Land's End to John O'Groats

[tighnamara]

MikeDrop said:

It'll be fine. If I get pulled, I'll ensure I'm wearing a low cut top and short skirt, with a bit of lippy

And a smile....
Enjoy your trip and hope you get decent weather.
As someone mentioned earlier if you can afford some extra time it will be well worth it especially on the west coast side of the drive on the NC500.
Great scenery and great roads.

[Riley Blue]

MikeDrop said:

Thanks Riley.

The Dales could work within the route, any suggested roads?

Get yourselves to the A59 then turn off via Bolton Abbey (hidden behind the word 'Photo' in the watermark at the bottom) and head this way. It's a well known route and sometimes narrow but it's well worth it:

[Superchickenn]

Megane update

I know she's was cheap .. really cheap

But seeing as though I want to enjoy the 2000 odd miles I gave the megane some attention last night..



For 1.20 a spark plus seemed a good idea



The wipers looked awful and seeing as tho I would be seeing them move alot I thought I'd give them a once over



Lastly the inside lights were really dim and map reading in the dark would be difficult... New led light time





Next up is the water pump as there seems to be a leak.. but that's a job for the weekend

[MikeDrop]

Riley Blue said:

Get yourselves to the A59 then turn off via Bolton Abbey (hidden behind the word 'Photo' in the watermark at the bottom) and head this way. It's a well known route and sometimes narrow but it's well worth it:

Awesome - added!

[MikeDrop]

Superchickenn said:

Megane update

I know she's was cheap .. really cheap

But seeing as though I want to enjoy the 2000 odd miles I gave the megane some attention last night..



For 1.20 a spark plus seemed a good idea



The wipers looked awful and seeing as tho I would be seeing them move alot I thought I'd give them a once over



Lastly the inside lights were really dim and map reading in the dark would be difficult... New led light time





Next up is the water pump as there seems to be a leak.. but that's a job for the weekend

If you're going to be reading the map, who'll be driving?

[FiF]

MikeDrop said:

Riley Blue said:

Get yourselves to the A59 then turn off via Bolton Abbey (hidden behind the word 'Photo' in the watermark at the bottom) and head this way. It's a well known route and sometimes narrow but it's well worth it:

Awesome - added!

I'll second those suggestions from Riley Blue, done that run a couple of times, including one epic trip through rainstorms, River Wharfe in flood, driving up Langstrothdale was an epic experience, the River Ure at Hawes had burst it's banks, and having got over Buttertubs, by now it was mid to late afternoon, but black as night, so bottled out of Tan hill, turned left towards Kirby Stephen. Going across the top there, you needed full lights just to see it was that dark, and the wind was blowing the torrential rain upwards off the crests. In that storm the M6 was closed for a time due to flash flooding. Next time intending to do that run, was on the A65 between Otley and Ilkley, the Wharfe burst its banks and was running through floodwater across the road somewhere near Burley in Wharfedale. There's a theme here unfortunately.

[matchmaker]

MikeDrop said:

Peanut Gallery said:

Here I would vote to take a turn east after Inverness, so onto the A938 heading for Carrbridge, then throguh Grantown-on-Spey, Tomintoul, **** Bridge, over the Gairnshiel humpback bridge, then B976 to Crathie, Braemar, Blairgowrie, Perth, Stirling, then onto the M74 / M6 - this is best done out of hours and can flow fairly well! - stop at the Tebay services if you have to.

Good shout. I've driven some of those roads in a Caterham when I hired one last July. Amazing roads

Instead of the A9/M9 between Perth & Stirling, I'd take the A85 to Lochearnhead then the A84 through Callander.

[M1C]

FiF said:

MikeDrop said:

Riley Blue said:

Get yourselves to the A59 then turn off via Bolton Abbey (hidden behind the word 'Photo' in the watermark at the bottom) and head this way. It's a well known route and sometimes narrow but it's well worth it:

Awesome - added!

