Goods road in South East London and Beyond

[quyen]

Great forum! I've been looking for something like this ever since I got my Porsche 996C2 a few months ago. I am dying for pointers to good roads around SE London and beyond for a day/weekend blast. Wide bendy road would be best as I prefer the g-forces over just pure speeding. Any suggestions please?

Thanks,

Quyen

[Saied]

Welcome to PH

Try some of the ones below for starters. Like many roads in the SE, they can get busy so best tackled at weekends either early morning or during the evening or alternatively in the absolute dead of night

Not all of them could be described as wide but are fine in my Elise and your 996 isn't much larger than the Lotus.

A206 Slade Green to Greenhithe
A225 Otford To Eynsford
B2042 Riverhead to Edenbridge
B2026 From Maresfield then B2188 to Groombridge
B2116 Cooksbridge to Ditchling
A227 Ightham towards Tonbridge
A20 Hollingbourne to Charing
A252 Charing to Chilham
B2067 Tenterden to Lympne
B2068 Stanford to Lower Hardres
Unclassified military canal road from Appledore to Rye
Unclassified (Exedown) from Ightham to top of Wrotham Hill
Unclassified from top of Riverhill to bhet Green
Unclassified from Golden Green to Tudeley
Unclassified from Knockholt Pound to Dunton Green

I'd highly recommend the Romney Marsh area in Kent to experience some great twisty unclassified lanes. Light traffic for SE England, few hedgerows mean great sightlines and challenging road surfaces make for a delightful drive in a well damped sportscar

[quyen]

Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply! I'll give it a try over the weekend and let you know how I go.

Cheers,

Quyen

[quyen]

Here's a quick feedback on the routes I did today:

A225 Otford To Eynsford
- Twisty, single lane, good fun

B2042 Riverhead to Edenbridge
- Twisty tight road, flanked by hedgerows so limited visibility, best for those with balls of steel

A20 Hollingbourne to Charing
- Wide single lane (in each direction) road, excellent visibility for fast runs, great pub with a wood log fireplace (The Royal Oak, TN27 0HU) at Charing for tea breaks between runs!

There are also 20 free parking spaces at The Royal Oak and would be a great place to meet up before a run. Anyone interested?

[Saied]

I would most certainly be up for a run. I live in the Bexley area myself, but a meeting point around Charing is a fine excuse for another dash along the old A20

My best pal lives in Charing; I do recall popping in the Royal Oak a few years ago, though we usually head for the Bowl Inn on top of the downs just beyond Charing Hill which is a superb pub. Off the beaten track but has a very large car park. Challock flying club just off the A252 beyond Charing Hill is worth a mention too; has a good cafe and lots of parking.

The A20 from just west of Bearsted through to Charing is a great road. Must be done at a quiet time, though. Its quite fun overtaking the odd car but a whole line of slow moving traffic becomes frustrating. Travelling east from Bearsted, the fun begins once the NSL sign appears. There's two roundabouts at Hollingbourne, the second of which is the Leeds Castle turn off. It has clear visibility plus a cambered surface and can be taken with such aplomb in the dry that the front end of an Elise goes very light indeed on the crested exit . The 40 limit through Harrietsham has been pointlessly extended in length recently . There's a long straight section after the Lenham turn off with occasional bollards down the centre of the road but its still a good overtaking point. After this, you're into a series of fantastic fast, sweeping corners. Some bottom out at the apex and others crest but they're all highly enjoyable if the road is clear.

A possible circuit could be to take the A252 from Charing to Chilham. Great road, particularly the section after Molash which descends off the downs. The road is pretty wide here with sweeping corners and a lovely scenic backdrop.
Then left onto the A28 for a short while, turning right to pass through Shalmsford Street eventually meeting up with the B2068.
This is the old Canterbury to Hythe road and is quick. Great viewpoint for a brief stop at Farthing Common where you can see the Channel in the distance on a clear day. Then some great bends before you reach the M20 roundabout.
From there, meet up with the B2067 at Lympne and follow it all the way to Tenterden. Could subsequently thread one's way back to Charing via some decent unclassified 'C' roads.

