast/lunch/tea.
Also why go into the centre of Bishops Stortford when it can be easily bypassed using the A120/A1184?
The changes omit Thaxted but if you want to visit it it's only half a mile off route.

https://goo.gl/maps/F1wjefbrrMK2
I must resurrect this once again to thank you for such awesome suggestions. I hadn't realised we had such great roads near me. Not that I would dare turn a wheel in the current climate you understand....

Thanks again!