uk coast drive
Discussion
I haven't, but it's a lot further than you might imagine - it came out at about 5000 miles when I programmed the route into my satnav out of curiosity one evening.
I'd still like to do it, but given it would take a good few weeks I think I'd need to buy a camper van for the trip. (One with a proper bog if I'm living in it for all that time!)
I'd still like to do it, but given it would take a good few weeks I think I'd need to buy a camper van for the trip. (One with a proper bog if I'm living in it for all that time!)
I looked into doing this a couple of years ago and was stunned by how long our coastline actually is! As it would be pointless to do it just by continuous driving, which would still take a considerable time, I decided that I just don't have the time to do it justice. It will be on the retirement list I expect!!
We regulalrly do the coastline drive of the Northern most tip in Scotland, which is absolutely stunning, but it is not that stunning the whole way round. Plus, yes it would take a hell of a long time and I imagine it would be best to do something like this for charity, not for fun so much as it is VERY long...
Grand Touring said:
We regulalrly do the coastline drive of the Northern most tip in Scotland, which is absolutely stunning, but it is not that stunning the whole way round.
Yep, I can imagine the breathtaking bits would be rapidly outnumbered by the boring bits. Nice idea though, maybe be a little more specific and do a known/recommended stretch - Scotland, North Wales, or the Isle of Man perhaps? Okay the last one would be quite short - more a day trip than an epic journey, but I believe it's good enough for a certain bike event. 
If you leave Glasgow, drive past Loch Lomond, cross Rannoch Moor then follow the coast all the way to Durness, you are (IMHO) driving the best scenery in the UK and some of the best in the world.
Some of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
Some of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
hi guys, this is one of those things that spring into your head every so often, but when you start to work out the logistics it soon gets forgotten. am i right in thinking there is some sort of run that takes in the four farthest apart parts of the compass in the uk, (if that makes sense). i seem to remember reading something somewhere about it. bit like LEJOG sort of thing.
B0LLIKS said:
hi guys, this is one of those things that spring into your head every so often, but when you start to work out the logistics it soon gets forgotten. am i right in thinking there is some sort of run that takes in the four farthest apart parts of the compass in the uk, (if that makes sense). i seem to remember reading something somewhere about it. bit like LEJOG sort of thing.
That sounds interesting. I'm off to Google it. I'll feedback if I find anything of interest.GetCarter said:
If you leave Glasgow, drive past Loch Lomond, cross Rannoch Moor then follow the coast all the way to Durness, you are (IMHO) driving the best scenery in the UK and some of the best in the world.
Some of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
Steve speaks the truth. Not only does he live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, it has some of the best roads as well! Always a pleasure to tour North West Scotland. Never had a bad trip for the above reasons and the weather changes so often that even if it's a bit rubbish now, some other weather will be along in no time!! Some of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
Marvindodgers said:
B0LLIKS said:
hi guys, this is one of those things that spring into your head every so often, but when you start to work out the logistics it soon gets forgotten. am i right in thinking there is some sort of run that takes in the four farthest apart parts of the compass in the uk, (if that makes sense). i seem to remember reading something somewhere about it. bit like LEJOG sort of thing.
That sounds interesting. I'm off to Google it. I'll feedback if I find anything of interest.West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
North - Dunnet Head ( Scotland )
East - Ness Point ( Lowestoft )
South - Lizard Point ( Cornwall )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
I did something similar last year, though not the extreme points of the compass.
From London down to Lands End, then up through North Cornwall and into and across Wales. Wended my way through the Lake District and, keeping as west as possible, up across the Scottish border. Keeping to the west, through Fort William, then onto Applecross, taking in The Pass of the Cattle (a must do).
Taking the coast road back and, then on to Ullapool. Then on and across the top-of-the-land to JohnO'Groats. Back down the East Coast until back over the border. 'Twas then joining the motorway and back to London.
