Conference terri::cars_uk

206.0. "Best Road in the UK\" by RDGENG::DEARLOVE (Happiness is your own Cluster !) Sat Jun 25 1988 00:56

How about a few replies on your votes for the 'BEST ROAD IN THE UK'. 

You know, the ones that even after spending all day driving on some motorway
or other and your body is beginning to seize in one position , you still turn 
off on a slight detour so that you can savour how roads used to be before every
home had 2.4 cars and they are all on the road at the same time as you !. These 
are the sorts of roads where you can explore the 'performance features' of your 
vehicle.

My votes are :-

A419 - Swindon to Hungerford via Aldbourne (now a B road I think)

	A fine stretch of tarmac which sweeps over the downland south-east of
	Swindon. Certainly beats the drag down the M4 to Reading which never 
	gets any shorter.

A423 - Coventry to Banbury

	A nice alternative to using the M6/M1 or the A34 for a return to the
	congested south from somewhere north of Birmingham. If you are lucky
	and dont get caught behind some lorries you can make good progress.
	There are a couple of sections of dual carriageway where you can breeze
	pass the slower traffic and get back to the serious business .

A515 - Buxton to Ashbourne

	Only been down this road once with a friend in an Austin Maxi when we
	fell in with a 3.0 litre Capri. Nearly had the front tyres off the rims 
	through every corner trying to keep up !!!.

B6277 - Middleton in Teesdale to Alston

	This is a 'MEGA-ROAD' which comes recommended from a CAR magazine 
	article from a few years ago. 15-20 miles of Pennine moorland road
	(with Snow Poles to keep you on track in bad weather) that climbs up to
	nearly 2000 ft across one of the most desolate parts of the northern
	England. All you have to worry about is the sheep and your confidence
	in keeping the car on the road. Once you get to Alston you can recover 
	in a beautiful northern hill town before doing it all over again on the
	return to Middleton. Well worth a 100 mile detour.

A82 - Crianlarich to Glencoe

	A superb way to the Western Highlands, which passes through some
	beautiful scenery. If you can keep your eyes off the scenery, you will
	be impressed as you screem over Rannoch Moor and then sweep down Glencoe
	towards the sea.

Try them some time and I hope you will be impressed.

	Mike


    

    
    There are some quite good roads in the south of England too.
    
    The A31 from Farnham to Winchester is quite enjoyable as is the road
    which goes over Newlands Corner and down through Abinger Hammer on the 
    way to Reigate from Guildford.
    
    Then there's the road from Salisbury to Thruxton, which is about as
    varied as you could want. In fact the whole trip from Ringwood to
    Thruxxton is enjoyable on a Sunday/Bank Holiday Monday morning at
    about 7 AM. :^)
    
    The A303 down past Thruxton from Andover and then take the road to
    Westbury is another great early morning drive, but then there's
    something great about driving in the early morning anyway. Maybe it's
    just the lack of cars.
    
    My least favourite road HAS to be the one from Farnborough to Reading,
    single carriageway with few if any overtaking places and lots of slow
    moving traffic. Sadly, unlike the others, I do it all too often! :^(
    
    Mark

    My favourite stretch of road is between Dalmellington and NewCumnock in
    Ayrshire in Scotland(also recommended in CAR magazine a couple of years
    ago)I can't remember the road number but it's easy to find.It's full of
    twisty bits downhills,uphills,sweeping corners you name it it's got
    it,and before I worked for DEC I drove it every day!,that reminds me I
    must try out my Renault 5 GT Turbo on it.
    
    
    
           Steven(from note 256.)