Best road in Britain? so they say
- Thread starter MrGit
- Start date
I reckon there are a few roads we use that would qualify but I rather like the way this article describes the perfect road driving experience - lovely description 
Hello all
Having lived in both places I think that the Spean Bridge to Kingussie or Fort William to Mallaig road beats all. The major factor on these roads and in Cumbria being "tourists". The reason the Highland roads get the nod is they are faster which makes getting past easier.
That said happy to drive any of them!
Having lived in both places I think that the Spean Bridge to Kingussie or Fort William to Mallaig road beats all. The major factor on these roads and in Cumbria being "tourists". The reason the Highland roads get the nod is they are faster which makes getting past easier.
That said happy to drive any of them!
I know that road well, it's ok once north of Ambleside but calling it the best road in Britain is stretching it a bit. They've also not factored in the amount of tourist traffic it takes, it tends to get quite congested. Like most other people I can think of at least a 1/2 a half dozen better UK roads straight off the top of my head. The B4391 out of Bala and the B6255 Ingleton to Hawes road (once in the top 10 most dangerous roads in England) to name just two.
I've also driven the mentioned N222 via Lamego in Portugal on the way to Porto, that is a good road though - equal to anything I've driven in the Alps, Dolomites, Picos or Pyrenees so they're not far wrong with that one.
Not the N222 but the Serra da Estrela Natural Park on the way up to it, Portugal has some fantastic roads for sure.......
I've also driven the mentioned N222 via Lamego in Portugal on the way to Porto, that is a good road though - equal to anything I've driven in the Alps, Dolomites, Picos or Pyrenees so they're not far wrong with that one.
Not the N222 but the Serra da Estrela Natural Park on the way up to it, Portugal has some fantastic roads for sure.......
AlfaScozzesi said:Hello all
Having lived in both places I think that the Spean Bridge to Kingussie or Fort William to Mallaig road beats all. The major factor on these roads and in Cumbria being "tourists". The reason the Highland roads get the nod is they are faster which makes getting past easier.
That said happy to drive any of them!
most of the roads ive been on in scotland have been camera'd to death. always in that one spot where you can pass and might momentarily go above the limit.
handy for meet organisers, or for me when i'm in random places in the UK and fancy a decent road.Both Highland roads not got a camera on them! Need to look for mobiles but not many places for them to sit. Couple of big straights to Italian tune both by water with no place for mobiles to lurk. Good roads.
A82 is a great road apart form the road works (3 years) at Loch Lomand and there is often mobile units on this road as it is the main trunk road to the West of Scotland. Again easy to have fun when you know where to look.
A82 is a great road apart form the road works (3 years) at Loch Lomand and there is often mobile units on this road as it is the main trunk road to the West of Scotland. Again easy to have fun when you know where to look.
domsz4 said:AlfaScozzesi said:Hello all
Having lived in both places I think that the Spean Bridge to Kingussie or Fort William to Mallaig road beats all. The major factor on these roads and in Cumbria being "tourists". The reason the Highland roads get the nod is they are faster which makes getting past easier.
That said happy to drive any of them!
most of the roads ive been on in scotland have been camera'd to death. always in that one spot where you can pass and might momentarily go above the limit.
Your problem is you're not driving on the right roads :wink:
On our Skye hoon last year we saw two mobile cameras... And apart from near/ in major towns that was it. Another one of my faves, if you get to it reasonably quiet, is the Glencoe road over Rannoch Moor. Both directions
The times (of the year and of the day) that you travel roads can make a massive difference as well.
The A686 takes some beating from the A69 (west of Hexham) to Alston to Hartside and especially the section from the café at the top to Melmerby - then return and do the route in reverse is simply sensational (if the traffic gods are with you). At the right time of day and year you can have a technically demanding drive that I never tire of - I'd drive it every day if I could. Let's hope they never impose a 50mph limit
For me a road needs to be enjoyable at licence saving speeds, so roads like the A686 and back lanes of Northumberland suit me. I would be mortified to lose my licence, so hyper speeds on the highway just doesn't do it for me - I'm always looking for plod instead of keeping an eye on the road.
We're so lucky being located in Newcastle - the North Pennines, Stanhope Middleton in Teesdale, Brough all offer sensational roads as well. I'm pretty certain that the roads we introduced some forum members to in the Border region were very well received as well - all enjoyable within reasonable speeds.
Yep - it's a great location to own a Zed! (Hence my sign off emoticoms!)
The A686 takes some beating from the A69 (west of Hexham) to Alston to Hartside and especially the section from the café at the top to Melmerby - then return and do the route in reverse is simply sensational (if the traffic gods are with you). At the right time of day and year you can have a technically demanding drive that I never tire of - I'd drive it every day if I could. Let's hope they never impose a 50mph limit
For me a road needs to be enjoyable at licence saving speeds, so roads like the A686 and back lanes of Northumberland suit me. I would be mortified to lose my licence, so hyper speeds on the highway just doesn't do it for me - I'm always looking for plod instead of keeping an eye on the road.
We're so lucky being located in Newcastle - the North Pennines, Stanhope Middleton in Teesdale, Brough all offer sensational roads as well. I'm pretty certain that the roads we introduced some forum members to in the Border region were very well received as well - all enjoyable within reasonable speeds.
Yep - it's a great location to own a Zed! (Hence my sign off emoticoms!)
domsz4 said:
I found that on most of the major routes as well Dom - absolutely right about their locations too - almost unsafe, as the place them where you can hope to eventually get past slow traffic = dangerous policy! :thumbsdown:
