Where`s your favourite bend or sequence of corners?

[scottos]

Another one here for the section of a686 from Melmerby to Alston. I spent a lot of time in the North Pennines last year around that area, its not far for me thankfully!

IMG_20200531_131907__01 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

[Gilhooligan]

scottos said:

Another one here for the section of a686 from Melmerby to Alston. I spent a lot of time in the North Pennines last year around that area, its not far for me thankfully!

IMG_20200531_131907__01 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

Good road that. Lots of good stuff around Alston. I’ve done the B6277 from there to Barnard Castle a few times which is also pretty decent. And most importantly, quiet.

[Gilhooligan]

aaron_2000 said:

brisel said:

There are lots of excellent roads and bends in the Dales. The B6277 from Alston to Middleton in Teesdale has some fast flowing bends

The Buttertubs Pass is a great one too

RJWR said:

Need I say anymore:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8578997,-3.85360...

Seen the video of the red EP3 understeering off that bend

I found the Buttertubs pass a bit underwhelming. Didn’t live up to the hype.

[aaron_2000]

Gilhooligan said:

aaron_2000 said:

brisel said:

There are lots of excellent roads and bends in the Dales. The B6277 from Alston to Middleton in Teesdale has some fast flowing bends

The Buttertubs Pass is a great one too

RJWR said:

Need I say anymore:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8578997,-3.85360...

Seen the video of the red EP3 understeering off that bend

I found the Buttertubs pass a bit underwhelming. Didn’t live up to the hype.

It's really too small a road to properly push a car on. The roads surrounding it though are absolutely fantastic

[scottos]

Gilhooligan said:

Good road that. Lots of good stuff around Alston. I’ve done the B6277 from there to Barnard Castle a few times which is also pretty decent. And most importantly, quiet.

Thats the way i head to Alston, normally pick it up at Eggleston then across. Road gets good after Langdon Beck, best suited to a light and nimble car, all the bikes that rush to overtake on the straighter sections hold you up after that point

Agree with you about Buttertubs, its good for the views but i just bimble across it to enjoy them, its not a great driving road.

IMG_20200807_150043 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

[Gad-Westy]

scottos said:

Gilhooligan said:

Good road that. Lots of good stuff around Alston. I’ve done the B6277 from there to Barnard Castle a few times which is also pretty decent. And most importantly, quiet.

Thats the way i head to Alston, normally pick it up at Eggleston then across. Road gets good after Langdon Beck, best suited to a light and nimble car, all the bikes that rush to overtake on the straighter sections hold you up after that point

Agree with you about Buttertubs, its good for the views but i just bimble across it to enjoy them, its not a great driving road.

IMG_20200807_150043 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

Yep. That section North of Langdon Beck is superb. Tend to lose any traffic at low and high force. Road gets nice and quiet just as it gets awesome A fair bit of restraint is needed on some of the more open sections!

Agree that the A686 is also best served heading North. Uphill from Melmerby is superb. And then the uphill section not far after Bearsbridge is great as well. Can lean on a car much more heading up hill so I always like the tighter sections in that direction.

B6278 north out of Eggleston is also fantastic. You can link it all up as a triangle though I'm personally not a huge of the A689 west of Stanhope. Too many villages. Only gets good for the last 10 miles or so to Alston.

Not a huge fan o Buttertubs either. Have found myself on it by accident a couple of times. Great for gawking but not for driving.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 13:03

[scottos]

Gad-Westy said:

Yep. That section North of Langdon Beck is superb. Tend to lose any traffic at low and high force. Road gets nice and quiet just as it gets awesome A fair bit of restraint is needed on some of the more open sections!

Agree that the A686 is also best served heading North. Uphill from Melmerby is superb. And then the uphill section not far after Bearsbridge is great as well. Can lean on a car much more heading up hill so I always like the tighter sections in that direction.

B6278 north out of Eggleston is also fantastic. You can link it all up as a triangle though I'm personally not a huge of the A689 west of Stanhope. Too many villages. Only gets good for the last 10 miles or so to Alston.

