Great Driving Roads (reps for joining in!)

[Sailor]

Prompted by the recent thread re decent roads in southern Scotland, I thought I'd start a new one.

Quite a while back, I compiled a list of great driving roads. My source information was gleaned from motoring magazines and TV programmes, anecdotal evidence from mates who were as keen as I, and my own experiences. The idea was that I’d take three weeks off and explore. Other drivers were welcome to join me as I went round. It never happened.

Many of the roads were posted on the AccordR forum a couple of years ago, and the list was updated. A few drives have been left out since then, one or two amalgamated and one or two new ones added.

Now, I’m asking for your input. I’ll put up the 70-drive list over the next few posts. Many of these will no longer be worth it: there’ll be too much traffic or new housing etc. But there’ll be plenty missing. Please chip in. I can then update the list and hopefully turn it into something definitive.

Here's the start:-

SOUTH AND WEST ENGLAND and the SOUTH MIDLANDS
(the regions throughout are all 'ish')

1. (40M) Landford – unclassified through Fritham and then turn R – unclassified to Rockford Common and then down to Poulmer. A31 NE and turn R towards Lyndhurst just short of Minstead – Emery Down: R on A35 to Somerford.

2. (14M) Chickerell – B3157 to Bridport.

3. (42M) Newton Abbot A381 – Churchstow A79 – Plymouth

4. (8M) Trerulefoot - A374 - Antony

5. (32M) Newlyn B3315 - Trevescan A30 - to turn left at B3306 - St Ives

6. (116M) St Columb Road - A39 - Dunster

7. (36M) Dunball A39 – Shapwick unclassified - B3151 Cheddar – B3371/B3134 Burrington

8. (15M) Wotton-under-Edge B4058 - to turn left at unclassified through Nympsfield - Claypits

9. (50M) Teddington B4077 - Stow-on-the-Wold A429 – E of Cirencester B4425 - Burford

10. (10M) Forest Hill - B4027 - Islip

11. (15M) Banbury - B4100 - M40 Jct 13

12. (22M) Wellesbourne – B4086/B4455 – Halford - A429 - Stow-on-the-Wold

13. (15M) Arrow A422 - Spetchley

[lewd lude lover]

Buckholt road, cranham, glos.

It's only about 3 miles long but its like no other piece of tarmac I know.
Anyone who has been out on the national meet drive out will have been along it.

[Sailor]

Buckholt road, cranham, glos.
It's only about 3 miles long but its like no other piece of tarmac I know.

Ta. Would it be worth lengthening it a little at the Birdlip end by turning sharp right on the B road to Slad?

Meanwhile, here's Wales:-

WALES

14. (30M) Crickhowell A4077/B4558 – Bwlch – B4558 Llangynidr - B4560 - Beaufort
15. (22M) Brynamman A4069 - Llandovery
16. (19M) Tregaron – unclassified - Beulah
17. (71M) Builth Wells - A470 – Rhayader B4518 – Elan Valley loop - Rhayader – Llangurig A44 – Ponterwyd A4120 - Aberystwyth
18. (136M) Machynlleth A487 - B4405 junction – Bryncrug A493 – Dolgellau A470 - Trawsfynydd A4212 - Fron-Goch B4501 – Cerrigydrudion A5 - Capel Curig A4086/A498 - Beddgelert A4085 – Caeathro - Capel Curig
19. (27M) Betws-y-Coed B5106 – Conwy A55 - Llandudno Junction A470 - Llanrwst
20. (22M) Ruthin A525/A542 – Llangollen A5 - Halton

[Bludge]

I used to work out of taunton and i hit a road so fun that i had to write it down to go back in the lude, still havent gotten around to it a year and a half later but i will!

Hope its as good as i remember but i was having a blast even in the lwb sprinter van i was driving!

Beautiful scenery, silky smooth tarmac and some lovely twists and turns, alas only about 8 miles long.

b3170 from taunton to churchinford (or at least thats as far as i had to go on the day, might be more goodness beyond)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.00 ... 5443?hl=en

[lewd lude lover]

unfortunatly not. the B4070 is a cart track. It ha lovely bends, switchbacks and cambers but it also has rough and gouged surface on apex's and generally is in terrible repair

otherwise yes, the stretch of road from stroud to birdlip would be there.

[Sailor]

Thanks, chaps.

I'd like to generate loads of input to this thread. It'll be just as important to know what's rubbish; the current list adds up to over 5000 miles, including joining the dots!

[Drax]

no 20 on the Wales....where the F is Halton?!?!?! lol I live in that area and never heard of it plus can't find it on a map!!

plus no 18-19 is missing the most epic road in history from the Bala road to Blaenau its sex covered in tarmac

[Sailor]

Halton's that part of Chirk where the A483 meets the A5.

I'd included the section from Trawsfynydd to just W of Bala and then headed N. I guess I should now include the Trawsfynydd to Blaenau bit?

[Mattbigwood]

I know route 8 pretty well, but I always think the stretch of the A46 from Old Sodbury to Nailsworth is a good route - approx 15 miles with fast stretches and sweeping bends.

[Shiny]

There's a road to the right hand side of Betws y Coed that goes up through Denbig from memory, it is relatively flat compared to North Wales and feels like you are driving over hill tops. Open roads with no trees, like driving through moorland. Some of the locals may know it, but i reckon it was the best "driving" road in North Wales. Round Snowdonia is great fun, but you have to take it careful as roads are narrow and busy.

The Causeway Costal route in NI is also superb, very scenic and a great drive. I found the best and most challenging bit was to the right of Ballycastle and down the east coast, some really twistie roads with 180 degree bends. Awesome. http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/cau ... route.html