I'm planning a bit of a tour around the UK for next week

[y2blade]

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I know this isn't taking in any of the Thames Valley but you guys are always very helpful so definitely worth me posting about it in here too

any suggestions for route? roads/sights that are "not to miss"

this is the route so far

starting a few miles to the west of Birmingham
head west into Mid wales and to Snowdonia
East and through the Peak District
North to the Yorkshire dales
North West into The Lake District
North East to Northumbria National Park
South East to North Yorkshire Moors

then head home

all the above is subject to change and open to all suggestions as I have the whole week off work


PS I Can't head further afield as my passport has run-out and I keep forgetting to renew it (otherwise this would be a "yay I'm off to the Nurburgring" thread)

thanks in Advance

[Don]

y2blade said:

head west into Mid wales and to Snowdonia
East and through the Peak District
North to the Yorkshire dales
North West into The Lake District
North East to Northumbria National Park
South East to North Yorkshire Moors

Hi mate, I'll share what I know.

Snowdonia:

This is, quite simply put, the absolutely best bit of Wales. The route from south to North on the A470 is often stunning and will get you to roughly the Evo Triangle area. The Horseshoe Pass is a must: the views are great and you can stop on the cafe at the top for a cup of tea. If you want to get out of the car and do some walking for a day you could climb Snowdon! The central place to stay is Betws-y-Coed which is very pretty and has decent, if hardly fabulous hotels.

Peak District.

Well if you go to the Peaks you will be going to Castleton. The Castleton-Mam Tor-Lose Hill-Casteleton walk is rightly famous. If you fancy staying somewhere fab consider the Samuel Fox Inn which is in Bradwell. Far enough away from Castleton you don't have to listen to Grockles outside your window all night but close enough. The food there is simply brilliant. Snake Pass is a road you should drive. Low speed limits - but that's not the be-all-and-end-all of a road. It's certainly scenic.

Yorkshire Dales.

Been here twice in recent years. Bloody fabulous. Drive up through the centre of the National Park. (B6160). Do the Buttertubs pass - and the one to the east of it over Askrigg Common. Very scenic, tight, twisty, slow but fun. Visit Malham Cove (impressive). Eat at the Wensleydale Heifer (Surf and Turf is AWESOME!).

Lake District.

Not been here enough to really help but the boat tour on Windermere was actually quite fun.


Hope this provides some Googling inspiration.

Edited by Don on Wednesday 28th July 10:55

[VerySideways]

Chris, you know this is what i do for a living right?

Sounds like we need to have a sit down

[identti]

Scotland

[MX-5 Lazza]

I went to the Lake District at the weekend and drove the Wrynose & Hardknott passes - in the Focus. I HAVE to go back there in my MX5 - defo add that to your list

However...

identti said:

Scotland

This ^^^^

Particularly west Scotland and especially the A82 from Dumbarton, through GlenCoe to invergarry then on the A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh over the bridge and around Skye. If you have enough time, head north from there on A890/A896 to Tornapress and over the Applecross Pass

[Sods Law]

identti said:

Scotland

Ditto!

[Don]

identti said:

Scotland

Whilst the scenery is completely brilliant would you really go there in August?

With THE MIDGES!

Are you insane, man? Fresh English meat? He'd get out of the car and be stripped to the bone in the first three minutes.

They're like tiny flying PIRANHAS all chirping: "Mmmmm. Nice change from Scots blood!"

[identti]

Don said:

identti said:

Scotland

Whilst the scenery is completely brilliant would you really go there in August?

With THE MIDGES!

Are you insane, man? Fresh English meat? He'd get out of the car and be stripped to the bone in the first three minutes.

They're like tiny flying PIRANHAS all chirping: "Mmmmm. Nice change from Scots blood!"

http://2010.midgeforecast.co.uk/

Up near Ullapool where the roads were best there's a fair bad midgecast

Mind you there's plenty of other amazing roads around Scotland.

[y2blade]

identti said:

Don said:

identti said:

Scotland

Whilst the scenery is completely brilliant would you really go there in August?

With THE MIDGES!

Are you insane, man? Fresh English meat? He'd get out of the car and be stripped to the bone in the first three minutes.

They're like tiny flying PIRANHAS all chirping: "Mmmmm. Nice change from Scots blood!"

http://2010.midgeforecast.co.uk/

Up near Ullapool where the roads were best there's a fair bad midgecast

Mind you there's plenty of other amazing roads around Scotland.

you are not wrong BUT
I'm half Scots and I've seen plenty of our roads already, hence aiming at the areas I've not covered yet

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 28th July 19:41

[y2blade]

Don said:

y2blade said:

head west into Mid wales and to Snowdonia
East and through the Peak District
North to the Yorkshire dales
North West into The Lake District
North East to Northumbria National Park
South East to North Yorkshire Moors

Hi mate, I'll share what I know.

