Ayrshire/Lanarkshire/Dunbartonshire?

[buachaille193]

Based in Glasgow, looking for some routes around 3 hours long for evening drives.

Any suggestions?

Will post up the ones I've found as soon as I can.

[JM]

Dukes Pass, Dalvine Pass, Rest and Be Thankfull.

Three to start you with.

[buachaille193]

Thanks. Have done Dalvine Pass. Last time I tried Dukes Pass, it was shut due to ice... Will need to give it a try soon. Thanks.

I'll also visit the Rest & Be Thankful. Haven't driven it "enthusiastically". Just hope there aren't any landslides...

[JM]

You could do a decent loop involving The Rest and The Dukes.
Also some of the roads out near Helensburgh are pretty decent. The A817 and A814 have had good reports.

[alangla]

Some of my faves: http://goo.gl/maps/VPc8a - Couple of nice hotels in Lochearnhead or the Drover Inn at Inverarnan if you want to stop. If you're doing this at night then get off the M9 at Craigforth. I only stay on to the Keir roundabout to avoid Blair Drummond safari park during the day.

http://goo.gl/maps/JvwSM - I don't normally do all of this in a one-er. Typically I'd stay on the A76 & continue to Killie then back into town, possibly via the old A77 & over Eaglesham moor rather than the M77.

I'll post another couple later.

[buachaille193]

Thanks, I've not done the Dalveen Pass in that direction. I had got the Muirkirk - Strathaven route in mind for a loop I was making up.

[alangla]

Another one - http://goo.gl/maps/anFcw - again, I probably wouldn't do this in a one-er. The A708 up from Moffat to Selkirk is pretty bumpy, normally I'd just to straight to Selkirk via the M8/A720/A7 but
a good alternative is to short-cut from Moffat to the A721 junction via the A701, the Devil's Beef Tub. A703 from Peebles to the A720 is worth doing as well. TBH, most of the A roads in the Lanark, Biggar, Galashiels area are pretty good & well worth exploring, on the other side of the M74, the Ayrshire sections of the A70, A71 are OK but nothing special. Worth doing if you want a relaxing run rather than anything challenging. A70 from Douglas to Cumnock isn't bad I guess.

I'm sure you're aware of this, but beware the wildlife, especially shortly after dusk. Deer are always a problem, especially on things like the A84 and I've found grouse/pheasants etc to be a real menace in the borders. I remember one run on the A708 just after dark a couple of years ago, 3 full emergency stops from 60 in the space of a few miles after leaving Selkirk, all for grouse on the road. They're just idiotic animals & don't appear to have any sense of danger. The sheep generally keep out the way but as ever you do get the odd silly one.

[JM]

alangla said:

The sheep generally keep out the way but as ever you do get the odd silly one.

I was on the A708~B709 a couple of weeks ago and the sheep are nowhere near as traffic savvy as they are in the highlands.

[spitsfire]

JM said:

alangla said:

The sheep generally keep out the way but as ever you do get the odd silly one.

I was on the A708~B709 a couple of weeks ago and the sheep are nowhere near as traffic savvy as they are in the highlands.

Beware the sheep! There was a bizarre insurance statistic I recall from somewhere about it being more likely you'd write your car off with a sheep than have it stolen if you lived in Highlands/Islands postodes.

Back on topic, if you're setting off from Glasgow or nearby I'd recommend Duke's Pass to Stirling and then back through Balfron; I always liked setting off an hour before dusk when there are fewer tourists on the road, but it's still light. You'll get a fantastic drive with some of the best scenery in the UK.

Here's an in-car of Duke's Pass - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kvg2MfcBm0

[Red Devil]

buachaille193 said:

Thanks. Have done Dalvine Pass.

In that case try the Mennock Pass - B797 from Abington via Leadhills to the A76 between Thornhill and Sanquhar.

If you want to venture a bit further afield into Dumfries and Galloway, turn left onto the A76 to Thornhill then
A702 west to Moniaive
B729/B7000/A702 to St John's Town of Dalry
Either A713/A712 or A713/A762 to New Galloway
A712 to Newton Stewart
A714 towards Girvan and turn right here to Glentrool and Straiton.
B7045 to the A77 north of Maybole

The Duke's pass is a cracking drive.

spitsfire said:

Here's an in-car of Duke's Pass - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kvg2MfcBm0

The Focus gets far too close to the biker @ 1:30 and the Imprezza gets well out of shape @ 4:37
Just as well that car coming the other way wasn't there 5 seconds earlier.

Nil points.

[Lancs Dave]

And to think I got a 4 month ban for breaking a speed limit in the middle of nowhere.

No way I would drive like that on public roads. Go get a trackday boys

[spitsfire]

Red Devil said:

The Focus gets far too close to the biker @ 1:30 and the Imprezza gets well out of shape @ 4:37
Just as well that car coming the other way wasn't there 5 seconds earlier.

Nil points.

Yeah, I wasn't so keen on their driving, but it does show the road very well They were very, very lucky at 1:15. I almost clipped a bus going round there at a far lower speed a couple of years ago; the corner is completely blind as you enter it, so you have no idea what's coming the other way, be it a car, bike or bus!!

[buachaille193]

Finally got the Duke's Pass both ways this evening. Fun drive, but maybe a little earlier in the evening would have been better for the return leg at least. It was starting to get a little dark.

Still much fun was had.