Interesting route to Edinburgh from West Yorkshire?

[swight]

Am going to Edinburgh soon for a few days. Looking to driving on some interesting roads avoiding motorways if possible.

Anybody got any suggestions? Many thanks

[gshughes]

The A68 which comes off the A1 near Darlington goes all the way to Edinburgh and is a cracking road.

[andydax]

gshughes said:

The A68 which comes off the A1 near Darlington goes all the way to Edinburgh and is a cracking road.

This ^^^

[Who me ?]

A19 through tunnel ,then onto A1 and A697, joining A68 around Carter Bar. used to be a ice drive, though i haven't done it since cameras came out.

[Red Devil]

swight said:

Am going to Edinburgh soon for a few days. Looking to driving on some interesting roads avoiding motorways if possible.

Anybody got any suggestions? Many thanks

Would help to know where you're starting from.
West Yorkshire covers quite a lot of ground!
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=West+Yorkshire&am...

[swight]

Thanks for the replies. Yes West Yorks is rather large!

Am leaving from Ilkley area!

[Who me ?]

For my suggestion, your favourite way to A1(M), then A167 to A19 ETC

[talksthetorque]

andydax said:

gshughes said:

The A68 which comes off the A1 near Darlington goes all the way to Edinburgh and is a cracking road.

This ^^^

What they said....BUT

Start A66 to Barnard Castle,( or Brough if you're ahead of schedule) then Middleton in Teesdale, Stanhope, Edmundbyers, Back on to A68.
Awesome scenery and roads, bit more challenging though.

[Davel]

And look out for the cameras!

[Red Devil]

swight said:

Thanks for the replies. Yes West Yorks is rather large!

Am leaving from Ilkley area!

Perfect.

If you have the time, try this scenic route. It will take a lot longer.
However it's far more interesting and rewarding than the A1(M) etc.

Head west from Ilkley on A65
Cut through Addingham to the A59
At roundabout go straight ahead (signed Bolton Abbey/Burnsall B6160)
Follow this road the whole way via Kirkstones Bank to the A684
Turn left (signed Aysgarth/Hawes)
Prior to Aysgarth village turn right (signed Carperby/Redmire)
At T junction in Carperby turn right (signed Castle Bolton/Redmire/Leyburn)
1 mile beyond Redmire turn left (signed Catterick Garrison/Richmond)
At cross roads turn left (signed Grinton/Reeth)
Join B6270 in Grinton (go straight on past the Bridge Inn)
In Reeth fork right (signed Langthwaite/Barnard Castle)
Beyond Langthwaite turn right (signed Barnard Castle)

This road takes you over the Yorkshire/Durham border at Stang Top - http://goo.gl/d2cPUJ - superb views.

At the A66 turn right then first left (signed Barnard Castle B6277)
At traffic lights turn right over bridge (signed Barnard Castle)
Go through town centre then fork left (signed Middleton-in-Teesdale B6278)
In Eggleston fork right (signed Stanhope/Blackton B6278)
At A689 turn right (signed Wolsingham)
In Stanhope turn left (signed Edmundbyers B6278)
At Edmondbyers 30 limit sign fork left (signed Blanchland)
At Give Way sign go straight ahead on B6306
Follow B6306 through Blanchland to Hexham
At T junction in the centre of Hexham turn right
At mini roundabout fork left (signed (A69) and railway station)
Continue past station to the A69
At roundabout turn left (signed Carlisle)
At next junction turn right (signed Acomb/Chollerford A6079)
At cross roads turn left (signed Chollerford/Humshaugh B6318 & Bellingham (B6320))
Cross the bridge over the Tyne
At roundabout go straight ahead (signed Otterburn B6320)
Cross the Tyne again approaching Bellingham

then either

Continue on B6320 through Bellingham to the A68

or

Turn left (signed Kielder/Newcastleton)
Continue through Falstone and Kielder
Turn right on B6357 and join the A68 just south of Jedburgh.

The latter is the better option imo.

Depending on what time you're passing by, I can recommend Tower Knowe Visitors Centre.
Stunning view over Kielder Water and the food last time I was there was delicious.

Alternatively, if you want to stop a bit earlier on the way up, try the Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland

Route map - https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Bolton+Bridge...

Once you're on the A68, beware, it's infested with cameras.
http://www.lbsafetycameras.co.uk/index.php/cameras...

[SmilerFTM]

Without reading what other people have wrote,

Settle to Hawes then over Buttertubs pass. Head to Middleton in Teesdale after that and on the B6277 to Alston. From there jump on the A689 to Brampton. Next stop is Moffat then follow the A701 into Edinburgh. Might take a while mind.

[Red Devil]

That's a good one as well.
37 miles of motorway from J44 M6 to J15 A74(M).

[SmilerFTM]

Red Devil said:

That's a good one as well.
37 miles of motorway from J44 M6 to J15 A74(M).

You could avoid the M6 and join the A74 at Gretna but no point really. I did think about trying to include the Dalveen Pass on the A702 before hitting Moffat but it means you need to go quite a few miles south on the A74. If I had enough time I'd do it though as that pass is a glorious drive if you get a free run on it.

[Red Devil]

If, like me, you have an aversion to motorways then the A6071 from Brampton via Longtown is a very viable alternative. It feeds directly into the B7076 at Gretna (M6 J45). This B road, together with sections of the A701 and A702 then the B7078, is the old route to Glasgow and most people are completely unaware that it runs parallel to the A74(M) all the way to Lesmahagow. It sees very little traffic and makes for a more relaxing journey than the headlong rush of the motorway. It joins the A701 to Moffat at Beattock a little south of J15.

I concur completely about the Dalveen Pass but, not only is it quite a long diversion, it means mixing it with all the HGVs heading for Stranraer on the A75 between Gretna and Dumfries before turning north on the A76.

[Swanny87]

+1 For coming off the A1 just past Morpeth onto the A697 then onto the A68. The A1 past Morpeth is hell and god knows why it still isn't dual carriageway all the way...

[Craikeybaby]

I'll be doing Edinburgh to Scarborough next month, so thinking A68, then across the North york moors. Should be a good drive!