Anyone in the north of England
Discussion
You owe it to yourself to do a fast run from Heddon on the Wall just outside Newcastle along the Military Road (B6318) towards Greenhead, then along on the B6319 towards Haydon Bridge, and then onto an amazing road, the A686 which takes u to Penrith. This route will give you an amazing mix of long, fast, dipping straights, and twisty steep inclines. Excellent fun in the summer. An excellent journey for someone with a fast car. The 686 in particular has some absolutley amazing views, and a decent cafe at Alston, which is 1,933 ft above sea level.
Watch out for traffic coppers tho
>>> Edited by pbirkett on Tuesday 5th February 09:42
Watch out for traffic coppers tho
>>> Edited by pbirkett on Tuesday 5th February 09:42
Ah yes, the old military road; I sought sanctuary along there many times during my custody of some of Snr Angelli's finer thoroughbreds.
I shall never forget heading towards a strange little place called (I think) 'Once Brewed' and being so attracted to the Tolkeinesque ring of the name that one of my feet forgot to apply some retardation to a vehicle which was barely able to keep step with the already ancient Highway Code!
What you could do with a Tiv and a sunny morn I dread to think. No wonder HHC is located where it is.
I shall never forget heading towards a strange little place called (I think) 'Once Brewed' and being so attracted to the Tolkeinesque ring of the name that one of my feet forgot to apply some retardation to a vehicle which was barely able to keep step with the already ancient Highway Code!
What you could do with a Tiv and a sunny morn I dread to think. No wonder HHC is located where it is.
Happy days! Did it once in a Morris Marina 1.8 Coupe, with a roll of barbed wire in the boot. When we got there and opened the boot, all the paint had been scartched off the boot lid, which was a little mis-shaped too!
It was a company car and took a bit of explaining.
Did it again a while later in an MGB'GT' - much better-
without the barbed wire of course!
It was a company car and took a bit of explaining.
Did it again a while later in an MGB'GT' - much better-
without the barbed wire of course!
Just back from a weekend "Up North".
The 686 from the "Hartside Cafe" (1900 feet alt) down to Melmerby has got to be one of the best roads I have yet driven.
Anyone travelling the M6,
Get off it at Penrith and drive that hill.
The B6277 is also deserving of a mention. From Alston to Middleton-in-Teesdale, similar to the Snake Pass but with much less traffic and no sign all weekend of Plod.
In fact, forget it. The whole area is so full with fine roads, just get up there and enjoy.
One warning, saw a Police Scooby Impreza (full livery) on the B6479 Settle - Ribblehead road (and enough bikers to fill Silverstone's car parks. (probably the reason for the Scooby)
Bloody good weekend.
The 686 from the "Hartside Cafe" (1900 feet alt) down to Melmerby has got to be one of the best roads I have yet driven.
Anyone travelling the M6,
Get off it at Penrith and drive that hill. The B6277 is also deserving of a mention. From Alston to Middleton-in-Teesdale, similar to the Snake Pass but with much less traffic and no sign all weekend of Plod.
In fact, forget it. The whole area is so full with fine roads, just get up there and enjoy.
One warning, saw a Police Scooby Impreza (full livery) on the B6479 Settle - Ribblehead road (and enough bikers to fill Silverstone's car parks. (probably the reason for the Scooby)
Bloody good weekend.
The NYPD Blue are very proud of their Scoobies. I've encountered them prowling around near Skipton and in Hawes previously.
Think you're right, it's all the bikers and car clubs that go out that way.
I would also add to this thread that the Arkengarthdale road (near Hawes, can't remember road number) is well worth a drive too.
Diggers
Think you're right, it's all the bikers and car clubs that go out that way.
I would also add to this thread that the Arkengarthdale road (near Hawes, can't remember road number) is well worth a drive too.
Diggers
The Military road isn't that good because there are too many plod on it now-a-days.
I too love the A686 and go over it everytime we head to the lakes, best to get to it from Hexham tho:
Go into Hexham, goto the main street (i.e. the top one) and just before (or after) the police station turn right (or left) at the lights. Stay on the road up through the 30 limit to the top of the hill and off you go. The road has loads of crests immediatly (where I nearly put my car off the road) and then very long straights on moors. When you near the top with a tight left-hander (after long straight, house on left) take a right and head down the road, at the bottom turn left and you're on the A686.
The cafe you are talking about is Hartside cafe, the highest Cafe in britain. The route is great, but is a haven for fast drivers and motor-bikes. The advantage is that if you know the road you can get through it very quickly, much quicker than the M6, A69 route!
Stefan
I too love the A686 and go over it everytime we head to the lakes, best to get to it from Hexham tho:
Go into Hexham, goto the main street (i.e. the top one) and just before (or after) the police station turn right (or left) at the lights. Stay on the road up through the 30 limit to the top of the hill and off you go. The road has loads of crests immediatly (where I nearly put my car off the road) and then very long straights on moors. When you near the top with a tight left-hander (after long straight, house on left) take a right and head down the road, at the bottom turn left and you're on the A686.
The cafe you are talking about is Hartside cafe, the highest Cafe in britain. The route is great, but is a haven for fast drivers and motor-bikes. The advantage is that if you know the road you can get through it very quickly, much quicker than the M6, A69 route!
Stefan
docevi1 said:
The cafe you are talking about is Hartside cafe, the highest Cafe in britain. The route is great, but is a haven for fast drivers and motor-bikes. The advantage is that if you know the road you can get through it very quickly, much quicker than the M6, A69 route!
Stefan
Actually, I may be wrong, but the highest cafe in Britain is the Summit cafe on the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyffa) in North Wales, just a few feet below the 3560 foot summit.
Access is only by foot or mountain railway although it would be possible to get up there on a trail bike.
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