I only used the motorway for the journey to Lands End and, once back across the border, the journey home.
All in mileage (if I remember correctly) about 2200 miles and was completed in a week.
From London down to Lands End, then up through North Cornwall and into and across Wales. Wended my way through the Lake District and, keeping as west as possible, up across the Scottish border. Keeping to the west, through Fort William, then onto Applecross, taking in The Pass of the Cattle (a must do).
Taking the coast road back and, then on to Ullapool. Then on and across the top-of-the-land to JohnO'Groats. Back down the East Coast until back over the border. 'Twas then joining the motorway and back to London.
I only used the motorway for the journey to Lands End and, once back across the border, the journey home.
All in mileage (if I remember correctly) about 2200 miles and was completed in a week.
http://www.roundbritainrally.co.uk/index1.htm
hi this is not the rally i was thinking of but its something like this.
hi this is not the rally i was thinking of but its something like this.
GetCarter said:
If you leave Glasgow, drive past Loch Lomond, cross Rannoch Moor then follow the coast all the way to Durness, you are (IMHO) driving the best scenery in the UK and some of the best in the world.
Some of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
Holy crapSome of the roads here: http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
great photos chap 
Marvindodgers said:
I guess that the four furthest points of the compass is as good as any?
West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
North - Dunnet Head ( Scotland )
East - Ness Point ( Lowestoft )
South - Lizard Point ( Cornwall )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
I can honestly say if you were thinking of visiting Ness Point, you will be VERY dissapointed.West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
North - Dunnet Head ( Scotland )
East - Ness Point ( Lowestoft )
South - Lizard Point ( Cornwall )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
That's not to say there are some nice roads not too far away, once you get north of Great Yarmouth, the coastal roads aren't too bad, but this is East Anglia, so everything is flat.
dirty boy said:
Marvindodgers said:
I guess that the four furthest points of the compass is as good as any?
West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
North - Dunnet Head ( Scotland )
East - Ness Point ( Lowestoft )
South - Lizard Point ( Cornwall )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
I can honestly say if you were thinking of visiting Ness Point, you will be VERY dissapointed.West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
North - Dunnet Head ( Scotland )
East - Ness Point ( Lowestoft )
South - Lizard Point ( Cornwall )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
Marvindodgers said:
I guess that the four furthest points of the compass is as good as any?
West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
But , the trip to the Light is mostly a single way in and out( possibly like the other places ) ,on much improved (well from last time I drove it ,some 30+ years ago )- at Salen ,you set off west ,and at the light you set off East , all on the same road .It's still single track ( with passing places).Pick the right day and it's worth it for the scenery - and I'm from that neck - used to drive that area for work in the late 60's .West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
[quote=Who me ?]
Or as I did, drive to Hotel near here for Valentines stay, her indoors had a couple of pints at Strontian, 'it's about 20 minutes along the road', then she fell asleep in the car.Marvindodgers said:
I guess that the four furthest points of the compass is as good as any?
West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
But , the trip to the Light is mostly a single way in and out( possibly like the other places ) ,on much improved (well from last time I drove it ,some 30+ years ago )- at Salen ,you set off west ,and at the light you set off East , all on the same road .It's still single track ( with passing places).Pick the right day and it's worth it for the scenery - and I'm from that neck - used to drive that area for work in the late 60's .West - Ardnamurchan Point ( Scotland )
Some kind of interesting route joining them would still be one heck of a tour!
As I drove into the setting sun, with heavy rain squalls to add interest, 20 minutes passed and still no sign.
An hour, and more passed, then when it was dark the deer started to appear, and the road was poured over the surface, up and down, round and round.
Madam woke up, announcing she was feeling sick, so I had to crawl to the hotel, which we were the only guests in.
The old lady in charge said, ' I was told that you are vegetarian, so I did chicken for you'
Madam retired to bed unwell as I picked at my potatoes and carrots, but don't let me put you off it!
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