Where is it?? Top Gear Aston V12 Test

[13dave]

Having been lucky enough to own an Aston Martin Vantage V12 I really want to use it. I have taken it to the super roads in north Wales and Yorkshire Dales not to mention the Isle of Man. Anyway I and my lucky mate want to head off again for a driving week and would love to drive the road where Jeremy Clarkson tested the V12 Vantage.

You may remember it was the final episode of the (7th?) series and was a very iconic piece of filming with Clarkson saying he though this was the end of an era as cars like this would not be allowed to be made in the future. I guess he's right. Available to view on u-tube.

So does anyone know the road??

Thanks David

(My first Pistonhead mail)

[George H]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanberis_Pass

[JohnG1]

Dave,

Welcome.

Nice choice of car.

Photos please!!

[13dave]

Thanks George, Do you know it is LLanberis? As I did drive the pass last year and did not recognise it as the Top Gear test road.

[mikey k]

Pretty sure it's not Llanberis.
I'll have a watch and let you know.

Edited by mikey k on Monday 30th January 13:17

[George H]

13dave said:

Thanks George, Do you know it is LLanberis? As I did drive the pass last year and did not recognise it as the Top Gear test road.

No sorry, I just did a bit of googling.

[mikey k]

Jesus that is all over the place!
I reckon on these;

Evo Triangle
A4212 South to Bala
B4319 South out of Bala
B4407
A498 from Beddgelert
Bwlch-y-Groes (Pass of the Cross)

[Mako V12V]

I thought it was in the Scottish Highlands or near Fort William??

[mikey k]

Mako V12V said:

I thought it was in the Scottish Highlands or near Fort William??

There is a distinct lack of ARAF

[chris stephens]

..........looks more like Cat Hill East Barnet to me ;-)

[Jockman]

mikey k said:

Jesus that is all over the place!
I reckon on these;

Evo Triangle
A4212 South to Bala
B4319 South out of Bala
B4407
A498 from Beddgelert
Bwlch-y-Groes (Pass of the Cross)

I've done that with you Mr K.

That video did, however, look a bit more 'Scottish' to me

[krisdelta]

Must have been all those wild haggis roaming in the field to the right?

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

I've done that with you Mr K.

That video did, however, look a bit more 'Scottish' to me

We only did a small portion of that.
But like I say distinct lack of ARAF painted on the roads.

[Mako V12V]

Just so some people can keep up....ARAF is Welsh for SLOW which is painted on roads in Wales!

[BoPettermann]

It is definitely Wales like Mickey K said, at least a good chunk of it.

I recognise without having to look it up Y Lliwedd in the background about 50 seconds in, and then again when we see the road towards Pen-y-Pass 3 minutes 10 seconds in.

Other areas I recognise from the trips but can only locate them thanks to Mickey K's list, especially around Bala.

One advise I will give:
Head from Capel Curig towards Beddgelert and turn toward Pen-y-Pass while listening to An Ending (Ascent) by Brian Eno (as in the Top Gear clip) this is a beautiful experience in all weather if you are a partial to sentimentality and emotions.

[13dave]

Thanks Bo. Despite asking 7 years ago none of the replies were correct. And I could not get a reply from Top Gear or Andy Willman, so I had given up. However I will go to that part of Wales and will play ‘The Ending’ whilst driving on your suggested road- I can get emotional just thinking about it !

Still love the manual v12 Vantage although I use it less than I should. Thinking about it the suns come out so I will fire up the Aston and head for my favourite pub near Churchill Somerset

David

[rovcallum]

Isle of Man?

Wherever it was, it's one of my favourite pieces of film of all time. Love the soundtrack.

[Div97]

Hi David,

Did you manage to find out the location yet? If not, I've come across the names of the camera men and the director of that episode who I'm planning on mailing to ask the same. Although I did want to check if you already found it and save the trouble.

Thanks
Div

[13dave]

Hi Div. No I have not found out the road Top Gear used and would love to. If you have contacts inside the BBC camera crew that would be just wonderful.

I have had the Aston V12 for 11 years and still love it.
I was planning a driving trip with pal Roger in September
So would be perfect

Cheers

Dave

[rovcallum]

Just came across this elsewhere...

https://app.ultimatedrives.net/scenic-drives/uk/

Clarkson gets mentioned in various paragraphs, but notably reference is made of the V12 in 2012 in

"Scenic Drives Brecon Beacons – the A4069 – The Black Mountain Pass"