FUN roads around Cirencester
Discussion
Hi all. My first post on PH, so I'll give you a quick background to myself. Hopefully this won't bore you too much...
My girlfriend (whom I live with) moved jobs last week requiring another car in addition to the Vauxhall Zafira that we've been running for a couple of years (no kids!!!, but plenty of bikes and I did have a go kart so it's nice to have the space). Since graduating last summer I haven't been able to race my kart and so my beloved Rotax was sold last week to fund the car purchase.
Now, I never thought I'd care too much about car ownership unless it was rear wheel drive and could be raced, so naturally I was thinking it'd be quite few years off yet. Turns out I was wrong. After trawling the likes of these forums, plus reading plenty of reviews I've got myself a '13 plate Swift Sport... and I love it. Coming from a form of racing background, ride quality and handling is important, along with low running costs; the car seems to have ticked every box. It's absolutely awesome!
Since graduating I've been living in Cirencester and will be for the foreseeable future with work, so I'm wanting to find some fun roads in the area. I don't know the place too well, but I can't seem to find the type of road I was used to in Northumberland where I've lived until now.
I'm not after necessarily fast roads, but something with plenty of twists and clear bends. I know the B4425 north out of the town is nice, but like I say, it's a bit too quick for my liking, if that makes sense?! I'm after the type of road where you're forced to brake for the turns without having to hold 80+ on the clock, and where you can see through the turn to use the full road on exit.
So, can anyone recommend me something like the above? EDIT: I'm obviously not restricted to Ciren, so anywhere in the Cotswolds is good!
Thanks in advance, Ben
My girlfriend (whom I live with) moved jobs last week requiring another car in addition to the Vauxhall Zafira that we've been running for a couple of years (no kids!!!, but plenty of bikes and I did have a go kart so it's nice to have the space). Since graduating last summer I haven't been able to race my kart and so my beloved Rotax was sold last week to fund the car purchase.
Now, I never thought I'd care too much about car ownership unless it was rear wheel drive and could be raced, so naturally I was thinking it'd be quite few years off yet. Turns out I was wrong. After trawling the likes of these forums, plus reading plenty of reviews I've got myself a '13 plate Swift Sport... and I love it. Coming from a form of racing background, ride quality and handling is important, along with low running costs; the car seems to have ticked every box. It's absolutely awesome!
Since graduating I've been living in Cirencester and will be for the foreseeable future with work, so I'm wanting to find some fun roads in the area. I don't know the place too well, but I can't seem to find the type of road I was used to in Northumberland where I've lived until now.
I'm not after necessarily fast roads, but something with plenty of twists and clear bends. I know the B4425 north out of the town is nice, but like I say, it's a bit too quick for my liking, if that makes sense?! I'm after the type of road where you're forced to brake for the turns without having to hold 80+ on the clock, and where you can see through the turn to use the full road on exit.
So, can anyone recommend me something like the above? EDIT: I'm obviously not restricted to Ciren, so anywhere in the Cotswolds is good!
Thanks in advance, Ben
Edited by DHB07 on Monday 10th March 14:11
Welcome
Drove my dear old 911 along it Saturday all the way to Whittington and andoversford. Great road narrow in places little traffic and twisty towards the end with.great scenary
It's called the whiteway I think and it starts at the northern end of the Cirencester bypass before the Cheltenham turn.
I have a feeling many moons ago it was an important route, these days it's not even classed as a B road. It's vary straight in places but still worth a blast along it.
It might not be quite what you're looking for but if you head south east and aim for the village of Ashbury you can then take the B4507 to Wantage (passing the 'famous' Uffington White Horse), then pick up the B4494 to Newbury, and finally the B4000 through Lambourn and back to Ashbury.
Alternatives routes in the area are the A338 (Wantage to Great Shefford) and the B4001 (Lambourn to junction of B4507 at Childrey).
