RE: Yorks-Lincs-Notts loop: My Dream Drive

RE: Yorks-Lincs-Notts loop: My Dream Drive

Thursday 11th September 2014

Yorks-Lincs-Notts loop: My Dream Drive

Just south of Doncaster lies an absorbing Dream Drive with some Cold War history too



Name: Dale Lomas
Where: Tickhill (S. Yorks) to Gringley (Lincs.) and back
Car used:Porsche 911 Turbo S

Oh for a guarantee of no traffic...
Oh for a guarantee of no traffic...
The route:
"An undulating hour-long loop taking in the counties of South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire.

"It starts and ends wherever you'd like, but typically I'd pick it up and leave it anywhere between Rossington and Robin Hood airport (ex RAF Finningley).

"Mostly it's technical roads interspersed by villages and junctions. Indicated by the often conservative speed limits, it's not the kind of road where you need three figures on the speedo to have fun. The twistiest parts are a nice reminder that fun in cars needn't be anti-social."

Why it's a dream drive:
"Most of it has been handed down to me from my parents, both of whom would enjoy 'scratching' from Sheffield to Cadwell Park every month in summer.

A twisty and entertaining route throughout
A twisty and entertaining route throughout
"Their tales of derring-do still echo through family gatherings today, with stories of Porsche Turbos versus CBX-1000s, run-ins with police Rovers and even my mum's Kawasaki H1 all remembered fondly. There's even a brand-new Metro Turbo running out of brakes incident, predictably enough!

"And despite it nestling at the top of the Fens, it's surprisingly hilly and wonderfully picturesque. Caution is required until you really know the roads, as there are plenty of surprising twists and obstacles. But that just adds to the charm."

Highlights and lowlights:
"Nearly every road here has it's own trademark corner, but one of my favourites is the blind crest leaving Rossington towards Tickhill, that quickly turns into a an all-too-short rollercoaster of bends.

Sweet villages aplenty if you want to stop
Sweet villages aplenty if you want to stop
"Finding your own flow through the fields beyond Oldcotes is always rewarding, though you have to be respectful of every farmer's right to exit his property without being hit by a car.

"The narrow, walking-pace hump-back bridge at Clayworth evokes a sense of 1940s countryside motoring. Though I often imagine what it would be like to drive this in a WRC car with no oncoming traffic. There's also a fantastic view of North Lincolnshire after you leave Gringley On The Hill, shooting down into a quicker section of road with great visibility.

"Despite the changing pace of the route, with its many villages and junctions, my only lowlights would be the overly conservative 50mph on the very, very straight Bank End road, and the frequency with which the many rural level crossings can be shut without warning."

Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"Most of this route is anchored around visits to the Mucky Duck, as my parents refer to the pub nearly Gringley (the real name is the White Swan). Not so long ago that car park would be full of fast cars and bikes every night of summer. Now it's abandoned, it feels kind of sad. But it's still part of my route, just for the history.

Well yes, it does look quite inviting
Well yes, it does look quite inviting
"The lap also incorporates a little of my fascination with the Cold War history of the region. The detour past the end of the runway (one of the longest in the UK) at the old RAF Finningley might even bring you a view of the last remaining flightworthy Vulcan bomber!

"The old rocket site at Misson is another Cold War throwback, and now houses a company specializing in flogging old military equipment and vehicles, aptly enough."

 

Follow the route here.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Author
Discussion

rtz62

Original Poster:

3,340 posts

154 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
As a child I lived in Bessecar and was transfixed by the sight and sheer sound of the Vulcans taking off from Finningley during the '60's,and the Battle Of a Britain air display every September.
I can vouch for this route, absolutely brilliant, lots of technical bits, some real fast roads and some that will catch out the ill-prepared.
Well done, sir!

Ps I don't know what happened to my score, I chose 10/10 but it shows as 5; patently untrue!!!

Edited by rtz62 on Thursday 11th September 14:27

Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
I live on this route and take some of it to work. In my opinion there's some better roads around here that has less traffic on it.

The best bits are after Bank End Road but head out towards Gainsborough then the back way to Bawtry > Tickhill and back that way.


