Hi all, something I've been messing around with lately, just after the day out we had for the forum meet / run event at Haydon Bridge recently.

I've looked at and reviewed 10 of the best driving roads in the UK ( I'm sure there are others and some may / may not be on this list ) these are from the Sunday times perspective.

We've just completed number #8 and what a blast that was, some nice people, great cars, decent weather and good craic, all good.
I'm wondering if we could get a group together and look at doing them in reverse order, from #8 down to #1

Next on the list would be the Oopnurthring in the Peak district, some 55 miles of driving heaven allegedly
I'm wondering if there are any on the list from Haydon Bridge who would be interested in completing all 8 and or any others that would be interested in doing one here or there as suits?


1. Moffat to Edinburgh, Scotland
Length51 miles Yourday begins in the historic spa town of Moffat in the Scottish borders butpretty though it is, you’ll be wanting to leave the tea shops for the A701,heading north. The road climbs and winds between the shoulders of vast hills,four of which form the Devil’s Beef Tub where the feared Border Reivers tookrefuge. And now the fun begins as the road swoops, curls and spears its waythrough the wild scenery. As you pass through Tweedsmuir village look out forthe Crook Inn, Scotland’s oldest coaching inn. Next comes Broughton villagewhere John Buchan, who wrote the classic spy story The Thirty-Nine Steps, oncelived. You can just imagine the hero, Scudder, being pursued over the hills.Things calm down beyond Penicuik and the outskirts of Edinburgh but for 40miles or so, you’ve given your car, and your imagination, a total workout.
Technicaldifficulty:★★★☆☆ Testing corners meet opportunist straights

2. Godalming to Chichester, Sussex
Length30 miles This fast-flowing drive on clear roads through some of the south east’s finestscenery begins in a town so quintessentially English, it could have beencreated by Hollywood. In fact, Godalming did indeed briefly becomeTinseltown when it was sprayed with fake snow for its starring role in theChristmas hit movie The Holiday. Leave the town heading south on the A3100 forMilford and thence to the A283, where your drive really kicks off. Most folkchoose the A286 leaving you free to a) admire the picture-postcard scenery orb) engage Sport and, conditions permitting, give it some. Soon you’ll bepassing the village of Chiddingfold with its strong music connections (theStranglers and Genesis based themselves here) and within a few miles, historicPetworth House. Now join the A285 and just south of the village of Dunctonready yourself for a joyful but all-too brief switchback ascent of the SouthDowns escarpment. Thereafter the prospect of the sea carries you to the A27 andChichester.
Technical difficulty:★★★☆☆ Flowing bends, long straights, tricky Duncton climb

3. Padstow to Newquay, Cornwall
Length15 miles Cornishcharm, wild sea views and the surfer lifestyle – this quiet (at least inwinter), meandering coast road serves it all up on a plate. Begin in Padstowwith a hearty lunch at one of Rick Stein’s fish restaurants or better still,fish and chips on the pretty quayside. Then leap in the car and take the B3276out of town, following signposts to St Merryn. The road is narrow and windingthroughout this drive so be careful not to be distracted by the amazing viewsalong the way, among them the Trevose Head lighthouse, built in 1847 and 88fttall. Half way along your journey the road plunges down to the village ofMawgan Porth with its cafes, surfers and sandy dunes. A torquey diesel willmake easy work of the steep ascent on the other side; the narrow, steep-sidedinlet giving way to wide open fields and views to Newquay, yourdestination. Leave the road as it joins the A3059, busy with surf touristsseeking more energetic pleasures on the town’s Fistral beach.
Technical difficulty:★★★★☆ Narrow road requires vigilance, hair-trigger responses

4. Black Mountain Pass, South Wales
Length12 miles JeremyClarkson made this route famous driving, appropriately enough, an AMG CLK 63Black. The Black Mountains in South Wales are where the army trains andperfects survival techniques – it’s that wild and the weather thatunpredictable. Head out of the quiet town of Llangadog on the A4069 signed forUpper Brynamman. You’ll wonder what the fuss is about at this point. The roadgently winds its way through neat fields but as the bends become tighter yousense the mood change. Pretty soon the fields have gone to be replaced bycraggy outcrops and moorland, the gentle corners by savage switchbacks andfast, open straights. In these conditions and with your senses alert to otherroad users and the changing weather, your humble Mondeo will be Clarkson’s CLKAMG. Well, you can only dream and after just 12 miles you can turn around anddo it all over again.
Technical difficulty:★★★★★ Expect poor weather on this demanding road

