Inspiration for a small UK road trip

[Si 330]

NC500 was planned but COVID stole the dates, it was a trip with my son, to mix his passion for cars and photography. He’s off to uni in September, and we just don’t have 4 to 5 days available to do the NC500.
Time available, leave Leeds early evening on a Saturday be back in Leeds Tuesday night, between now and mid July.
The criteria great driving roads with excellent photo opportunities.
My thoughts we can get a decent way in to Scotland on the Saturday night, that leaves Sunday and Monday for touring round, Tuesday head home.
Suggestions for a 2 / 3 day loop?

Alternatively can a strong case be put forward for the lakes or Wales.

[rayny]

Does this thread put forward a case for Wales :
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Si 330]

I read that after posting and also a chap did the NC500 in a day.

[MikeGTi]

I'd say that driving and scenery wise, you're not going to beat the Highlands—Perhaps some long days to bag as many miles as possible?

I've got the route plans from my 4 day trip that I can share for you to bastardise if you want to ping me an email?



edited because I couldn't count how many days I was driving for...

Edited by MikeGTi on Monday 19th June 10:19

[Lotobear]

I would head for the North Pennines via Brough and Middleton and then do a loop through the Scottish Borders, you could take in Duns and the Jim Clark Museum, then head back down the Northumberland coast and back to Leeds via the Durham Dales and Yorkshire Dales.

Or the Northumberland 250?

[Tye Green]

huge selection of great driving roads and scenery in the area defined by A1M / A68 / A59-A65 & Peebles. leave out A66, A69, A68

[scottos]

For the time available i'd be heading up to the Cairngorns via the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines, Kielder Forest/ the borders roads etc

It's stunning up there and the roads are mega, similarly to all the other roads on the way. Watch Henry Catchpoles Aston Martin N430 drive on the Old Military Roads and it details the Cairngorns aspect pretty well!

[Si 330]

The military road is on a list of that would be nice to fit in, also my son wants the road from Skyfall.
MikeGti very kindly emailed some routes he used.
It’s coming together.
Henry C already has me wanting to get to Mallorca for a couple of roads he did in a boxster.

[loskie]

Take the slow scenic way to Mull of Galloway, head north over the hills to Ardrossan. Ferry to Arran then to Kintyre (if time Islay) then home via Glasgow's transport Museum.

[coppice]

Ignore any route with a name . Get a road atlas , look at the area between Upper Teesdale, Berwick on Tweed , Stranraer and Penrith . Get in car and go , and explore the roads less travelled

[gdr]

Si 330 said:

also my son wants the road from Skyfall.

Was down Glen Etive a couple of weeks ago hill walking. IMO road is too busy and a bit too potholed to be worth it just for a drive. Nice views but doesn't look particulary like it did in Skyfall these days. No choice if you want to walk up Ben Starav though.

[scottos]

Si 330 said:

The military road is on a list of that would be nice to fit in, also my son wants the road from Skyfall.
MikeGti very kindly emailed some routes he used.
It’s coming together.
Henry C already has me wanting to get to Mallorca for a couple of roads he did in a boxster.

I went up last Tuesday and that was going to be the route we took after we got to the top of the military road, over the Glencoe, Skyfall location and back South via Dukes and Mennocks passes but there had been a landslide on the road we wanted to take over to Fort William and the detour was 114 miles, we just didnt have time.

We just went home via the military road but in reverse. An excellent days driving other than the wasted 2 hours because of the landslide, some 18 hours door to door, some 15 of that driving

[magpies]

Some great roads in Durham/Northumberland

Where are you booked in to stay?

[Mr Tidy]

I Just came back from a two day trip around the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Pennines and had a great time - even if I was away for 4 days because I live 250 miles away!

Some brilliant roads that aren't too busy and don't have cameras.

[PistonbrokePaul]

I went upto the highlands a few weekends ago and had a few mates do Preston to Garve (between Inverness and Ullapool) in a day each way, up on the Friday and back on the Monday so it is possible but would only leave you a couple of days to get out so you would have to be very organised (imo) to maximise each day, especially if you are planning lots of stops for photography.

We did:
Day 1 - Garve >Ullapool > Lochinver (pies) > Kylesku Bridge > Laxford Bridge > Lairg
Day 2 - Kinlochewe > Shieldaig > Bealach na Ba > Applecross > Lochcarron > Achnasheen > Garve



If you wanted to do the Lake District, there is plenty of places and good roads but due to time of year, you're going to struggle with tourists who can't drive so might end up being more frustrating than doing a highland trip, even though it's more "local" to Leeds, although if you did a drive early morning that might yield some good photography and clear roads too!

[loskie]

"tourists"

Remember please you are tourists too and it's not a feckin race track.

Thanks and please enjoy.

[coppice]

Quite - tourists who want to enjoy the scenery aren't necessarily 'bad drivers' ,whatever that means . Round here, between Moors and Dales, it is rarely tourists who are the problem , but angry young men in pickups with silly, aggressive names - do they do a Molester I wonder? Rather too many of that demographic drive like tts down single tracks , while scattering Costa cups across the countryside.

[PistonbrokePaul]

Apologies, that wasn't what I was trying to suggest. I was more thinking of the latter example of people who drive like the roads are a personal race track and leave litter everywhere, rather than those who want to come and enjoy the scenery of our national parks.

[Si 330]

Setting off tomorrow evening, weather looks pants!! But no other opportunities to go before we get rid of No 2 son to uni.
The plan was camping, now booked a hotel for the first night.
It is what you make it…..

[leggly]

Si 330 said:

I read that after posting and also a chap did the NC500 in a day.

There is absolutely no point in going around the north coast in a day. It’s idiotic. The NC 500 is nothing but marketing ploy and to be honest, most people up here would be glad to see the back of it. It’s just a road! If you want to drive 500 miles in a day there are better places to do it. IF you want to appreciate the scenery and wildlife of the highlands, come on up. A week is fine but you’ll be back for longer stay if you get it.