Must drive roads for visitor to UK

Must drive roads for visitor to UK

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mhh

Original Poster:

1,558 posts

241 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
Aussie here visiting London in October - without the family for a change. Apart from catching the Eurostar to Paris for the Motorshow, I want to rent something quick from Avis (Porsche Turbo or Gallardo probably) and drive to Scotland and back on the most interesting roads I can find. I've got about a week. A couple of mates might join me for part of the trip (in their own rentals) but their plans might fall through. I know North Wales has some good roads and Scotland too (I was last there in the '80's in a cheap Vauxhall) but I'd love to see a Google map of a suggested 5-7 day route if anyone cares to share their thoughts. Being solo, I'm happy to spend most of the day in the saddle so I can cover as much ground as possible.

johnnyreggae

2,930 posts

159 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Look up 'evo triangle' - there's also a section somewhere here about great driving routes = called 'roads' ?

Mosi

2,040 posts

214 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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About 25 of us are doing the Evo Triangle soon if you fancy it & a night out in Manchester afterwards

Email me


Gouki

352 posts

183 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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I have done the evo triangle, and compared to roads in Europe it may leave you a bit underwhelmed. It can be easily understood why reviewers use the triangle since each side is a completely different type of road, there are also IIRC no junctions within each road.

The triangle is very small, so I hope some folk come on here and suggest additional routes.

colincolin

36 posts

149 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Girvan Barr Village. Or, Girvan to Newton Stewart.

jackal

11,248 posts

281 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Get to glasgow then head up the West coast toward Glencoe and then onto Skye ... Job done.

jackal

11,248 posts

281 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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Gouki said:
I have done the evo triangle, and compared to roads in Europe it may leave you a bit underwhelmed. It can be easily understood why reviewers use the triangle since each side is a completely different type of road, there are also IIRC no junctions within each road.

The triangle is very small, so I hope some folk come on here and suggest additional routes.
+1

Just come back from the black forest/swiss passes/jura mountains etc. and the evo triangle is pretty pathetic by comparison, not even in the same planet.

Scousefella

2,243 posts

180 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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From London use the A10 until you reach Buntingford then take the A507 to Baldock - only a short stretch tbh but a great little squirt.

After the village of Cottered you have a very nice straight with a deceptive humpback moment, if you catch it a little quickly you can catch some Air for a split second.

Mart-1

441 posts

199 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
Mosi said:
About 25 of us are doing the Evo Triangle soon if you fancy it & a night out in Manchester afterwards

Email me
Keep your eyes peeled if you plan on 'pressing on' in that area

Our group went to the Evo triangle last year. It was very windy that day thankfully - after we drove the triangle we stumbled across a great karting circuit nearby and had a couple of sessions. Eddie, the owner, told us that most days the police have their helicopter up looking for speeders, and go to great lengths to catch people

We did pass a well placed camera van en route but were all within the limit, however earlier this year we went back to the same karting track and 3 of our group were done by a police camera van near Llangollen

The kart track is here if of interest - you can just turn up without booking but it's worth checking as they hold some national races there: http://www.gygkarting.co.uk/

TomN94

2,401 posts

157 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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Anywhere north of Inverness, or on the way to Skye really, they are the best roads I have experienced since living up here.

andrew

9,953 posts

191 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
TomN94 said:
Anywhere north of Inverness, or on the way to Skye really...
+1

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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If I was the OP and coming to Europe , solo, for a driving experience, I would not come to the UK.

I would go to Italy.

Sunshine, quiet roads, gorgeous cities, great food, appreciative people who love to see a nice car rather than instantly hate you, and even the police can be quite accommodating.

Start in the south, head north, take in a few mountain passes. Job done.

mhh

Original Poster:

1,558 posts

241 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
toppstuff said:
If I was the OP and coming to Europe , solo, for a driving experience, I would not come to the UK.

I would go to Italy.

Sunshine, quiet roads, gorgeous cities, great food, appreciative people who love to see a nice car rather than instantly hate you, and even the police can be quite accommodating.

Start in the south, head north, take in a few mountain passes. Job done.
I spent a fortnight in northern Italy, Switzerland and Germany last year and loved it. I didn't realise until afterwards that Avis expressly forbid taking their 911 into Italy. redface I'd rather not push my luck again so soon. Plus, I'd like to see Scotland again. smile

70proof

6,045 posts

154 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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b660 whilst you are heading north...
the snake pass in the peak district...

Mosi

2,040 posts

214 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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If you really want an adventure, drive to Liverpool - get the ferry to the Isle of Man (2 hrs'ish), then get on the mountain road between Ramsay & Douglas....EPIC road (part of famous TT course) with NO SPEED LIMITS !!

Overtaking coppers at 120mph legally on a single lane road on the side of a mountain - you cant do that anywhere else!


andrew

9,953 posts

191 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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you should also just once try the m1 and m25 on a monday morning : afterwards any road will feel like the empty alpine pass of your dreams biggrin

blugnu

1,523 posts

240 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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I've put together a route for you. Get the sleeper from London to Glasgow, hire a car, drive this, get the sleeper back.

If you don't enjoy this, you don't enjoy driving or scenery. smile

Have fun - let us know where you get to.

EDIT - seem to have developed a habit of using too when I mean to, which is annoying.

JazzyO

1,125 posts

180 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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If anyone is ever on the west coast of Scotland: the road from Fort William to Mallaig. Drove it in my 365BB, will remember it till I die. Best thing is, you need to drive it back too (unless you take a ferry to the end of the world).


Onno

mhh

Original Poster:

1,558 posts

241 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Thanks everyone - some great suggestions here. smile

andrew

9,953 posts

191 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
JazzyO said:
If anyone is ever on the west coast of Scotland: the road from Fort William to Mallaig. Drove it in my 365BB, will remember it till I die. Best thing is, you need to drive it back too (unless you take a ferry to the end of the world).


Onno
agreed
do not loop back on the a861 unless you have many hours spare and enjoy single track roads !