RE: West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive

RE: West Berkshire loop: My Dream Drive

Author
Discussion

John D.

17,701 posts

208 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Dream drive? More like best roads that can be found in local area. Should get on M4 and go to Wales.

speedtwelve

3,510 posts

272 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Good to see others appreciating these great roads. Lived in Newbury for ages and was introduced to the B4494 run up to Wantage by a biker mate. It's great fun and had a few good blats along it over the years. Usual destination was 'The Hare' in East Hendred for a steak with friends. One summer evening we were honking towards Wantage in the TVR with the roof off when we were overtaken by a Merlin helicopter out of Benson on the deck over the fields next to us. Only gone out past Lambourne a few times out towards Shrivenham, and agree about having to be very careful with racehorses about.

Agree about the A343 as well. Live near Andover now and the run up through Hurstbourne Tarrant to Newbury is fun, although it's easy to be caught in a prole procession of Ford Fusions and Micras negotiating the off-camber drops at 31mph.

oldtimer2

728 posts

132 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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Lots of lovely drives on the Berkshire Downs. I first discovered the Wantage-Goring stretch when I owned my first m/c. And if you feel like stretching your legs, the walk up to the hill fort at White Horse Hill is well worth the effort.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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skinny said:
i have another loop from wantage that i used to like to run (although haven't done much in the last few years).
The last bit, chain hill, as previous poster has said, is great - several miles long, well sighted downhill, with a few chicanes

I love the A34 to Goring then back through Compton -

Best bit ringing the engine out up Streetly hill.

speedtwelve

3,510 posts

272 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Not forgetting a stop at The Bell or Four Points as you come through Aldworth.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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speedtwelve said:
Not forgetting a stop at The Bell or Four Points as you come through Aldworth.
The Bell is supposed to serve great local ales and very good grub

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

197 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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The Bell is one of my Locals, Old Tyler is actually Good Old Boy just renamed as the land lady got fed up of being asked for pints of Gob. It serves West Berkshire Brewery beers and Upton cider. Food is hot crusty rolls (spicy prawn or salt beef of old England are my favourites) with various fillings, don't bother with plough mans as it's just the roll plus a pile of lettuce for an extra £4, desserts are good. Last Saturday of the month has a classic car meet as well.

Roads in the area, although the A417 is a good road I've never been along it in a car at a pace I'd like to. Always too much slow traffic and all the dips and crests make overtaking lines of cars difficult. It's better on a motorbike. Also beware of lots of cyclists (most of these roads are suggested cycle routes) and the 5 point junction for Cholsey / Moulsford / Berkshire downs / A417 through the middle, completely unsighted on a crest so big danger of something pulling out on you.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Sunday 26th October 08:05

TPontin

6 posts

118 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Was driving from Blenheim to Somerset last night and stopped at the Queens Arms, just off the route. As we drove down to the pub a sign for the Vale of the White Horse flashed up and it triggered a memory of this article.
My Exige had just finished its running in period after some engine work, the clocks gave us an extra hour and I had some new zzr's on so I was looking forward to an early start!
I crept out of bed, left the Mrs, jumped into the car, and picked up the route just as the magic engine temp number came up.
Frustratingly about 5 miles later another engine warning light (Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious - I know) popped up, and I had to limp 100 miles home...
I did see a few people cracking on though; notably a white f type, blue 3 series and a blue Renault megane diesel - so obviously a few other people had the same idea - fair play!
Let's hope it's fixed for Spa in a couple of weeks...

rosino

1,346 posts

171 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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speedtwelve said:
Not forgetting a stop at The Bell or Four Points as you come through Aldworth.
Did some of the roads recommended in this Dream Drive to help break-in the GT3.. and to have such great roads barely 1hr out of London is a blessing.. really happy I explored this area as had never taken the time to do it.

j4ck100

798 posts

144 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Did this loop on Saturday just gone. Wow truly awesome! Followed it step by step even went up for a walk on the ridgeway by the white horse of uffington. The B4494 is amazing that vista when you get up near wantage with the undulations wow!

TheTechnician

37 posts

111 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Some lovely roads there. Have some good memories from when I was younger and kept a crap routine of driving them in the early hours of the morning in my RS2000 then driving back to Slough and doing a full days work on almost no sleep!

Spleen

5,453 posts

120 months

Monday 31st May 2021
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Holy Thread Resurrection etc but i've just driven this route today and had rather a spiffing time, even had a little tickle with a McLaren something or other. Anyway, just wondering if anyone knew of any other driving roads around the area?

Zarco

17,701 posts

208 months

Monday 31st May 2021
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Spleen said:
Holy Thread Resurrection etc but i've just driven this route today and had rather a spiffing time, even had a little tickle with a McLaren something or other. Anyway, just wondering if anyone knew of any other driving roads around the area?
Already mentioned on this thread I think, but the A338 from Wantage to Great Shefford has some lovely sweeping turns and great surface*

  • Unfortunately most of the best bit has just been covered in surface dressing as I found out on Saturday.
I usually do a sort of double back loop between that and the B4494 on my bike.

Spleen

5,453 posts

120 months

Monday 31st May 2021
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Zarco said:
Already mentioned on this thread I think, but the A338 from Wantage to Great Shefford has some lovely sweeping turns and great surface*

  • Unfortunately most of the best bit has just been covered in surface dressing as I found out on Saturday.
I usually do a sort of double back loop between that and the B4494 on my bike.
Likewise, I was following a van and about to overtake when I hit the chippings! Mucho braking and kept my distance. Pretty annoying though, a good road as you say. My usual run out is Newbury-Wantage-Hungerford and back to Newbury on the B4494, A338 and A4. Can be a good one if traffic is light.


Edited by Spleen on Monday 31st May 17:31