Best place for a driving hol in UK

[Karen]

Ive had my 182 since April but have only done about 1k.

I want to take it for a long drive/bit of a holiday as Im fed up driving around London in traffic - wheres the best place do you think? I was considering Lake District or Scotland???

 

[Pete]

Scotland has amazing roads. Id prob go there if you dont mind the mamouth trip up there!

 

[172mgw]

yeah i agree, the highlands of scotland(fort william glen coe areas) are superb for driving, just when u think u have seen everything, u go around a corner, and there is a new panoramic view waiting for u! oh yeah, the roads, some fast and smooth, others tight and bumpy, but the best on the mainland, without a doubt!!!

 

[Karen]

Sounds like Scotland it will be then! That was my first thought, both for the roads and scenery, I was only thinking Lake District as its a bit closer.

Im taking a mate for company but dont know if I will be sharing the driving!

 

[Don]

If you go up into Scotland...head up towards Inverness...there is a road called the A9...its 120 miles in total, there are 3 speed cameras at the start and thats it for the rest of the way!!! They have signs advising of undercover cops in unmarked cars...but I didnt notice any while bombing down there (erm...strictly observing the *cough* 70 mph limits you understand!!!!)

 

[Dai1916v]

The Brecon Beacons have some awesome roads in Mid Wales. I know Top Gear have done many Road Tests there & is very popular with car/bike enthusiasts. Stunning scenery as well. Gotta give Wales a mention

 

[bigtommy]

Quote: Originally posted by donnyo on 03 July 2004

have signs advising of undercover cops in unmarked cars...but I didnt notice any while bombing down there

thought that was the point of them being unmarked???!!!!

 

[Karen]

I didnt think of Wales and it is a bit closer...

 

[matlow]

wales is really good, but id stretch to the highlands if you cana manage it. less traffic for a start!

 

[bigtommy]

stop of at bruntingthorpe on one of their open test days. £50 an hour and thats an hour on circuit. u just write down when you go on and off the track and then pay at the end...which is nice

 

[Woof]

Cumbria. Do the Lake District thing, which is great in the summer.
Do the Kirkstone Pass between Ullswater and Windermere, which is the highest pass in the lake disrict.
Fantastic views on a clear sunny day and scary fun on a wet and windy day.

 

[ad220]

Wales, Quality roads around there. Tell me when you are coming down and Ill come along in my 172 and get a few other members to come - I feel a meet coming onhttp://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085089706__100-0032_IMG.jpg

 

[Ben H]

Make it Wales - and mid Wales to be more specific. Ive spent time in Scotland, but as a Welshie I can tell you there are no finer roads in the UK. Otherwise try south western Ireland.

 

[MAC30L]

Quote: Originally posted by donnyo on 03 July 2004

If you go up into Scotland...head up towards Inverness...there is a road called the A9...its 120 miles in total, there are 3 speed cameras at the start and thats it for the rest of the way!!! They have signs advising of undercover cops in unmarked cars...but I didnt notice any while bombing down there (erm...strictly observing the *cough* 70 mph limits you understand!!!!)

the A9 is notorious for catching speeders. Camera vans, unmarked cars. there is also more than 3 cameras by the way! I used to drive it every day!

 

[Karen]

Ooh, so many choices and they all look fun...

 

[jongsr4]

not sure where you are but if you are in the south and dont want to go too far, try the road that runs all along the south coast, it goes through Folkestone, Rye, Camber, Hastings etc, i expect its not a patch on Scottish/Welsh roads , but its a very enjoyable road none the less, and is much closer if you dont fancy going too far

Probably still better to go up to Scotland or Wales if you fancy a holiday though

 

[DeanRSi]

yeah, i agree Jon, its a very nice drive down there.

 

[Karen]

Im sort of Surrey/London area so easy get down to South Coast area, I could do a day trip down there even.

I just fancy about 4 days away, and preferably little traffic as its so dire where I live... Thanks for everyones suggestions so far, Im no closer to deciding though!

