Northumberland Roads

[Sagbrit]

Hi Three cars will be travelling up from Warrington and we are seeking advice on roads to rake us up to and around Northumberland. Previous trips we've driven around parts of the NC500 but now wishing to see much of North England. We have around 4 days for the trip.

Any guidance on routes would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

[bungalow]

a686 from Penrith over Hartside into Tynedale is the best route from the m6 into Northumberland.

[Lotobear]

Bungalow is correct - a great stretch of road.

And there is of course the 'Northumberland 250' which you could do

[Gad-Westy]

It sounds like this is more of a driving trip than a sightseeing expedition? If so, perhaps best to stay away from the coast. It's pretty but can be busy and the roads are nothing to write home about. Stick to roads west of the A1 and don't rule out County Durham and East Cumbria which are probably home to the best roads in England. Coming from Warrington, you could even incorporate a bit of the Yorkshire dales into your route up but definitely try to include Melmerby to Alston section on the A686 (best done heading north east direction). You could stay on that road to the A69 and then head up into Kielder and scottish borders around Newcaston and St Mary's Loch. Maybe make your way over to Duns (take in the Jim Clark Museum) then head South on roads slightly further East (A697 is great in places). Back through teesdale to Middleton then over to Brough and down through Yorkshire dales to home or even take a detour over to north york moors.

[brisel]

Gad-Westy said:

It sounds like this is more of a driving trip than a sightseeing expedition? If so, perhaps best to stay away from the coast. It's pretty but can be busy and the roads are nothing to write home about. Stick to roads west of the A1 and don't rule out County Durham and East Cumbria which are probably home to the best roads in England. Coming from Warrington, you could even incorporate a bit of the Yorkshire dales into your route up but definitely try to include Melmerby to Alston section on the A686 (best done heading north east direction). You could stay on that road to the A69 and then head up into Kielder and scottish borders around Newcaston and St Mary's Loch. Maybe make your way over to Duns (take in the Jim Clark Museum) then head South on roads slightly further East (A697 is great in places). Back through teesdale to Middleton then over to Brough and down through Yorkshire dales to home or even take a detour over to north york moors.

This

[coppice]

Yup - spot on . But FFS don't tell anyone else ....

[Steve_H80]

And when you get home remember to tell everyone how crap it was

[hiccy18]

Gad-Westy said:

It sounds like this is more of a driving trip than a sightseeing expedition? If so, perhaps best to stay away from the coast. It's pretty but can be busy and the roads are nothing to write home about. Stick to roads west of the A1 and don't rule out County Durham and East Cumbria which are probably home to the best roads in England. Coming from Warrington, you could even incorporate a bit of the Yorkshire dales into your route up but definitely try to include Melmerby to Alston section on the A686 (best done heading north east direction). You could stay on that road to the A69 and then head up into Kielder and scottish borders around Newcaston and St Mary's Loch. Maybe make your way over to Duns (take in the Jim Clark Museum) then head South on roads slightly further East (A697 is great in places). Back through teesdale to Middleton then over to Brough and down through Yorkshire dales to home or even take a detour over to north york moors.

Excellent post, how to ruin my riding season in one paragraph! There's some fantastic driving or riding there.

[Sagbrit]

Thanks all, hugely appreciated 😊

[steve51800]

The b6278 from Stanhope to Eggleston is worth a look, some nice flowing stretches however the surface is a bit patchy in places. Also the road from Langdon Beck back to St John's Chapel is nice, turn left in St John's Chapel and head back up the a689 past kilhope museum and Nenthead back to Alston.

[brisel]

There is the Rothbury loop in Northumberland that goes past Elsdon and Harwood.

On your way to or from Warrington, an alternative to the (wonderful) A686 Hartside Pass is to get off the M6 through Sedbergh, go via Nateby to Brough which leads you to the B6276 to Middleton in Teesdale, then up to Alston on the B6277. From there, the B686 up to Hexham and across the Tyne into Northumberland. I would recommend enjoying the many other roads in Teesdale, Weardale and Tynedale e.g. around Allenheads, Rookhope, Stanhope.

Another cross country route to Nateby is via Ingleton, Ribblehead, Hawes (stop for a break at the Wensleydale Creamery), Garsdale. The Buttertubs pass north of Hawes is fun but the roads north of Keld get narrow around Tan Hill. Avoid Gunnerside.

[TameRacingDriver]

Some excellent suggestions, I'd only add the roads surrounding Rothbury are all pretty epic. Also the roads around Belsay, Bolam Lake etc are worth a look. I think the posts here have you more than covered with great driving roads OP