Lands End to John O'groats by car...

[KarlMac]

So I'm planning a trip next year, I've set the following way points as stopping off points. Just hoping the PH masses can give some advice on this proposed route and suggest places on the way worth visiting.

For info the car is a Skyline GTR so looking for flowing A/B roads through nice scenery rather than the really intricate balls out stuff.

Start
Lands End
Cheddar Gorge
Bath (stay over)
Brecon
Llyn Brenig (for Evo Triangle)
Windermere / Bo'ness
Edinburgh
Fort Augustus
John O'groats

Feel like the northern section really needs breaking up but I'm a bit out of my depth and looking for recommendations.

Over to PH! Will obviously be blogging the whole thing when we do it (probably next year now)

[JM]

How long are you planning on taking, and getting back home?

Obvious option is to do the NC500 either on the way there or the way home, but adding in the west coast will add a day or two or more to your time.

[KarlMac]

Planning to take as long as it takes to be honest. We'll book a couple of weeks off, spend the week before looking for airBNB and then take our time. Planning to spend about 5 hours ish in the car each day (we'll have our 3yo with us so don't really want to be spending long stints in the car).

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I can suggest routes for the areas I know - these are biased towards larger roads and covering ground, but with some interesting bits included:

Barnstaple to Glastonbury

Glastonbury to Bath

Bath to Elan Valley (short version)

Bath to Elan Valley (long version)

Elan Valley to Evo Triangle

[KarlMac]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

I can suggest routes for the areas I know - these are biased towards larger roads and covering ground, but with some interesting bits included:

Barnstaple to Glastonbury

Glastonbury to Bath

Bath to Elan Valley (short version)

Bath to Elan Valley (long version)

Elan Valley to Evo Triangle

Awesome. Thanks for that, that's the bit of the journey I was struggling with, not done much driving in Wales.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

No problem - I'd usually recommend some smaller roads for the benefit of the driver rather than the passengers, but as you say they wouldn't be appropriate for this trip.

Happy to suggest some points of interest too, if you have an idea of the kind of thing you like.

[Lotobear]

I would suggest missing out the Lakes and cutting across east on the A66 Penrith, then off at Bowes, up to Middleton in Teesdale on a superb road challenging road and then on to Alston (England's highest market town).

From there you can either go on to Haydon Bridge (fantastic road) or cut back down to Hartside and back down to Penrith. The roads in the north Pennines are truly epic and a well keep secret. I live here so I should know!

There aren't really any good roads in the Lakes, just lots of traffic - worth doing only if you wish to see the scenery

Did the NC500 back in May in my classic Lotus - what a fantastic trip!!