If Sunday morning is the favoured time, my preference would to get up with the birds and meet very early, say shortly after sunrise. Some of the roads can get rather busy by mid morning.

cheers

Justin

[quyen]

Hey Justin,

Sounds like a great plan. I am not sure if I can do it this Sunday though. How about Sunday 9/3/08? I am in Surrey Quays so can meet you on the way if you would prefer some company on your blast down the A20/M20.

After watching 5th Gear yesterday, I am not so sure about the C-roads but we can discuss that later.

Anyone else up for a blast around Kent?

Quyen

[Timbob23]

As a direct result of your recommendations, my best buddy and I rented a Caterham yesterday and spent the day spanking it around the above roads. May I just thank you all for your input.... absolutely spectacular fun! The finest road has got to be the Edenbridge Main Rd going up to Westerham. Ay-mazing!

Cheers guys.

[Simes205]

Just slightly further south but you could tie this in if your around the Edenbridge way or on the A264.

A272 - Haywards Heath to Petersfield.

[Simes205]

[quote=Timbob23] The finest road has got to be the Edenbridge Main Rd going up to Westerham. Ay-mazing!
quote]

Know it well, It's great all the way from Hartfield, only has a few real safe passing places on that stretch. Once your past Edenbridge and climbing towards Limpsfield it can also be a bit green due to the Trees branching over the road.
Good fun though.

[Saied]

quyen said:

Hey Justin,

Sounds like a great plan. I am not sure if I can do it this Sunday though. How about Sunday 9/3/08? I am in Surrey Quays so can meet you on the way if you would prefer some company on your blast down the A20/M20.

After watching 5th Gear yesterday, I am not so sure about the C-roads but we can discuss that later.

Anyone else up for a blast around Kent?

Quyen

Sadly, i'm working on Sunday 9/3/08
The next Sunday i'll be available will be on the 30/3/08

Didn't see the 5th gear programme myself. Must say I enjoy blasting round C-roads myself (these are the ones marked out as wide, yellow coloured unclassified roads on some OS maps), partially to avoid the 45mph everywhere bds which heavily infest the roads of Kent. Plus the Elise lacks the mid range torque of a 996 to dispatch the gits

I'd definately be up for a run, though. Be nice if a few others would care to partake in the fun, too. If we can arrange a day, I could post it up in the Kent sub-forum and hopefully generate some interest. A very handy place indeed to know of is the Oakdene Cafe on the A20 at Wrotham Heath. Opens at 6am on Sunday mornings and does very nice (non-greasy) tasty fry ups

[Saied]

Timbob23 said:

As a direct result of your recommendations, my best buddy and I rented a Caterham yesterday and spent the day spanking it around the above roads. May I just thank you all for your input.... absolutely spectacular fun! The finest road has got to be the Edenbridge Main Rd going up to Westerham. Ay-mazing!

Cheers guys.

Cheers for reminding me of the B2026. I usually branch off to head up towards Ide Hill from Edenbridge when heading north during a blat but will have to do that fine road to Westerham shortly that you mention. From memory its gets a little narrow in parts as you ascend the greensand ridge just beyond Crockham Hill. Hardly noticeable in a Caterham, I would have thought, as they're so compact and nimble.

Caterham? Probably the car I desire most, once i've become bored of the Elise. In honesty, i've only scratched the surface of what the Lotus is capable of, though.

[Saied]

Simes205 said:

Just slightly further south but you could tie this in if your around the Edenbridge way or on the A264.

A272 - Haywards Heath to Petersfield.

