The ultimate road

[danny84]

Can anyone recommend any good driving roads in the north durham area.I,m in chester le street.Preferably something with a half way stopping point for a chill and a bit crack.Think bike/kit car roads!!! Cheers

[fredd1e]

Wessington way / Washington Services

[danny84]

fredd1e said:

Wessington way / Washington Services

Ha Ha I get lost every time i go to washington mate.Took me an hour to find b&q for one pack of tiles so thats out.

[andy rob]

A little bit further, but dont come much better than hartside pass, coming from hexham direction

[SHutchinson]

Head towards Waskerley/Smiddy Shaw reservoir on the Consett road.

Job done.

[Gad-Westy]

There are so many options but I'd start with:

Head out towards Lanchester, then onto Tow Law, Wolsingham and then Stanhope. From Stanhope you have a choice of three directions, all of them utterly brilliant. North on the B6278 towards Derwent Resevoir or South on the same road towards Barnard Castle. Personally I'd go for option three and head straight through on the A689 towards Alston and then from Alston head up the A686 towards the Hartside Cafe. Ideally, go past the cafe down into Melmerby and turn around and have a blast back up the hill before parking up for a cupper. To mix the return journey up a bit you could take the A686 all the way back to Hayden Bridge on the A69 and come back via the A68.

[danny84]

Gad-Westy said:

There are so many options but I'd start with:

Head out towards Lanchester, then onto Tow Law, Wolsingham and then Stanhope. From Stanhope you have a choice of three directions, all of them utterly brilliant. North on the B6278 towards Derwent Resevoir or South on the same road towards Barnard Castle. Personally I'd go for option three and head straight through on the A689 towards Alston and then from Alston head up the A686 towards the Hartside Cafe. Ideally, go past the cafe down into Melmerby and turn around and have a blast back up the hill before parking up for a cupper. To mix the return journey up a bit you could take the A686 all the way back to Hayden Bridge on the A69 and come back via the A68.

Cheers those sound like the roads i'm after.I went up hartside about 5 years ago as a pillion on my bro's bike only it was about this time of year and only had a summer jacket and a pair of jeans on so it wasn't that enjoyable at the time.Must do it again when i get my BEC MK.

[ttcool]

Gad-Westy said:

There are so many options but I'd start with:

Head out towards Lanchester, then onto Tow Law, Wolsingham and then Stanhope. From Stanhope you have a choice of three directions, all of them utterly brilliant. North on the B6278 towards Derwent Resevoir or South on the same road towards Barnard Castle. Personally I'd go for option three and head straight through on the A689 towards Alston and then from Alston head up the A686 towards the Hartside Cafe. Ideally, go past the cafe down into Melmerby and turn around and have a blast back up the hill before parking up for a cupper. To mix the return journey up a bit you could take the A686 all the way back to Hayden Bridge on the A69 and come back via the A68.

Perfect!! I can't keep away from this drive. Enthusiasts' Nirvana for sure. Penrith, Hartside Top Cafe, Alston, Haydon bridge...Mix and Match as stated.

Joe

[Gad-Westy]

danny84 said:

Gad-Westy said:

There are so many options but I'd start with:

Head out towards Lanchester, then onto Tow Law, Wolsingham and then Stanhope. From Stanhope you have a choice of three directions, all of them utterly brilliant. North on the B6278 towards Derwent Resevoir or South on the same road towards Barnard Castle. Personally I'd go for option three and head straight through on the A689 towards Alston and then from Alston head up the A686 towards the Hartside Cafe. Ideally, go past the cafe down into Melmerby and turn around and have a blast back up the hill before parking up for a cupper. To mix the return journey up a bit you could take the A686 all the way back to Hayden Bridge on the A69 and come back via the A68.

Cheers those sound like the roads i'm after.I went up hartside about 5 years ago as a pillion on my bro's bike only it was about this time of year and only had a summer jacket and a pair of jeans on so it wasn't that enjoyable at the time.Must do it again when i get my BEC MK.

That short uphill stretch from Melmerby back up to Hartside is motoring nirvana in something like an MK. I used to love it in my Westfields. Very twisty, with short little straights then opens up a bit towards the top. Just look out for police at the top. There are a lot of accidents up there so the police are there for good reason.