What's the prettiest North East road for a TVR blat?

[Benjaminpalma]

Right. Snow's gone. Frost's even gone (for now)...

I love the road West past Hexham - beside Hadrian's Wall.

Where are the other pretty country drives in the area? I've not been in the area long but some of the countryside is stunning.

[clarkmagpie]

Hexham - Alston - Penrith
Perfect road.

Some cracking coastal roads up towards Alnwick Castle etc.

[TameRacingDriver]

As you're already familiar with the military road, head up to kielder reservoir and go round the lake and through the village, and into Scotland, once you hit a single track road it'll end with a t-junction, turn right to head towards somewhere called bonchester bridge, some superb roads round there, and wonderful scenery. Takes you up towards carter bar where you can stop at the viewpoint and head back down the a68.

[peteA]

TameRacingDriver said:

As you're already familiar with the military road, head up to kielder reservoir and go round the lake and through the village, and into Scotland, once you hit a single track road it'll end with a t-junction, turn right to head towards somewhere called bonchester bridge, some superb roads round there, and wonderful scenery. Takes you up towards carter bar where you can stop at the viewpoint and head back down the a68.

Yep - good choice...the A68 / 696 is good. Non finer than the A686 Alston road.

I also like the A697 Wooler / coldstream road...be careful though, if you get carried away you will end up in Edinburgh! ...and watch for the cameras & plod.

Not sure where you are starting from? There's some nice roads in and around Derwent Resivoir too.

[Mastodon2]

I'm going to go for the outside vote and not suggest the well loved west-of-Hexham/resevoir area, and go for the coastal area from Bamburgh to north of Alnwick Castle. There are some great roads around there, probably not too busy time time of year either. My only complaint is it's a pretty flat area so there aren't that many gradients or elevation changes, but I suppose we are spoiled by the roads of north western Northumberland!

[Benjaminpalma]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I just hope the weather holds tomorrow...

peteA said:

TameRacingDriver said:

As you're already familiar with the military road, head up to kielder reservoir and go round the lake and through the village, and into Scotland, once you hit a single track road it'll end with a t-junction, turn right to head towards somewhere called bonchester bridge, some superb roads round there, and wonderful scenery. Takes you up towards carter bar where you can stop at the viewpoint and head back down the a68.

Yep - good choice...the A68 / 696 is good. Non finer than the A686 Alston road.

I also like the A697 Wooler / coldstream road...be careful though, if you get carried away you will end up in Edinburgh! ...and watch for the cameras & plod.

Not sure where you are starting from? There's some nice roads in and around Derwent Resivoir too.

Sorry - forgot to say - I'm starting from central Newcastle.

[ttcool]

I agree with all of the above suggestions and I'm watching PH for drives out. There are also drives starting from Scotch Corner or nearer to Teesside heading south into the Yorkshire Dales and ending up at the Ingleton Water Falls, for example.

I'm really looking forward to the 2011 schedule.

Cheers

Joe

Edited by ttcool on Friday 14th January 21:38

[heightswitch]

I tend to drive up Gosforth high street, then after Blue House turn right onto the Grove, I weave in and out the expensive cars parked kerbside, Then past all the private schools, preferably when the kids are chucking out. I then look for a nice big house with a long driveway and park on it to watch the squirrels while I have my lunch.

I then head back along the A69 to hexham, diverting through corbridge town centre where again I can practise my town driving skills a bit more for a quick lap of the town one way system before heading back up into the hills into the otherwise empty roads around where I live

I find this gives me a break from tranquility and restores the balance somewhat in the towns whilst the city dwellers nob around in my front garden.

N.

[Benjaminpalma]

heightswitch said:

I tend to drive up Gosforth high street, then after Blue House turn right onto the Grove, I weave in and out the expensive cars parked kerbside, Then past all the private schools, preferably when the kids are chucking out. I then look for a nice big house with a long driveway and park on it to watch the squirrels while I have my lunch.

I then head back along the A69 to hexham, diverting through corbridge town centre where again I can practise my town driving skills a bit more for a quick lap of the town one way system before heading back up into the hills into the otherwise empty roads around where I live

I find this gives me a break from tranquility and restores the balance somewhat in the towns whilst the city dwellers nob around in my front garden.

N.

[steveavxt]

Stokesley to Helmsley road, legendary!

[ttcool]

steveavxt said:

Stokesley to Helmsley road, legendary!

...or another way to get to Helmsley is Guisborough, Castleton, Hutton-le-hole, Helmsley. When you get to Hutton-le-hole you can cross the main junction and head towards Malton for quite a few miles without actually going all the way to Malton and then turn right towards Helmsley at the T-junction. It's the long way round but well worth it; great scenery and a technical drive.

Joe

Edited by ttcool on Wednesday 26th January 11:19

[Wedg1e]

ttcool said:

steveavxt said:

Stokesley to Helmsley road, legendary!

...or another way to get to Helmsley is Guisborough, Castleton, Hutton-le-hole, Helmsley. When you get to Hutton-le-hole you can cross the main junction and head towards Malton for quite a few miles without actually going all the way to Malton and then turn right towards Helmsley at the T-junction. It's the long way round but well worth it; great scenery and a technical drive.

Joe

Or down the A19, turn off at Borrowby and head up the back lanes over the top to Hawnby, pick up the Helmsley road on that tight hairpin... or you can deviate on another side lane that takes you round the back of Rievaulx Abbey.
Not much scope for hard thrashing although visibility's a bit better on a bike, but the scenery's good.

You can get to Borrowby in a more entertaining fashion if you take the Worsall road from Yarm, down to Northallerton then through the back lanes to Borrowby.

From Helmsley, take the Scarborough road, find the turnoff for Hutton-le-Hole and come back over Blakey Ridge (stop at the Lion for a pint/pee/lunch), turn off before Castleton and come back through Westerdale/ Commondale to Stokesley... makes for an 80 mile circle.