Not a huge fan o Buttertubs either. Have found myself on it by accident a couple of times. Great for gawking but not for driving.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 13:03

Im east of Stanhope so tend to skip out that road west of it like you say, unless i need to get home quicker or dont have much time. You can zigzag back from Alston by doing the Langdon Beck to St Johns Chapel pass and you can miss most of the crap out then come back down to Eggleston from Stanhope (or vice versa if heading in the other direction). Adds a good chunk of time on but pick up more of the fun that way. I dont tend to do the Alston to Haydon bridge section too often, just because of where i live but it's great to hit every so often if i dont mind a commute home

edit: think i might have seen you at Cow Green Reservoir out that way last year, recognise the car/ plate im sure! Will give you a wave if i see you again!

Edited by scottos on Thursday 11th March 16:16

[Gad-Westy]

scottos said:

Gad-Westy said:

Yep. That section North of Langdon Beck is superb. Tend to lose any traffic at low and high force. Road gets nice and quiet just as it gets awesome A fair bit of restraint is needed on some of the more open sections!

Agree that the A686 is also best served heading North. Uphill from Melmerby is superb. And then the uphill section not far after Bearsbridge is great as well. Can lean on a car much more heading up hill so I always like the tighter sections in that direction.

B6278 north out of Eggleston is also fantastic. You can link it all up as a triangle though I'm personally not a huge of the A689 west of Stanhope. Too many villages. Only gets good for the last 10 miles or so to Alston.

Not a huge fan o Buttertubs either. Have found myself on it by accident a couple of times. Great for gawking but not for driving.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 13:03

Im east of Stanhope so tend to skip out that road west of it like you say, unless i need to get home quicker or dont have much time. You can zigzag back from Alston by doing the Langdon Beck to St Johns Chapel pass and you can miss most of the crap out then come back down to Eggleston from Stanhope (or vice versa if heading in the other direction). Adds a good chunk of time on but pick up more of the fun that way. I dont tend to do the Alston to Haydon bridge section too often, just because of where i live but it's great to hit every so often if i dont mind a commute home

edit: think i might have seen you at Cow Green Reservoir out that way last year, recognise the car/ plate im sure! Will give you a wave if i see you again!

Edited by scottos on Thursday 11th March 16:16

Could well have been me. Have driven around that area a bit though don't recall going to the reservoir. I just moved out this way from the metropolis of Low Fell. Now living not that far from Wolsingham. I presume you're out this way too? Love the BMW. Looks superb.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 16:45

[scottos]

Gad-Westy said:

Could well have been me. Have driven around that area a bit though don't recall going to the reservoir. I just moved out this way from the metropolis of Low Fell. Now living not that far from Wolsingham. I presume you're out this way too? Love the BMW. Looks superb.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 16:45

I remember a red exige driving into the car park when i was returning from a walk with the missus, might have been someone else. I always tend to remember exiges as a friend had one and my first effort at getting out is forever burned into my memory

Excellent, do like it there, im about 15-20 minutes or so further into civilisation but would happily move further out! Thanks for the kind words, ill be out there as much as possible once the sun returns and Boris lets us out, hopefully see you out there one day!

[Gad-Westy]

scottos said:

Gad-Westy said:

Could well have been me. Have driven around that area a bit though don't recall going to the reservoir. I just moved out this way from the metropolis of Low Fell. Now living not that far from Wolsingham. I presume you're out this way too? Love the BMW. Looks superb.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 16:45

I remember a red exige driving into the car park when i was returning from a walk with the missus, might have been someone else. I always tend to remember exiges as a friend had one and my first effort at getting out is forever burned into my memory

Excellent, do like it there, im about 15-20 minutes or so further into civilisation but would happily move further out! Thanks for the kind words, ill be out there as much as possible once the sun returns and Boris lets us out, hopefully see you out there one day!

Definitely. Hopefully see you out there.

[Red Devil]

Gad-Westy said:

scottos said:

Gilhooligan said:

Good road that. Lots of good stuff around Alston. I’ve done the B6277 from there to Barnard Castle a few times which is also pretty decent. And most importantly, quiet.