5. The Snowdon Loop, North Wales
Length35 miles You can start this wonderful tour of Snowdonia at Capel Curig but the real dramabegins a few miles along the A4086 with the junction of the A498 at Pen-y-Gwryd. Staying on the A4086 you’re now heading along the Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia’sanswer to the Lake District’s Hardknott and Wrynose Passes . So expect a roadthat twists and turns through wild, soaring scenery. On the way you’ll pass theLlyn Peris dam, otherwise known as the Electric dam. Its water is pumped to theMarchlyn Mawr dam above and released to drive turbines and generate electricityat times of peak demand. If you can bear to break off from your drive, you canvisit the power station located deep in the mountain side. At Maes-y-Bryn avoidcontinuing to Caernarfon and pick up the road for Caeathro from where youreturn to the start via the A4085 and at historic Beddgelert, the A498.
Technical difficulty:★★★★☆ Off-camber corners, road suddenly narrowing cancatch the unwary

6. The Cheltenham loop,Gloucestershire
Length40 miles On the one hand, it’s a pleasant drive following the A435 as it tracks the ChurnValley in the Cotswolds between Cirencester and Cheltenham, or, if you takeadvantage of the road’s sweeping corners and long, clear straights, it’s a fastroad that will have you grinning from ear to ear. We’ll take the latter. In allthe excitement, don’t forget to peel off left onto the A436 at Seven Springsbefore briefly joining the A417 for Cirencester. Look out for the B4070 signedfor Slad, made famous in Laurie Lee’s autobiography Cider with Rosie, andeventually Stroud. Now the route dips and dives through some of the mostsublime Gloucestershire scenery before entering Stroud and picking up the A419for Cirencester. Enjoy the steep climb up the Golden Valley onto the tops andenjoy the A419’s bracing straights and sweeping corners as circumstances allow– but beware of deer.
Technical difficulty:★★☆☆☆ Quality, wide roads but Slad valley stretch needs care

7. Oopnurthring, Peak District
Length55 miles Do you see the allusion to Nürburgring in the name for this spectacular drivearound the Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield? You can start whereyou like but the important thing is to get the roads right, and there are a fewof them. We recommend joining the A6102, close by the village ofOughtibridge, travelling north in the direction of Stocksbridge. Join the A616passing Midhope and Langsett reservoirs. Look out for the B6106 crossingyour path and join it turning left for Holmfirth. Once in the town keep youreyes peeled for signs to the A6024 and Glossop where things start to get reallyexciting. At Woodhead reservoir you briefly join the A628 before peeling offleft for the B6105 to Glossop. Once there, pick up the A57 Snake Road (aperfect description) that takes you back towards Sheffield around the southernleg of the route. Peel off left to the A6101, briefly pick up the A61 and thenrejoin the A6102 to Oughtibridge.
Technical difficulty:★★★★★ Clear straights, tempting corners demand maturecar control

8. Hartside Pass, north Pennines
Length45 miles ThePenrith to Hexham road is surely one of the world’s greatest drives, never mindthe UK’s. Leaving the tedium of the M6 behind you at Penrith you enter northPennines country, so often ignored by tourists heading west to the LakeDistrict, following the A686 across the wonderful Eden Valley. Designatedan area of outstanding natural beauty, the landscape here is all gentleundulations until around Melmerby it takes on a different character and beginsto climb to Hartside, 1,900ft above sea level. Take a break at the café toadmire the view, extending as far as the Solway Firth. Continuing on your waythrough the surrounding moorland (so clear sight lines for clean, safeovertakes) you’ll pass through Alston, perched 1000ft above sea level, makingit one of England’s highest market towns, and the drive’s mid-point. Afterthat, it’s more expanses of bracing moorland before the road swoops down to theRiver Allen and its wooded gorge. Look out for the B6305, another delight thatspirits you to Hexham.
Technical difficulty:★★★★★ Many tight corners, swoopy contours can throw caroff line


Just a thought.........

Jim

 

A great idea Jim.. this could be the forums' bucket list of must-do drives. If there is sufficient interest I am sure days out can be organised for these. Anyone interested just pop a post up and let's see what we can manage from the list

 

There are these and quite a few others that I'm sure we could easily add, it'd be great to do them at some point.
Still trying to get around to doing the NC500 at some point www.northcoast500.com


Jim

 

sounds good maybe set my alarm clock properly this time

 

Davy, WHAT a day you missed!!


The weather was actually great later on and the road??
Wow, both the F type and the XK would have both been at home and enjoyed every mile.


The smiles per miles were high that day...


Jim