Great Run...

[ketvrin]

Scottish BBQ was cancelled yesterday due to the effects of recent bad weather ~ probably a good call, nevertheless the weather was dry and bright so I had a run out anyway.

Fantastic empty great surfaced roads dry for the most part roof off - its what having an S is all about...

Route was:
Home (Haydon Bridge)
Military Road
Haltwhistle
Slaggyford
Alston
Nenthead
Stanhope
Crawleyside
Blanchland
Rookhope
Allenheads
Carrshiels
Allendale
Catton
Langley Bends
Home

Fantastic... some of those roads are part of the BNG drive route so they are in for a treat...

K

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=rookhope&coun... Allendale, Hexham, Northumberland, England, NE47 9

Edited by ketvrin on Monday 20th July 13:05

[chrischat]

Went to Berwick back end of last week for a surprise birthday bash with missus as navigator, and she took me up the A686 from Penrith to Hexham via Alston stopping at that bikers cafe on top of the world, brilliant road and fairly quiet as well. Some of those haipin bends are like a mini alpine drive, only trouble we were in the Swift because the weather was bloody awful so its a def to go back and try again.

[ketvrin]

Hey do that Chris and give me a call and I'll get the kettle on... when you left the A686 at the A69 I'm two minutes away...

K

[tozerman]

I've done the Penrith to Alston stretch before (not in the S unfortunatly) I was in a Escort RS Turbo S1 and my mate was in a Sierra cosworth 3DR and I have to say it was bloody brilliant, the scenery the roads and the corners were amazing, a great test of engine,brakes and driver and best of all there were no cameras in those days. One day I hope to do it in my S but it's a long way to go for the day so it means an overnight stop which means SWMBO has to have an input as well
Perhaps an organised Hoon day oop north would be a good idea
Cheers.....Tony..

[ketvrin]

tozerman said:

which means SWMBO has to have an input as well :.

Drop her off at "The Metro Centre" and promise to pick her up again in a few hours...

theres still no fixed cameras but the mobile ones are there on fine weekend to catch those naughty bikers

K

[Elfit]

Kev's right the roads are great up here ( I live about 5 mins away from him)

I use many of the roads on his list at least weekly and have driven them for years in many different vehicles.

When I lived up there in yon hills years ago I even skied part of it when snow blocked the Killhope pass.

[ketvrin]

were they TVR ski's then Tim ?

I seem to remember you posting a pic last winter on one of those roads when ski's would not have looked out of place...

K

[Gentleman Geoff]

chrischat said:

A686

This regularly gets voted one of the best driving roads in the country. Damn, how I miss driving my old S along here.

To the North East lads... thanks for including me on the recent email thread doing the rounds. Sorry I haven't been back in touch - I've just got back from a holiday in Croatia where the nearest thing I got to PistonHead-ism was buzzing around one of the little islands on a 50cc scooter!

[ketvrin]

Gentleman Geoff said:

chrischat said:

A686

This regularly gets voted one of the best driving roads in the country. Damn, how I miss driving my old S along here.

To the North East lads... thanks for including me on the recent email thread doing the rounds. Sorry I haven't been back in touch - I've just got back from a holiday in Croatia where the nearest thing I got to PistonHead-ism was buzzing around one of the little islands on a 50cc scooter!

Hi Geoff

I have a very different route planned for when you decide to pay us a visit up here... 50+ miles but only 20 of them on tarmac

Best of both worlds eh ?

Sunny - get the Tiv out on some local roads considered some of the best in UK
Wet - get the 4x4 off road and mucky

K