Thats the way i head to Alston, normally pick it up at Eggleston then across. Road gets good after Langdon Beck, best suited to a light and nimble car, all the bikes that rush to overtake on the straighter sections hold you up after that point

Agree with you about Buttertubs, its good for the views but i just bimble across it to enjoy them, its not a great driving road.

IMG_20200807_150043 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

Yep. That section North of Langdon Beck is superb. Tend to lose any traffic at low and high force. Road gets nice and quiet just as it gets awesome A fair bit of restraint is needed on some of the more open sections!

If I'm heading for the Highlands via Crianlarich I always go via the B6277 - https://goo.gl/maps/TZx6dqAjMJX4Pa4x7
Lunch in Alston at either the Angel Inn or Cumberland Inn. I take the B roads (the old A74) after Gretna and join the M74 at J10 (Lesmahagow).
Why travel endless miles of bland motorway when there is a much more entertaining parallel road?

Gad-Westy said:

Agree that the A686 is also best served heading North. Uphill from Melmerby is superb. And then the uphill section not far after Bearsbridge is great as well. Can lean on a car much more heading up hill so I always like the tighter sections in that direction.

Hartside Pass is much better in that direction.

Gad-Westy said:

B6278 north out of Eggleston is also fantastic. You can link it all up as a triangle though I'm personally not a huge of the A689 west of Stanhope. Too many villages. Only gets good for the last 10 miles or so to Alston.

Agreed. That's my route if I'm going to the Highlands via Perth - https://goo.gl/maps/2MRRg1fWma17s6ELA
Lunch in Edmundbyers. From Chollerton via Kielder and Bonchester Bridge to Jedburgh.

Gad-Westy said:

Not a huge fan o Buttertubs either. Have found myself on it by accident a couple of times. Great for gawking but not for driving.

JC begs to differ. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLebmoXOukc

[Hol]

Mid 90’s my daily commute used to take me on a route along the A27 from Romsey in Hants to Whiteparish.

I owned a succession of capable GTI type cars in those days and actually enjoyed the morning to work.

[Lotobear]

scottos said:

Another one here for the section of a686 from Melmerby to Alston. I spent a lot of time in the North Pennines last year around that area, its not far for me thankfully!

IMG_20200531_131907__01 by Scott Osborne, on Flickr

My previous Elan had a 2.5 first gear (bullet ratio) - that corner was always first gear, then up into 2nd at around 50mph on the way to the cafe for the biggest lump of flapjack ever

[scottos]

Lotobear said:

My previous Elan had a 2.5 first gear (bullet ratio) - that corner was always first gear, then up into 2nd at around 50mph on the way to the cafe for the biggest lump of flapjack ever

Excellent, it is a shame the cafe is no more but hopefully the new one will come in the next year or two. I still take my own coffee and food to sit and enjoy the views for now!

My old bmw has a dogleg first gear so i try not to get down into it unless for setting off, it just feels too odd and a little brutal on the box but that corner would probably benefit from it!

[dontlookdown]

bolidemichael said:

Red Devil said:

These two are pretty good.

B4437 - https://goo.gl/maps/caWsNtPmRYoXiiNh6
B4425 - https://goo.gl/maps/eGzctYM6ksD5zYay9

Do both using this link. - https://goo.gl/maps/3BuKb5YKDAe886RA9

The western half of the first one is Harry Metcalfe's test road.
His pied-à-terre is a few miles south of Burford.

I was wondering about that, thanks - and good post!

Yup. Harry M country. My Mum moved to Chipping Norton a couple of years ago and between there and Burford are some of the quietest and most enjoyable back roads anywhere in the south east. Don't tell anyone though;)

[Kenty in Weardale]

Gad-Westy said:

scottos said:

Gad-Westy said:

Could well have been me. Have driven around that area a bit though don't recall going to the reservoir. I just moved out this way from the metropolis of Low Fell. Now living not that far from Wolsingham. I presume you're out this way too? Love the BMW. Looks superb.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 16:45

I remember a red exige driving into the car park when i was returning from a walk with the missus, might have been someone else. I always tend to remember exiges as a friend had one and my first effort at getting out is forever burned into my memory

Excellent, do like it there, im about 15-20 minutes or so further into civilisation but would happily move further out! Thanks for the kind words, ill be out there as much as possible once the sun returns and Boris lets us out, hopefully see you out there one day!

