Good roads around Darlington

[brisel]

Any good ones please? No single track potholed ones across the Dales like the road from Richmond to Kirby Stephen I drove last weekend!

Stokesley to Hemsley has had a few mentions, as has the Pickering to Whitby road.

[mmm-five]

Unfortunately, a lot of the more interesting roads around there are not particularly well-maintained (including the B6270 Richmond-Reeth-Kirkby Stephen), but depending on your speed and vehicle most can be enjoyable - even with cyclists every mile.

We've just had a great 2 days (Sat/Sun) doing lots of roads in the area through the North Pennine, Yorks Dales & Forest of Bowland - including the B6270 (Richmond to Kirkby Stephen) and B6277 (between Alston and Barnard Castle) and B6276 (Barnard Castle round to Brough) - although there was a closed road on part of it and we had to divert.

We do some of the roads both ways, or cut off and rejoin further down to make a different circuit.

We were mostly in BMW Z4s, but we passed a group of 12 Aston Martins, and 10 Porsches going the other way - so it looks like they're happy with the conditions of the roads.

[coppice]

Forget N Yorkshire - we have some delightful roads but there are far , far better ones further north. Stokesley/ Helmsley is only a few miles away from me , and while pleasant enough , the majesty of roads in the north Pennines is on a different level. It is a full day's drive , but go to Piercebridge , head north on the Roman road which becomes the A 68 , cross the border at Carter Bar and take a left half mile later and head for Newcastleton. then back via Alston and Barnard Castle .It is sublime - but don't tell anyone, and don't upset the locals..

[anonymous-user]

From Darlington head to Barnard Castle and then toward Middleton-In-Teesdale (along the north route). You can either turn off right before you get to Middleton, or go from Middleton to Alston. All the A roads around there are good driving routes and, compared to the Dales/Lakes/Moors, much quieter.

The Helmsley Stokesly route isn't particularly special and will be packed.

[magpies]

Hi
we are organising a North Yorks Moors run-out. If you email me I'll pass on details.

[steve51800]

If you head towards Middleton in Teasdale then up past high force to Langdon beck, turn right and head over the tops into weardale, drop down in to Stanhope and follow the road over the river and back over to Middleton in teesdale, really nice flowing road with a few twisty bits and some great photo opportunities.

[brisel]

magpies said:

Hi
we are organising a North Yorks Moors run-out. If you email me I'll pass on details.

Thank you. I'll do that. I'm working 7 days/week for the next 6 weeks but will have some more free time from October.

The B6270 was tedious! Great z axis training but very short sight lines meant poor progress. I'm sure there will be better alternatives. Tan Hill is another name that has come up.

[coppice]

I am not sure I'd know what a z axis was if it bit me on the arse . What should I do if I come across one unexpectedly ,and how will I know that I have ?

[hiccy18]

Tan Hill is a great place to visit but the road is not one I enjoy hooning along, more pottering along enjoying the scenery.

[stogbandard]

10 years ago on the way back from a run out to the Lakes we decided to come off the A66 and call in at the Tan Hill Inn. It was a March evening, dark and the more we travelled along the narrow road, lying snow appeared at the sides of the road, only to become thicker the more we climbed. Then it became foggy, freezing fog, nowhere to turn round, and then the road itself became icy. We ended up staying the night.

The next morning the fog was still thickly covering the moor, but it was daylight, so managed to gingerly negotiate the icy road back to, in what seemed like forever, the A66.

[magpies]

try these for little run outs - they all start at The Parkmore on Yarm Road as that is where we meet.

These are about 90mins

https://goo.gl/maps/6BRuX9BpjLwAaYx26

https://goo.gl/maps/mDzwzt6pHjKeQQSD9

https://goo.gl/maps/nT4bJJTsBMAvJey5A

and a little further (about 2hr 30min)

https://goo.gl/maps/YUAQP4tmqrwS1Eya6

[coppice]

York and Whitby seemed to have moved west and north respectivley by about 20miles..

[brisel]

magpies said:

try these for little run outs - they all start at The Parkmore on Yarm Road as that is where we meet.

These are about 90mins

https://goo.gl/maps/6BRuX9BpjLwAaYx26

https://goo.gl/maps/mDzwzt6pHjKeQQSD9

https://goo.gl/maps/nT4bJJTsBMAvJey5A

and a little further (about 2hr 30min)

https://goo.gl/maps/YUAQP4tmqrwS1Eya6

Thank you very much. I'll give those a try

[magpies]

Hi brisel
if you are up for it we are meeting at The Parkmore (Yarm Road) on Sunday from 10:30 and going for a run up the Durham Dales before lunch

[brisel]

magpies said:

Hi brisel
if you are up for it we are meeting at The Parkmore (Yarm Road) on Sunday from 10:30 and going for a run up the Durham Dales before lunch

Alas, I’m working this weekend. Enjoy your run out

[dapper]

Don't really have anything to tag along on this but thanks for the routes.

As for the pickering to whitby, which way is recommended? Through Newton or Saltergate?

[mickyh7]

A little out of the way, but google Hartside Cafe. Drive to it ( closed now) then drive down to Alston. I found thats the best direction to go.
Used to do it on bikes years ago, very easy to do 3 figures without noticing.
There's no Plan 'B' though. If you leave the road its littered with Granite Boulders.
Not for the faint hearted if your playing boy racers.
Admittedly it was a few years since I used to do it.
Oops just checked, it's a bit out of your way. Sorry, but well worth the extra miles!

[Lotobear]

I had a family meeting in Hexham on Sunday so, being a lovely day, and living in Cumbria, I decided to drive down to Brough via A6 and take the road from Brough to Middleton then Alston then on to Hexham in my Lotus.

That route has everything going for it - bumpy and twisty/challenging on the first leg to Middleton, then fast and flowing (but bumpy over the top) to Alston then fast and twisty with some first gear hairpins on to Hexham.

It truly must be the best stretch of road in England and that's before you join it all up with the Dales and then onto the Scottish Borders.

[Gad-Westy]

Lotobear said:

I had a family meeting in Hexham on Sunday so, being a lovely day, and living in Cumbria, I decided to drive down to Brough via A6 and take the road from Brough to Middleton then Alston then on to Hexham in my Lotus.

That route has everything going for it - bumpy and twisty/challenging on the first leg to Middleton, then fast and flowing (but bumpy over the top) to Alston then fast and twisty with some first gear hairpins on to Hexham.

It truly must be the best stretch of road in England and that's before you join it all up with the Dales and then onto the Scottish Borders.

Really like that stretch from Middleton to Alston, once you get clear of high force at least. Very quick in places if you want it to be and really well sighted too. Really suits a Lotus. The route from Melmerby to Alston is probably even better but it attracts more traffic so worth tackling at quieter times. That stretch definitely suits a light car. Direction changes are constant, you can almost make yourself car sick!

[hiccy18]

Lotobear said:

I had a family meeting in Hexham on Sunday so, being a lovely day, and living in Cumbria, I decided to drive down to Brough via A6 and take the road from Brough to Middleton then Alston then on to Hexham in my Lotus.

That route has everything going for it - bumpy and twisty/challenging on the first leg to Middleton, then fast and flowing (but bumpy over the top) to Alston then fast and twisty with some first gear hairpins on to Hexham.

It truly must be the best stretch of road in England and that's before you join it all up with the Dales and then onto the Scottish Borders.

Must admit everytime someone writes about that route I want to say "shutupShutUpSHUTUP!" I rode this route the other day after several recommendations on these very pages. I found the roads littered with sheep and coffin dodgers and with limited overtaking opportunities. I was very disappointed. 3/10 would not recommend.