Jezzerh

816 posts

121 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
The bit between Tickhill and Maltby is the most fun, I find. If you're lucky enough to find it clear you can have some proper twisty driving although it's only a short section.

I've started to drive to work (Chesterfield) through Harworth, Styrrup and Oldcotes towards Dinnington. It has a recently resurfaced section that twists underneath the trees and is a sublime drive on a clear morning. And that's in a VW CC, not even a Porsche!!

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
Know all of these roads, some we actually use daily on my daughters School run. On most of them you'll end up in a queue behind a Toyata Yaris at 30 mph sadly.

ukmike2000

476 posts

167 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
All on my home turf - but we don't need more cars on these roads thanks :-)

gareth29

41 posts

124 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
best bit about that area is the lovely deserted M180!

gsxrblue

203 posts

265 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Keep it quiet please.

There are some lovely roads round here, but living in Gringley (Nottinghamshire by the way) I don't want to be dodging all the powerfully built company directors in their Ferraris on the school run. wink

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
gareth29 said:
best bit about that area is the lovely deserted M180!


My only points ever.

richs2891

895 posts

252 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Will have to look at some of these rods next time I visit my parents

matzie

7 posts

124 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
This is a great route, and part of it is on my daily commute... I go Sheffield to Leicester and instead of just going straight down the M1, I leave at J32, take the M18 to Maltby, then take the A634 to Blyth via Oldcotes which is always a highlight - it's an involving drive even if it isn't a fast one. After that I take the A1 south as far as Appleyhead (rather than get stuck in that 40 mph average-speed-check area) and head past Clumber Park, then around Ollerton and then take the glorious A616 (careful of the camera at Ompton).... then it's a blast down the A46 to the edge of Leicester. Puts a smile on my face by the time I get to work... and a bigger one when I set off home at night :-)

Gompo

4,396 posts

257 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Great to see and read about something in my locality, will have to check all the poster's respective garages to see if I've spotted any of you.

Lots of nice little routes and backroads (Retford to Leverton to Bole and either out to Gainsborough or back via Clayworth etc a regular for me) around although like most places these days you expect to be held up in one way or another..

I don't suppose anyone here commutes in a clean looking white Volvo S70 from Worksop out to Gainsborough everyday? Seems to have been an ever present for the last 5 years or so.

FlashBastd

291 posts

189 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Love these roads, really miss the excitement. Current commute is all urban and motorway, no fun at all, just slot it in D and maximise economy. frown

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Couple of Top Tips for anyone tempted. Misson Springs (leads from Misson to West Woodside Road is closed while they do something to the railway crossing.


Feirny

2,500 posts

146 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:
Couple of Top Tips for anyone tempted. Misson Springs (leads from Misson to West Woodside Road is closed while they do something to the railway crossing.
Most of the crossings are having work completed on them at the minute. Bit of a pain at times.

spud989

2,738 posts

179 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
I live in Donny and know these roads. Other good ones are some of the back roads near Bentley and Askern and also the roads at the back of Goole and the A161.

milu

2,346 posts

265 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Good roads no doubt. The 50mph average to Gainsborough is a joke though. Often ride that route on my bike too.

dvs_dave

8,581 posts

224 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
surveyor said:


My only points ever.
Same. Although it was a ban for me frown

ukmike2000

476 posts

167 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
The Gestapo love the M180. The long left hander just before you cross the Trent heading East - ping! Zero tolerance. 3 points and open your wallet please Sir. :-(

spud989

2,738 posts

179 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
ukmike2000 said:
The Gestapo love the M180. The long left hander just before you cross the Trent heading East - ping! Zero tolerance. 3 points and open your wallet please Sir. :-(
There's a van there almost every Saturday morning. It's often there during morning rush hour, too. At all other times it's almost entirely absent, though. The two other spots are just before and after Barnetby Top westbound, but they're nowhere near as popular as the eastbound one.

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
dvs_dave said:
Same. Although it was a ban for me frown
We used to live in Haxey. In the end I used to come off the M180 at junction 1 and go cross country as licence losing speeds at the end of a long day were very very tempting.