Definitely. Hopefully see you out there.

There does seem to be some good cars in Weardale and surrounds; I'm in Ireshopeburn (caterham 270s sv) and one of the guys at Weardale Motor Services in Stanhope runs an Atom. There are no end of classics at this end of the dale as well

[Gad-Westy]

Kenty in Weardale said:

Gad-Westy said:

scottos said:

Gad-Westy said:

Could well have been me. Have driven around that area a bit though don't recall going to the reservoir. I just moved out this way from the metropolis of Low Fell. Now living not that far from Wolsingham. I presume you're out this way too? Love the BMW. Looks superb.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Thursday 11th March 16:45

I remember a red exige driving into the car park when i was returning from a walk with the missus, might have been someone else. I always tend to remember exiges as a friend had one and my first effort at getting out is forever burned into my memory

Excellent, do like it there, im about 15-20 minutes or so further into civilisation but would happily move further out! Thanks for the kind words, ill be out there as much as possible once the sun returns and Boris lets us out, hopefully see you out there one day!

Definitely. Hopefully see you out there.

There does seem to be some good cars in Weardale and surrounds; I'm in Ireshopeburn (caterham 270s sv) and one of the guys at Weardale Motor Services in Stanhope runs an Atom. There are no end of classics at this end of the dale as well

Indeed. Perhaps inevitable when we have these roads on our doorstep. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a factor in me wanting to move out this way. Would love to meet some fellow local car nerds once things start to return to normal.

[scottos]

Kenty in Weardale said:

There does seem to be some good cars in Weardale and surrounds; I'm in Ireshopeburn (caterham 270s sv) and one of the guys at Weardale Motor Services in Stanhope runs an Atom. There are no end of classics at this end of the dale as well

I drive through there quite a lot so will keep an eye out for a Caterham and give you a wave. I've seen that Atom (or at least an Atom!) a few times whilst i've been parked up at the old cafe spot. Always some nice cars parked up inside at the place in Stanhope too, although never seen them move much.

There's Rob further along at Nenthead too than runs Nentsport, always kicking around in an old VW or Audi that is quicker than it should be had a good run down with his mate that lives in Alston with an rs2 engined Audi 80, last year!

Gad-Westy said:

Indeed. Perhaps inevitable when we have these roads on our doorstep. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a factor in me wanting to move out this way. Would love to meet some fellow local car nerds once things start to return to normal.

Always happy to meet up there for a bit of chat, i will keep an eye out!

[shandyboy]

The road near the Dick Hudson's pub between Bingley and Menston always feels fun (although it's quite short) as it has some nice hills and bends https://www.google.com/maps/@53.8761126,-1.8287542...

The back road from Ilkley to Otley (past the Lido) is fun too if you can avoid the cyclists

[Kenty in Weardale]

scottos said:

Kenty in Weardale said:

There does seem to be some good cars in Weardale and surrounds; I'm in Ireshopeburn (caterham 270s sv) and one of the guys at Weardale Motor Services in Stanhope runs an Atom. There are no end of classics at this end of the dale as well

I drive through there quite a lot so will keep an eye out for a Caterham and give you a wave. I've seen that Atom (or at least an Atom!) a few times whilst i've been parked up at the old cafe spot. Always some nice cars parked up inside at the place in Stanhope too, although never seen them move much.

There's Rob further along at Nenthead too than runs Nentsport, always kicking around in an old VW or Audi that is quicker than it should be had a good run down with his mate that lives in Alston with an rs2 engined Audi 80, last year!

Gad-Westy said:

Indeed. Perhaps inevitable when we have these roads on our doorstep. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a factor in me wanting to move out this way. Would love to meet some fellow local car nerds once things start to return to normal.

Always happy to meet up there for a bit of chat, i will keep an eye out!

To spare those who are not fortunate enough to have access to these roads, I'll post in the "North East" section of the forum when I'm next out for a blat