Blakey Ridge blast: My Dream Drive
Rugged but beautiful loop around the North York Moors, with award winning fish'n'chips to refuel
Where: Blakey Ridge, North York Moors
Car used: Various over the years, including Renault Clio 197 Cup, Mercedes A45 AMG, Range Rover Sport, Porsche Boxster RS60 - honourable mention to my dad's old Fiesta too.
Bleak, brooding landscape adds atmosphere
"This is a circular loop around the North York Moors, close by to the Helmsley Road featured in a previous Dream Drive. The roads featured are a couple of the main north-south routes across the moors, topped and tailed by east-west trunk roads. A quick look at the map will reveal plenty of other possibilities but this is a good first taste of what the region has to offer - namely stunning scenery, brilliantly well-sighted and open roads and plenty of comedy place names. Ugglebarnby Moor anyone?"
Why it's a dream drive:
"Although a relatively compact region compared with the wilds of Wales or Scotland the North York Moors packs incredible variety and some very challenging driving into an area of bleak beauty and evocative landscapes. Doesn't hurt that there are plenty of refreshment or sightseeing justifications for taking the scenic route, be they the nearby coast or more touristy attractions like the North York Moors Railway.
Weather can get a bit intense up here
"Once on the tops and on a clear day sightlines stretching literally miles ahead make for a liberating experience compared with your regular British B-road. It's just a stunning place to be too. The shots here of the Clio in the snow were a case in point - just a few miles away it was a typical grey winter's day but up on the tops it was like another world."
Highlights and lowlights:
"Indecisive sheep and dithering tourists are the two main hazards out here, the locals generally having a no nonsense Yorkshire mindset to cracking on and making the most of local knowledge. That battered old Defender up ahead you're lining up for an easy overtake? With or without the help of local tuners Twisted you might be in for a shock - they build Landies fast round here and the ruddy faced owners aren't minded to pander to the sense of entitlement you might feel at the wheel of your fancy sports car.
Testing roads good for testing cars
"Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by those expansive sightlines either. Blind dips, vicious cambers and corners that too easily tempt over ambitious entry speeds abound. It can be bumpy too, exposing the lie that stiff 'sports' suspension is necessarily the be-all end-all for fast cross country progress. You'll soon learn a thing or two about your car's set-up out here. Choose your time carefully too; weekend and holiday bimblers can be a frustration (particularly on the return leg via the Hole of Horcum) and the local constabulary are well aware of the attractions of the roads to those who enjoy pressing on. They'll see and hear you coming from miles off too..."
Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"Think of this route as a basic introduction and by all means browse the map for alternatives. Or amusing place names - Thunderheads, Stone Hagg, Robin Hood's Butts, Knaggy House, Snod Hill and Fryupdale (where my old headmaster Mr Bacon once lived - god's honest) among those on the loop.
Committed cornering possibilities abound
"Refreshments? The Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge is a popular stop and does hearty food and tasty ales for when the driving's done. You're never far from a decent fish'n'chip shop here either but connoisseurs rate the Liverton Mines chippy just north of the Whitby road. Beware typically eccentric opening hours though."
Want to share your dream drive? Drop us a line at DreamDrives@PistonHeads.com
I come via Helmsley Road from Northallerton. Nice little road to warm up to. Nice ring around and head back the way I came or head up the other way to Castleton and through Guisbrough.
Happy Days!
I live in Teesdale & my favourite roads are Middleton in Teesdale to Alston, then back down Weardale & over the top on one of the 3 roads connecting Weardale with Teesdale.
A good alternative is the A686 Penrith to Newcastle road over Hartside fell (the highest A road in England at about 1900 feet). This road is like an alpine pass with it's gradients & hairpin bends. Last time I tried it Hartside Cafe was pretty good with lots of home made food. There is a car park at the top where the views can be stunning.
On the A686 near Hayden Bridge try Carts Bog a popular pub with excellent food.
Roll on the good weather, there is still snow on the North Pennines.
Best enjoyed at a canter rather than flat out, to take in the incredible views, and, if you're lucky, the RAF flying in the valley alongside.
Brings back memories of a great day out with Dan testing the A45 and my C36 last September......
100% agree, here's me in the summer of 2012 doing it in my Eunos.
Dan... poor show calling it the North York Moors Railway. It's the North YORKSHIRE moors railway.
jtopps - in your Eunos that low n wide I'm surprised you made it over the cattlegrids let alone the potholes, cambers, ruts, bumps and generally crap tarmac without grounding out/crashing. To enjoy this road you need something compliant, maybe even soft. A hard chassis will shake your car apart.
great road though. plenty more like it too.
Could I recommend that anyone taking a blast along Blakey makes a point of stopping at The Lion and indulging in their Steak and Mushroom Pie, its not a pie really more of a cassarole with a square of pastry on top, accompanied by home made chips.
Ive done this road many many times on 2 wheels and four and I can confirm that the sheep are a bit unpredictable, theres no feeling like hurtling along on two wheels when a sheep ahead suddenly lifts its head and looks at you and proceeds to step out, much more relaxing in the car
Dan... poor show calling it the North York Moors Railway. It's the North YORKSHIRE moors railway.
jtopps - in your Eunos that low n wide I'm surprised you made it over the cattlegrids let alone the potholes, cambers, ruts, bumps and generally crap tarmac without grounding out/crashing. To enjoy this road you need something compliant, maybe even soft. A hard chassis will shake your car apart.
great road though. plenty more like it too.
I live in Teesdale & my favourite roads are Middleton in Teesdale to Alston, then back down Weardale & over the top on one of the 3 roads connecting Weardale with Teesdale.
A good alternative is the A686 Penrith to Newcastle road over Hartside fell (the highest A road in England at about 1900 feet). This road is like an alpine pass with it's gradients & hairpin bends. Last time I tried it Hartside Cafe was pretty good with lots of home made food. There is a car park at the top where the views can be stunning.
On the A686 near Hayden Bridge try Carts Bog a popular pub with excellent food.
Roll on the good weather, there is still snow on the North Pennines.
Used to see the RAF very often, they used the whole area as a training ground and used to fly so low over our house the chimney pots would rattle!
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