PH mega hatch triple test: My Dream Drive
We had a helluva drive earlier in the week - here's the route!
Where: B1257 Helmsley Road to A537 Cat and Fiddle
Car used: VW Golf GTI MK 7
The route:
"It's a long one! We started at Stokesley, worked our way south on the Helmsley Road and then to York via the B1363. The B1222 takes you to the A1, then it's M62 to the A672. Work your way through the peaks and the A6 take you to the Cat and Fiddle. It's a fairly mammoth journey, 168 miles in total..."
Helmsley was peaceful before these arrived
"Where to start? We really had three Dream Drives in one day so variety really was the key. It also means you can take just a section of our route and love it. The wealth of surfaces, corners, views and speeds made them all challenging, all rewarding and just immense fun.
"We started at Helmsley, the morning cold and misty. Surrounded by woodland initially and then working across the moor, it has the feel of rally stage. Having some fierce undulations and blind crests only helped that feel.
"From Helmsley to York feels much more confined, with high hedgerows placing visibility at a premium occasionally. But that's just a different task; where Helmsley is about planning line and conserving momentum, now it was all about braking late and powering out early, scrabbling on to the next bend.
Getting to York the PH way
"Having the motorway break across Yorkshire on the M62 is a good time to refuel both you and the car, plus dialling back the intensity for a bit is probably wise. You'll want to be on top of your game for what follows.
"The A672 and B6114 run almost parallel to the M62, and to see motorway from such a brilliant driver's road is bizarre. But soon they work their way across Saddleworth Moor and into the Peak District when the motorway miles, the money spent on fuel and the early start will be rendered totally insignificant. With the sun shining, the moors feel like the top of the world. Views of beautiful reservoirs and valleys flood through the windscreen as the road dissects the landscape; Google streetview will give you an even better impression! We came across some really fast sections at the start, hidden bumps throwing up real tests. Great visibility and light traffic allows you to drive pretty hard for mile after joyous mile.
"Driving it with a friend in another car is also advised; it really is a Dream Drive you'll want to share."
Yup, the M62 really is that close!
"The biggest downside we faced was the travelling; Yorkshire and Derbyshire are a fair trek from London! Moreover, there are no guarantees of traffic. Some of the route is properly narrow, and if you get stuck behind a lorry, you could be there quite a while. Our advice would be turn round and just enjoy the previous miles again!
"Some of the reservoirs encountered on the latter stages are really worth seeing. See the New Year's Bridge, Dowry and Ringstone Edge as examples.
"A personal highlight was joining the A672 from the M62. It literally is a case of plodding along a motorway one second and thrashing along a cracking road the next. Some of the tiny roads that connected the route were really cool, real relics from the past that required some real awareness to thread the car through."
On days like these....
"You'll certainly need a few! Our day included breaks at Helmsley, Ferrybridge and Glossop, all convenient for effectively being on the route. If you're willing to make a greater diversion, York isn't too far off track to begin with.
"Once you're up in the moors, it's fairly deserted which is why stopping on the motorway is probably best. It won't be romantic, but then neither is being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
"The Cat and Fiddle is at the end of our route also. Whilst SPECS cameras will prevent you really driving it, the pub is nice place to pause. Furthermore, given our recent experience, it's probably surrounded by plenty of other fantastic roads that don't have its draconian safety measures."
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Follow the route here.
Looking for inspiration? Check out the latest Dunlop Pure Driving Experiences video here.
"Some of the tiny roads that connected the route were really cool, real relics from the past" made me giggle a bit though!
For many of us Yorkshire folk these "relics from the past" are probably taken for granted. It's only when I moved away that I realised how fortunate I was to have it on my doorstep.Seen a few people (especially bikers) have arse twitchy moments going over that!
All these roads drive completely differently depending on direction.
A58 Ripponden to Littleborough also worth a look at
half way along, right onto the B6138 to Mytholmroyd and then onto Hebden Bridge and B6033 to Haworth. from there you can head off towards Skipton and the Yorkshire dates.
Ingleton, Ribblehead, Hawes, Buttertubs etc etc Possibilities are endless.
Always drove over the North York Moors. Spectacular! With fantastic, empty roads, and no speed limits back in those days if I remember rightly ;-). Once in a Sierra 1.8LX lol. Once in a Sierra Saphire Cosworth, and a few times in a Pug 205 1.6 GTi. Good days..........
The price of that Merc is bloody ridiculous!
From Chapel you're best off going to Whaley Bridge and then up long hill to Buxton which is an amazing stretch of road as suggested. Then once you've reached buxton either head back down long hill (definitely worth a trip down it) or if you want a little breather before the next exciting stretch head down the A6 through dove holes back to Chapel. Then follow the route as suggested by Andy. Edale road is pretty much single lane, and pretty lumpy so be warned if you're cars pretty low. That being said i used to hoon a long it in my 71 clubman and it's an absolute blast. Would also add if you fancy a trip to sheffield at the end of Edale rd when you reach hope if you turn left and carry on that road it'll take you all the way to Sheffield and again is a cracking drive with some stunning views. I used to do it every weekend for 3 years while at uni in a classic mini to get home for work, and now still do to go and see my mate most weekends either in my maestro turbo or the bike. Still hasn't got old.
Fair to say i'm pretty spoiled for driving roads near me...
From Chapel you're best off going to Whaley Bridge and then up long hill to Buxton which is an amazing stretch of road as suggested. Then once you've reached buxton either head back down long hill (definitely worth a trip down it) or if you want a little breather before the next exciting stretch head down the A6 through dove holes back to Chapel. Then follow the route as suggested by Andy. Edale road is pretty much single lane, and pretty lumpy so be warned if you're cars pretty low. That being said i used to hoon a long it in my 71 clubman and it's an absolute blast. Would also add if you fancy a trip to sheffield at the end of Edale rd when you reach hope if you turn left and carry on that road it'll take you all the way to Sheffield and again is a cracking drive with some stunning views. I used to do it every weekend for 3 years while at uni in a classic mini to get home for work, and now still do to go and see my mate most weekends either in my maestro turbo or the bike. Still hasn't got old.
Fair to say i'm pretty spoiled for driving roads near me...
Clocked a few miles up the following day out Otley and Ilkley way. Stunning scenery. The moors are incredible this time of year with eerie conditions/lighting paritcularly at dusk and dawn. Certainly enough great road up there to warrant taking a long weekend, if you've got a hound, get it on the moors during the day and get a couple of early Sat/Sun runs in in the process.
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