I'll second those suggestions from Riley Blue, done that run a couple of times, including one epic trip through rainstorms, River Wharfe in flood, driving up Langstrothdale was an epic experience, the River Ure at Hawes had burst it's banks, and having got over Buttertubs, by now it was mid to late afternoon, but black as night, so bottled out of Tan hill, turned left towards Kirby Stephen. Going across the top there, you needed full lights just to see it was that dark, and the wind was blowing the torrential rain upwards off the crests. In that storm the M6 was closed for a time due to flash flooding. Next time intending to do that run, was on the A65 between Otley and Ilkley, the Wharfe burst its banks and was running through floodwater across the road somewhere near Burley in Wharfedale. There's a theme here unfortunately.

I've done the section from Hawes to Kettlewell earlier this year at 7am on a crisp morning and can advise it was superb! Lovely road and vistas! And this was an in almost dead 3.0 S-Type! (now sadly departed)

[MikeDrop]

matchmaker said:

Instead of the A9/M9 between Perth & Stirling, I'd take the A85 to Lochearnhead then the A84 through Callander.

Christ - if I track the route on GPS, it'll look like a pinball machine

[FiF]

MikeDrop said:

matchmaker said:

Instead of the A9/M9 between Perth & Stirling, I'd take the A85 to Lochearnhead then the A84 through Callander.

Christ - if I track the route on GPS, it'll look like a pinball machine

Trouble is if you try to include all the good roads you'll end up on 5 weeks not 5 days. For example if you're going to Lochearnhead, then why not up to Killing, down the side of Loch Tay and then the single track roads over Ben Lawers.

On another note, if you're going to do my Peak route, and then Riley's Dales route, why not connect going over the tops to Huddersfield, Halifax, and then to Bolton Abbey.

[matchmaker]

FiF said:

Trouble is if you try to include all the good roads you'll end up on 5 weeks not 5 days. For example if you're going to Lochearnhead, then why not up to Killing, down the side of Loch Tay and then the single track roads over Ben Lawers.

On another note, if you're going to do my Peak route, and then Riley's Dales route, why not connect going over the tops to Huddersfield, Halifax, and then to Bolton Abbey.

Perthshire isn't that dangerous! You mean Killin.

But the road over Ben Lawers and down Glen Lyon is a cracker. It's the road with signs warning of red squirrels.

[FiF]

matchmaker said:

FiF said:

Trouble is if you try to include all the good roads you'll end up on 5 weeks not 5 days. For example if you're going to Lochearnhead, then why not up to Killing, down the side of Loch Tay and then the single track roads over Ben Lawers.

On another note, if you're going to do my Peak route, and then Riley's Dales route, why not connect going over the tops to Huddersfield, Halifax, and then to Bolton Abbey.

Perthshire isn't that dangerous! You mean Killin.

But the road over Ben Lawers and down Glen Lyon is a cracker. It's the road with signs warning of red squirrels.

Yep I do mean Killin. The road down the other side of the Loch isn't bad for an evening excursion either. Many moons ago while staying in a B&B in Killin one June rumour has it that there was a Mk1 Lotus Cortina that did a few laps.

[MikeDrop]

Keep the suggestions coming lads - all good stuff and makes for some interesting options on the way

In other news, I had some goodies delivered for my soon-to-be MX5. Namely a JDM rear clip. The car I've bought is an import, but someone swapped out the rear JDM Clip for a UK one and I much prefer the JDM clips.

Bad news is, it was damaged and cracked in transit.

Good news is, one of the lads on this trip does bodywork and has kindly offer to sort it for me.

Winner!

[Riley Blue]

matchmaker said:

FiF said:

Trouble is if you try to include all the good roads you'll end up on 5 weeks not 5 days. For example if you're going to Lochearnhead, then why not up to Killing, down the side of Loch Tay and then the single track roads over Ben Lawers.

On another note, if you're going to do my Peak route, and then Riley's Dales route, why not connect going over the tops to Huddersfield, Halifax, and then to Bolton Abbey.

Perthshire isn't that dangerous! You mean Killin.

But the road over Ben Lawers and down Glen Lyon is a cracker. It's the road with signs warning of red squirrels.

Over the tops is a good idea but I've only done it once - in the dark, on a wet November night so saw diddley squat.

BTW - out of interest, the Dales route I gave is the one taken in 1925 on the London-Edinburgh Trial but as far as Wetherby it followed the Great North Road from the start at Barnet - I remember it well....

