Northumberland 250
Discussion
Kenty in Weardale said:
The military road running parallel to Hadrians Wall is a hidden gem
Not if you're a teenager from Cumbria and wanting to make the night back from Newcastle in less than 40 mins without police intervention 
(my record was 48 mins from St James' Park to central Carlisle in a mk2 XR2 circa 1994)
Still to this day you can see down the hill at Greenhead and if it's intermittent traffic on the run past the railway down to the Haltwhistle bypass you know you can make time up if you average 70mph on the military road (not hard).
Edited by Pflanzgarten on Sunday 4th September 22:30
Kenty in Weardale said:
The military road running parallel to Hadrians Wall is a hidden gem and at the western end Lanercost Priory (just outside Brampton) is a serene and beautiful place to visit with a free car park and decent cafe
....the only road I have ever exceeded 150mph (156 to be precise), in client's Carrera 4S on the way to a meeting in Newcastle. I wasn't impressed to say the least but he had a new toy and was clearly keen to show it off and you can't really tell a customer to lay off. There are some serious blinds crest and dips on that road and happily he'd made his point before we got to them. That said the car felt very planted and capable.Pflanzgarten said:
bus_ter said:
The route seems to miss out A686 running up and over Hartside Pass. Probably the best driving road in the North of England (IMHO).
Not exactly in Northumberland though is it?The Rothbury/Rothley/Elsdon loop is fun.
I appreciate that this is north of the border, but from Kielder the B6357 to Bonchester Bridge is great.
As above, around Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Allenheads, Edmundbuyers. Make a loop by crossing into Co Durham for Stanhope, Rookhope and Allentown.
I appreciate that this is north of the border, but from Kielder the B6357 to Bonchester Bridge is great.
As above, around Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Allenheads, Edmundbuyers. Make a loop by crossing into Co Durham for Stanhope, Rookhope and Allentown.
bus_ter said:
The route seems to miss out A686 running up and over Hartside Pass. Probably the best driving road in the North of England (IMHO).
The road itself isn't too bad, just the volume of traffic that's the problem. Fortunately in North Yorks there are closer alternatives to me that are better (IMHO).Well, I am following the herd and doing this in May primarily as a simple way of showing some friends from down country what a beautiful area we live in.
The start is only 10 miles from where I live so we overnight at mine on the Friday and start on Saturday morning, overnight in Seahouses and then back to mine for an overnight on Sunday before they head back south. I'm actually looking foward to it even though I know all the roads, though it's a few years since I've done the Northumberland coast.
...may bypass the forest drive as I'm not sure of the road condition
There will be 3 on motorbikes and me in my Elise, looking foward to fish and chips and a few beers in Seahouses/Bamburgh on the Saturday and the general craic with mates
The start is only 10 miles from where I live so we overnight at mine on the Friday and start on Saturday morning, overnight in Seahouses and then back to mine for an overnight on Sunday before they head back south. I'm actually looking foward to it even though I know all the roads, though it's a few years since I've done the Northumberland coast.
...may bypass the forest drive as I'm not sure of the road condition
There will be 3 on motorbikes and me in my Elise, looking foward to fish and chips and a few beers in Seahouses/Bamburgh on the Saturday and the general craic with mates
s70rmp said:
Neptune's Fish and Chips - the best in Seahouses
wouldnt mind stopping at the Bamburgh Castle Hotel for a night or so and a few beers around the pubs across the way from it
We were provisionally booked at the BCH until we read some reviews!!wouldnt mind stopping at the Bamburgh Castle Hotel for a night or so and a few beers around the pubs across the way from it
..however my pal has an air B&B about a minute from the Ship which we have managed to secure
Moles was always the best for fish and chips, at least back in the 70's, but not sure if it's still going?
do you have details of the Air BNB ?
could be tempted for a long weekend in one
We used to go to Lewis for F&C's but wont go back there after some very bad customer service - they refused to service us after waiting in line for 10 mins by saying they had no more chips and werent cooking anymore .....
could be tempted for a long weekend in one
We used to go to Lewis for F&C's but wont go back there after some very bad customer service - they refused to service us after waiting in line for 10 mins by saying they had no more chips and werent cooking anymore .....
s70rmp said:
do you have details of the Air BNB ?
could be tempted for a long weekend in one
We used to go to Lewis for F&C's but wont go back there after some very bad customer service - they refused to service us after waiting in line for 10 mins by saying they had no more chips and werent cooking anymore .....
PM sentcould be tempted for a long weekend in one
We used to go to Lewis for F&C's but wont go back there after some very bad customer service - they refused to service us after waiting in line for 10 mins by saying they had no more chips and werent cooking anymore .....
Lotobear said:
...may bypass the forest drive as I'm not sure of the road condition
I'd bypass it if I was in an Elise. I did it a couple of years ago in a C63. I've cycled it plenty too, but on the bike I didn't appreciate how the car would drive it.I was only doing 15 mph or so because any more and the vibrations through the steering would send my eyes all over the place! Also, whilst the road was fundamentally sound, there were some parts that were challenging in the 63. Finally, on a dry day the car ends up absolutely covered in dust.
Cracking views from up there though.
Speaking of which, if you get a chance to divert (and the MOD aren't firing) Cottonshope is well worth a look in. Great views and the chance to wonder around some very damaged MOD equipment.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.3075788,-2.34814...
sanguinary said:
Lotobear said:
...may bypass the forest drive as I'm not sure of the road condition
I'd bypass it if I was in an Elise. I did it a couple of years ago in a C63. I've cycled it plenty too, but on the bike I didn't appreciate how the car would drive it.I was only doing 15 mph or so because any more and the vibrations through the steering would send my eyes all over the place! Also, whilst the road was fundamentally sound, there were some parts that were challenging in the 63. Finally, on a dry day the car ends up absolutely covered in dust.
Cracking views from up there though.
Speaking of which, if you get a chance to divert (and the MOD aren't firing) Cottonshope is well worth a look in. Great views and the chance to wonder around some very damaged MOD equipment.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.3075788,-2.34814...
Cottonshope looks interesting, I wasn't aware of that
I did the forest drive last year as part of the Northumberland 250.
We didn’t realise what it was until I started driving down it and my wife then read the bit about it being suitable for cars with higher ground clearance…
I had a great time though, it helped I was in an old Saab 9-3 so wasn’t too precious about it, and we were pretty much the only ones on it.
We didn’t realise what it was until I started driving down it and my wife then read the bit about it being suitable for cars with higher ground clearance…
I had a great time though, it helped I was in an old Saab 9-3 so wasn’t too precious about it, and we were pretty much the only ones on it.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff