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Jan 15, 2007 19:50:22 GMT
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Hi,
I'm planning a major jaunt in the Husky, basically East Kent to Central Scotland. Only I hate motorways and motorway service stations! I was going to follow the basic plan of using motorways to bypass large towns and going up the A roads in between them.
So, what are your recomendations for good A roads to drive down, decent cafes, diners, petrol stations, picnic areas and other places to stop.
I figure this forum must cover most of the UK so let me know...
Cheers
Graham
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Jan 15, 2007 19:55:24 GMT
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Dunno about the roads, but Ginsters always do it for me on long trips..... just a shame you can't get that instant hot coffee in cans anymore.
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Prius T-Spirit, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa 75 TSpark Veloce, Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda VFR750FT, Ducati 750SS, BMW R100RT, Hongdou GY200
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Jan 15, 2007 19:58:14 GMT
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shell stations sell decent coffee
whats your destination?
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Jan 15, 2007 20:00:10 GMT
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Well over the tops of the North York moors or Dales would be a lovely journey
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Jan 15, 2007 20:02:28 GMT
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It's odd - I work for one of the biggest coffee companies in Europe, but hardly ever manage to stop for a coffee.
Do all Shell stations have decent coffee machines? - any others to be recommened?
We have machines in Texaco stations, but I don't have many of those on my area.
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Prius T-Spirit, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa 75 TSpark Veloce, Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda VFR750FT, Ducati 750SS, BMW R100RT, Hongdou GY200
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Jan 15, 2007 20:34:10 GMT
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How about the original Great North Road?? From Wikipedia The A1 runs out of London through Islington (where Upper Street forms part of its route), up Holloway Road, through Barnet, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn, Stevenage, Baldock, Biggleswade, Sandy, and St Neots. Continuing north, the A1 runs on modern bypasses around Grantham, Newark-on-Trent, Retford, Bawtry, Doncaster, Knottingley, Garforth, Wetherby, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Scotch Corner, Darlington, Durham, Chester-le-Street, past the Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead, around Newcastle upon Tyne, Morpeth, Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, into Scotland, past Dunbar, Haddington and Musselburgh before finally arriving in Edinburgh at the East End of Princes Street near Waverley Station at the junction of the A7, A8 and A900 roads. If you look at a road atlas you can make out the original A1 running close to the A1M/A1 as it is now...where it makes a major diversion from the original route it's pretty apparent. See also www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/1.shtmlwww.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/contents.htmwww.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/a1m/From my own experience, I'd do the A1 as far as Newcastle, then take the A69 towards Carlisle, then turn North on the A68 just before Hexham and cross into Scotland at Carter Bar, the A68 is an AWESOME road. Eateries?? www.transportcafe.co.uk/Sausage, Egg, Chips, Lard ;D Proper 60's greasy spoon-ville |
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Jan 15, 2007 20:59:08 GMT
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I wouldnt recommend the old A1 North Darlington up over (A167) its not a good driving road. From this area (North East) I would recommend coming of the A1 at the Barton turnoff (south of Darlington) heading up towards Piercebridge then upto to Join the A68 at Royal Oak then stay on to the A68 to get to Scotland. It is a fantastic bit of road as Briandamaged said. And great fun can be had at the humps between Hexham and Otterburn. I don't know which was most fun, going over them at three figure speeds in my AE86 or just reaching the top doing around 25-30 in Tonycocacolas VW Bus ;D ;D The Wear View diner at Toft Hill is worthy of a mention as a port of call here. www.geograph.org.uk/photo/272886 You could always come from the West Side and come up the M6 and then come off at Tebay then cross the Pennines on the A66 come off at Barnard Castle then drive past my house as you head towards the A68 ;D Depends where in Scotland you are headed really most roads are enjoyable across the borders even the motorways to be honest |
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Last Edit: Jan 15, 2007 20:59:50 GMT by PhoenixC
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Jan 15, 2007 21:31:34 GMT
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i second everything that involves driving between newcastle and carlisle, or carlisle to scotch corner. both are lovely sweeping roads which are gorgeous at 4am  |