[velocemitch]

M1C said:

FiF said:

MikeDrop said:

Riley Blue said:

Get yourselves to the A59 then turn off via Bolton Abbey (hidden behind the word 'Photo' in the watermark at the bottom) and head this way. It's a well known route and sometimes narrow but it's well worth it:

Awesome - added!

I'll second those suggestions from Riley Blue, done that run a couple of times, including one epic trip through rainstorms, River Wharfe in flood, driving up Langstrothdale was an epic experience, the River Ure at Hawes had burst it's banks, and having got over Buttertubs, by now it was mid to late afternoon, but black as night, so bottled out of Tan hill, turned left towards Kirby Stephen. Going across the top there, you needed full lights just to see it was that dark, and the wind was blowing the torrential rain upwards off the crests. In that storm the M6 was closed for a time due to flash flooding. Next time intending to do that run, was on the A65 between Otley and Ilkley, the Wharfe burst its banks and was running through floodwater across the road somewhere near Burley in Wharfedale. There's a theme here unfortunately.

I've done the section from Hawes to Kettlewell earlier this year at 7am on a crisp morning and can advise it was superb! Lovely road and vistas! And this was an in almost dead 3.0 S-Type! (now sadly departed)

I'd certainly recommend those Roads over the Derbyshire ones you had originally, there are a number of superb routes through the dales, but on balance this one is quite direct and most of the roads are superb.

Certainly worth enhancing your Lights for long stretches of dark country roads. Night Breaker Bulbs and or a pair of decent Spots wired to go off when you dip is the way to go. Pretty much universal for the Night Rally Boys.

[GreatGranny]

Peaks roads can be busy and the Snake is only enjoyed really early or late.
Beware of camera vans as it's now a 50 limit.
Snake Pass Inn (approx. halfway to the top of the pass) has a bunkhouse.
Wouldn't bother staying in Glossop.
Just need to look how small the doors are when you drive though to confirm this.

As has been mentioned I think your times are very optimistic but you've chosen to ignore everyone else :-)

[FiF]

Riley Blue said:

Over the tops is a good idea but I've only done it once - in the dark, on a wet November night so saw diddley squat.

BTW - out of interest, the Dales route I gave is the one taken in 1925 on the London-Edinburgh Trial but as far as Wetherby it followed the Great North Road from the start at Barnet - I remember it well....

Just to go off topic for a bit, when I was a sprog, probably about 8 or 9 years old, one year we were going to visit some relatives down in Hampshire. Dad had sent off to the AA for one if those prepared routes, which in pre computer days was a set of pages clipped together with instructions like, "Bear left at the Waggon and Horses, taking the B1234" and so on. My job was to navigate using this route pack from the back seat.

Anyway we set off from Huddersfield just as dawn was breaking, and looking at the place names I can remember, one wonders what the AA were thinking of and/or what were my Dad's specification as to route. It went, and I kid you not, Huddersfield, Holmfirth, over the tops down to Woodhesd reservoir, then Glossop, Hayfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes, Buxton, Ashbourne then it all gets a bit hazy after that. I remember having a bacon sarnie at a rough as a badger's truck stop on the A5 iirc, lunch was in Banbury, an ice cream somewhere near Harwell nuclear site, going through Winchester in the evening rush hour.

For some ridiculous reason we had an A40 Somerset at the time, weighed a ton pulled by a tarmac rippling 42 bhp 1200cc.

[MikeDrop]

Good stuff gentlemen, all considered

Getting closer to collecting my vessel so a little excited

[MikeDrop]

A quick post to add the Just Giving link I've set up.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mike-edding...

[NoIP]

Unless you're intending to do all your driving between midnight and 6am you'll be fked off with it all before you've even got out of Wales. Driving on s/c roads through the daytime is a painful experience when you're wanting to press on and have places to be. I can tell you right now that any rural s/c road will quickly see you stuck several vehicles behind some idiot doing 30-35mph, all bunched up tightly together and a combination of too much traffic coming the other way + not enough power under the bonnet will render your opportunities to overtake nil. Any dreams you're having of blasting around the Welsh countryside at 60+ with the road to yourself are only ever going to be that : dreams.