Snowdonia:

This is, quite simply put, the absolutely best bit of Wales. The route from south to North on the A470 is often stunning and will get you to roughly the Evo Triangle area. The Horseshoe Pass is a must: the views are great and you can stop on the cafe at the top for a cup of tea. If you want to get out of the car and do some walking for a day you could climb Snowdon! The central place to stay is Betws-y-Coed which is very pretty and has decent, if hardly fabulous hotels.

Peak District.

Well if you go to the Peaks you will be going to Castleton. The Castleton-Mam Tor-Lose Hill-Casteleton walk is rightly famous. If you fancy staying somewhere fab consider the Samuel Fox Inn which is in Bradwell. Far enough away from Castleton you don't have to listen to Grockles outside your window all night but close enough. The food there is simply brilliant. Snake Pass is a road you should drive. Low speed limits - but that's not the be-all-and-end-all of a road. It's certainly scenic.

Yorkshire Dales.

Been here twice in recent years. Bloody fabulous. Drive up through the centre of the National Park. (B6160). Do the Buttertubs pass - and the one to the east of it over Askrigg Common. Very scenic, tight, twisty, slow but fun. Visit Malham Cove (impressive). Eat at the Wensleydale Heifer (Surf and Turf is AWESOME!).

Lake District.

Not been here enough to really help but the boat tour on Windermere was actually quite fun.


Hope this provides some Googling inspiration.

Edited by Don on Wednesday 28th July 10:55

yes it does, thank you Don



Pete is it really?

[Don]

y2blade said:

I'm half Scots

Something we have in common...

Honestly - we probably both know that Scotland is brilliant. But something I've found in recent years is that England has so much to offer as well. Yorkshire is fantastic, The Lakes I've barely started exploring - the Peaks are special and near which is good! England has so much to offer I feel I've barely scratched the surface!

But I'm half Welsh and born and bred in the North of Wales so I love Snowdonia, which is fantastic, but mid-Wales and the right bits of South Wales are pretty wonderful too if you stick to the right bits of it. Easily done, to be honest, simply by looking at a map!

You can have an absolutely excellent time within easy reach of "home" here in the UK - you just need to make sure you are staying in places you like and getting to do the things that make you happy!

Have a great time! I'm sure you will.

[MX-5 Lazza]

In that case I'll just re-quote part of what I wrote earlier...

MX-5 Lazza said:

I went to the Lake District at the weekend and drove the Wrynose & Hardknott passes - in the Focus. I HAVE to go back there in my MX5 - defo add that to your list

[y2blade]

Don said:

y2blade said:

I'm half Scots

Something we have in common...

Honestly - we probably both know that Scotland is brilliant. But something I've found in recent years is that England has so much to offer as well. Yorkshire is fantastic, The Lakes I've barely started exploring - the Peaks are special and near which is good! England has so much to offer I feel I've barely scratched the surface!

But I'm half Welsh and born and bred in the North of Wales so I love Snowdonia, which is fantastic, but mid-Wales and the right bits of South Wales are pretty wonderful too if you stick to the right bits of it. Easily done, to be honest, simply by looking at a map!

You can have an absolutely excellent time within easy reach of "home" here in the UK - you just need to make sure you are staying in places you like and getting to do the things that make you happy!

Have a great time! I'm sure you will.

cheers Don, I picked up a decent scale 2010 road atlas this morning, the one I had at home is 2002...I will be getting busy with a highlighter tonight

North Wales and the lake district are the bits I'm most keep to have a look around at the moment, I've not really "planned" anything like this before as I usually just follow my nose

MX-5 Lazza said:

In that case I'll just re-quote part of what I wrote earlier...

MX-5 Lazza said:

I went to the Lake District at the weekend and drove the Wrynose & Hardknott passes - in the Focus. I HAVE to go back there in my MX5 - defo add that to your list

sorry I missed that earlier noted

many thanks

[Stedman]

What car are you taking Chris? I'll share the fuel costs if it's the S60

[y2blade]

Stedman said:

What car are you taking Chris? I'll share the fuel costs if it's the S60

yes the D5
no you can't come with me

[y2blade]

I've just been told that Chester is worth a visit!?

[kiwifraser]

I've only 2 things to add:

1) you lucky bugger.

and

2) this place in Yorkshire... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLebmoXOukc

[nonuts]

I've got nothing to add other than Scotland is a must if you can be bothered to get that far.

Or you could do what we did, not book anything other than a hotel for the first night and head to France

So far we've seen Clermont-Ferrand, Millau, Nimes, Mount Ventoux a fair bit of the roads between there and Grenoble.

However I believe that's 1100miles in 3 days

[Ranger 6]

kiwifraser said:

...this place in Yorkshire... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLebmoXOukc

Now you can understand why I get so frustrated with the traffic and urban sprawl down here - roads like that were so close and accessible.

Fraser, you probably have similar feelings of 'home'

So, I'd add Grinton Moor to the Buttertubs pass, Grinton is/was used as a night rally selective - watch for the yumps

[kiwifraser]

Ranger 6 said:

So, I'd add Grinton Moor to the Buttertubs pass, Grinton is/was used as a night rally selective - watch for the yumps

I'm liking the sound of that!