These are some very entertaining roads well worthy of an early Sunday morning recce, and I reckon they're perfectly suited to a SSS (my RS Clio LOVES them). but whether they'll live up to your Northumbrian expectations I'm not sure. The only way to find out is to try! I have no doubt you'll enjoy them.
Alternatives routes in the area are the A338 (Wantage to Great Shefford) and the B4001 (Lambourn to junction of B4507 at Childrey).
These are some very entertaining roads well worthy of an early Sunday morning recce, and I reckon they're perfectly suited to a SSS (my RS Clio LOVES them). but whether they'll live up to your Northumbrian expectations I'm not sure. The only way to find out is to try! I have no doubt you'll enjoy them.
Edited by Claude455 on Tuesday 11th March 16:42
The westbound exit from the A417 at fairford is excellent. Just the sliproad. No, really.
The roads from bourton and/or Stow to Andoversford are good, as is the one from Stow to Toddington. Once you're over there, the B road from Gretton to Gotherington past Prescott is one of the best roads in England.
The roads from bourton and/or Stow to Andoversford are good, as is the one from Stow to Toddington. Once you're over there, the B road from Gretton to Gotherington past Prescott is one of the best roads in England.
Thanks chaps.
Claude, I'll set about Google mapping that now, sounds like a decent run. But yeah, starting to realise I was a bit lucky with Northumberland national park 20 mins up the road!
Agent, I've got the exit of the first Ciren sliproad off the A419 nailed, but I'll try the Fairford one
That B road sounds good too. I'll check 'em out now!
Claude, I'll set about Google mapping that now, sounds like a decent run. But yeah, starting to realise I was a bit lucky with Northumberland national park 20 mins up the road!
Agent, I've got the exit of the first Ciren sliproad off the A419 nailed, but I'll try the Fairford one
That B road sounds good too. I'll check 'em out now!I live near Stroud, but I don't go passed cirencester really, but the B4014 between Avening and Nailsworth is a bit like what your looking for, lots of tight corners, heavy breaking, really fun stretch of road. However it is quite a short stretch of road, but you can lead onto The Ladder in Nailsworth, which is pretty good, proper switchback turns up a pretty steep hill.
The B road to Bibury and on to Burford (via a short stretch of the A40) is my favourite. You can then either turn left at the end of Burford and over to Stow, or carry on to the right to Chipping Norton and then left there to Stow.
If that doesnt suit then both the road to Tetbury and the road to Stroud out of Cirencester are both driveable but get busy. V nice if you can make progress though.
Tetbury over to Wootton under Edge is pleasant as well but watch out as there have been a couple of fatalities on that one in recent months
A student and an ex student of my college, in separate incidents. I taught the latest one who died. Nice lad he was too 
There is always the A429 Fosse Way for decent progress and then the road up to Broadway is nice. Take the Fosse to Moreton and then the A44 to Broadway via Fish Hill. Nice place to stop for a drink/bite is Braodway
If that doesnt suit then both the road to Tetbury and the road to Stroud out of Cirencester are both driveable but get busy. V nice if you can make progress though.
Tetbury over to Wootton under Edge is pleasant as well but watch out as there have been a couple of fatalities on that one in recent months
A student and an ex student of my college, in separate incidents. I taught the latest one who died. Nice lad he was too There is always the A429 Fosse Way for decent progress and then the road up to Broadway is nice. Take the Fosse to Moreton and then the A44 to Broadway via Fish Hill. Nice place to stop for a drink/bite is Braodway
Agent, I've just return from a late night mission from the Gretton - Grothington run. Got a little hooked and run at it both ways a good 5 times. Absolutely awesome, just wish it could run on for twice the distance.
Oblio, thanks for the tips. I'll certainly be careful along there and I'm sorry to hear about the students.
Cheers guys!
Oblio, thanks for the tips. I'll certainly be careful along there and I'm sorry to hear about the students.
Cheers guys!
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