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Jan 15, 2007 21:59:20 GMT
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,542
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Jan 15, 2007 22:03:19 GMT
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Leave home 6.00 AM. Saunter to & around London. Eat Breakfast at the Ace  Then you're pretty close to the A1 north..... |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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Jan 15, 2007 22:27:50 GMT
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www.offmotorway.co.uk/If you do decide on motorways, this may help you find alternative restaurants etc Edit: Hmm... it's not got a lot of stuff listed than I thought it did... This one maybe better www.offmotorway.com/
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Last Edit: Jan 15, 2007 22:29:56 GMT by rob0r
E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i
ETC
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you can get a fair amount of air if you choose to travel up the A68 at breakneck speeds like phoenixC did. ;D just watch out for speed cameras around west woodburn. I'm sure thats where mrsigma got caught. |
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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you can get a fair amount of air if you choose to travel up the A68 at breakneck speeds like phoenixC did. ;D just watch out for speed cameras around west woodburn. I'm sure thats where mrsigma got caught. If that's the road from Scotch Corner to Jedburgh, you have to drive it. It's the law! Blind crests and one of the best border crossings going... Many legendary tales have been created there. Great B&B just south of Jedburgh too... Log cabins next to a farmhouse. Real nice and cheap too. ;D As for the rest of it... Why not up through Essex, the fens, Lincolnshire and skirt the coast? Reckon it'd be pretty cool... Some tasty landmarks on the way and a whole load of retro seaside towns to boot. ;D |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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yeah bryn, junction 58 off the A1 and follow the A68 upwards.
i remember seeing a sign halfway up a very steep hill that read "max recommended speed 30mph".
phoenix did it at about 120!!!!!!!
it felt like he had created zero gravity, and i felt like i was gonna puke.
;D
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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It's amazing isn't it? My first drive up through there was with a bunch of motoring writers in an XR4i, Silvia turbo, XJS V12, Pug 106 and a Nova SRi (REVs magazine!). I swapped between the Jag and a Ford Galaxy with the photographer and all his gear.
Trouble was the photographer was used to taking the blind crests on a bike and kept on telling me what speed to take them at. I don't know what worried me more, his faith in my driving or in the Galaxy, as I'd only just met him and the Galaxy was a renter...
I know what you mean about zero gravity... ;D ;D ;D It could well be one of my favourite roads in the UK.
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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i think living so close to it, i take it for granted. I'm about a mile and a half from the 68 its self, and about 20 miles from hexham. so not too far to go for a jolly good drive. problem is i don't have a car i can thrash up it anymore. i don't think the lowered benz wouldnt take too kindly to it. |
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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I think living so close to it, I take it for granted. I'm about a mile and a half from the 68 its self, and about 20 miles from hexham. so not too far to go for a jolly good drive. problem is I don't have a car I can thrash up it anymore. I don't think the lowered benz wouldnt take too kindly to it. No way! You're that close? Like you say the Benzo might not be the ideal weapon though eh? No bad thing...  I'd get myself in a whole world of pain if I lived where you do. Squint your eyes, grip the steering wheel and say a little prayer to St Christopher for me next time you're up there. Ahh, memories... ;D |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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ah A 68 and military road memories..............
.........of farm traffic pulling out in front of you while your touching 80..........
........of sunday drivers slowing to 25 just over the peak where you cant see them......
........unmarked police traffic cars.........
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Jan 16, 2007 13:23:55 GMT
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I was planning on stopping over somewhere in the Lake District so I could visit a few stone circles while I was there... so, up the A1 and across on the A68 sounds like a plan so far... I think I'm heading for the middle of Scotland, a bit north of Glasgow.
Cheers
Graham
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Jan 16, 2007 13:28:43 GMT
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stone circles eh? put Castle rigg (near keswick)and Long meg (near penrith) on your list of visits. |
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Then you're pretty close to the A1 north.....