Absolutely

This road is great if driven at the right time. Had an exhilarating drive chasing down another Elise heading east along the A272 whilst returning from a Lotus run back in January. I was due to branch off at Cowfold but was so excited I acted as his wingman all the way to Haywards Heath

I visit relatives in Bournemouth on a regular basis and ALWAYS drive there cross country taking in a long section of the A272. When alone without the missus I can complete the journey in almost the same time as if using the M3/M25. The section just east of Winchester is very fast. Be careful, though, as its known to be a speed trap.

Edited by Saied on Thursday 28th February 20:24

[quyen]

Justin,

A run on the 30th of March would be good for me and would give a bit of time to advertise the run as you suggested.

I've just checked out the Oakdene Cafe on their website. It looks like an excellent meeting place and would be ideal for me.

I look forward to seeing you then,

Quyen

[Simes205]

Saied said:

Simes205 said:

Just slightly further south but you could tie this in if your around the Edenbridge way or on the A264.

A272 - Haywards Heath to Petersfield.

Absolutely

This road is great if driven at the right time. Had an exhilarating drive chasing down another Elise heading east along the A272 whilst returning from a Lotus run back in January. I was due to branch off at Cowfold but was so excited I acted as his wingman all the way to Haywards Heath

I visit relatives in Bournemouth on a regular basis and ALWAYS drive there cross country taking in a long section of the A272. When alone without the missus I can complete the journey in almost the same time as if using the M3/M25. The section just east of Winchester is very fast. Be careful, though, as its known to be a speed trap.

Edited by Saied on Thursday 28th February 20:24

The humped back bridge before Billingshurst (heading West) is always amusing!

[Saied]

quyen said:

Justin,

A run on the 30th of March would be good for me and would give a bit of time to advertise the run as you suggested.

I've just checked out the Oakdene Cafe on their website. It looks like an excellent meeting place and would be ideal for me.

I look forward to seeing you then,

Quyen

I reckon Oakdene Cafe would be an ideal meeting point. Would 6.30 am be too early?

[quyen]

6:30 is a tad early but it's worth getting up early to have some empty roads. I'll be up for it if everyone else is!

[Saied]

Excellent

I'll post it in the Kent forum and see if we can get some more bodies along.

Say meet at 6:30, aiming to leave around 7am or so? Gives plenty of time for one of the Oakdene's great breakfasts and a natter

Anybody else up for a brisk drive across some great roads in Kent on Sunday 30th March? All very welcome

[quyen]

OK, I'll put a post on the Event forum as well to see if I can drum up a bit more interest.

[hugh_]

Hi,

We have fairly regular runs usually organised through the Kent forum; might be worth posting this up there as well, but if you do expect a crowd. We have a couple of routes we do, by Rye features quite alot!

[Red Devil]

Saied said:

A206 Slade Green to Greenhithe
A225 Otford To Eynsford
B2042 Riverhead to Edenbridge
B2026 From Maresfield then B2188 to Groombridge
B2116 Cooksbridge to Ditchling
A227 Ightham towards Tonbridge
A20 Hollingbourne to Charing
A252 Charing to Chilham
B2067 Tenterden to Lympne
B2068 Stanford to Lower Hardres
Unclassified military canal road from Appledore to Rye
Unclassified (Exedown) from Ightham to top of Wrotham Hill
Unclassified from top of Riverhill to bhet Green
Unclassified from Golden Green to Tudeley
Unclassified from Knockholt Pound to Dunton Green

Nice selection there. Not so sure about the A206 tbh.

Riverhead is the start of my favourite shakedown 'test' route

Out
A21 to Weald turn off
B245 to Hildenborough
B2027 Leigh + Chiddingstone Causeway
B2176 Penshurst
B2188 Fordcombe + Groombridge + Ashdown Forest
B2026 Fairwarp (1st refreshment halt at the Foresters Arms)

back
B2026 Hartfield + Edenbridge
B2027 Four Elms
B2042 Riverhead (2nd refreshment halt en route at the Woodman at Goathurst Common)