 

[Karen]

Just got back from the Lake District

Woof - I did your suggested Kirkstone Pass which was quite enjoyable but then made the mad decision to do the Hardknott & Wrynose Passes - cant say I enjoyed it... Saw a guy who had completely shredded his tyre so I was as nervous as hell in a 182...

Anyone else done that road?

 

[badinvincible]

isle of man? desrestricted out of town?

 

[TheCake]

What about Ireland people?

 

[Woof]

Quote: Originally posted by Arianne on 19 July 2004
Just got back from the Lake District Woof - I did your suggested Kirkstone Pass which was quite enjoyable but then made the mad decision to do the Hardknott & Wrynose Passes - cant say I enjoyed it... Saw a guy who had completely shredded his tyre so I was as nervous as hell in a 182...Anyone else done that road?

Glad you enjoyed it. The Lake District is my favorite part of the country, and im hoping to get up there to do some walking and driving soon.

Never tried the Hardknott & Wrynose Passes, think i would be nervous too without a spare in my 182!

 

[Karen]

Hardknott & Wrynose Passes are worth it though for the spectacular views - the road surface itself wasnt too bad, just needed to avoid the potholes and boulders along the edge of it and best do it early in the day when there arent too many other cars around. Going round one corner the ABS kicked in and the car was only going slow! Wast Water, when we finally got there, was amazing. There are certainly some spectacular backdrops to photograph the car in


[Edited by Arianne on 19 July 2004 at 11:03pm]

 

[b0redtodeath]

Quote: Originally posted by Arianne on 19 July 2004
Just got back from the Lake District Woof - I did your suggested Kirkstone Pass which was quite enjoyable but then made the mad decision to do the Hardknott & Wrynose Passes - cant say I enjoyed it... Saw a guy who had completely shredded his tyre so I was as nervous as hell in a 182...Anyone else done that road?

Driven Kirkstone many times, but the other two not in a car Arianne, only on a mountainbike

 

[TheCake]

I have two weeks holiday at the end of the August. Am going to do a driving holiday but living in the Suth East Scotland is a bit out of reach. I am tempted to just do Wales - but fancy popping over to Ireland and doing some of that as well.

Anybody done this?

Si.

 

[JAF 182]

The road that passes Bala lake in Wales is a stunner. As for Ireland Im not sure that the Michelin PE2 is designed for that much water!

 

[Cuppy 172]

I am going a short 1 weeks break upto Aviemore in scotland, anybody know of any good roads/speed cameras

 

[Faz182]

If you dont want to travel all the way up to Scotland or the Lake District, the Peak District has some excellent roads too. Only half the distance.

I live in Sheffield, so Im not far away. I took my Mk1 172 there every so often to give it a good clear out. I shall be doing the same with my new 182. Only had it a week.

Roads around Buxton, Chesterfield, Bakewell etc.

Be careful of the Derbyshire Police tho. They are sods.

Lincolnshires ace too. Think its the A47 all the way to Gt Yarmouth is a belter.

 

[S2 PTH]

yeh,

u cant beat cardiff- llandudno all on the A470

and i know a few sneaky shortcuts which are GREAT fun!

my best time (coming home from llandudno to cardiff) is 3h 25min, which i thought was great for a 1.4 8v 306.

dad did it in 2h 55min his previous T5 which is amazin considering he had to stop for petrol and i didnt stop once!

 

[BabyClio]

Brecon got good roads, nice and scary!!

 

[Karen]

Are Wales and the Peak District as scenic as the Lake District? It was a spectacular place but the roads were usually single lane, narrow and lots of them had walls either side!

 

[Tigger]

I was in wales last year - went to climb Mt Snowdon with a m8.

wish i had of had my car with me at the time - nice roads!

Wales looks like it has its roads laid down like a red carpet for the clio to play on

 

[007]

The A82 from Glasgow to Inverness - goes along Loch Lomond then through Glen Coe area to Fort William - then it follows Loch Ness and the Great Glen to Inverness. 170 miles odd - It covers every road type you can think of just mind the sheep on the Glasgow to Fort William stretch!!

Heres a pic I took about 30 miles North of Glasgow on the Northern tip of Loch Lomond before heading into the Highands:

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1090446521__LochLomondWallpaper.jpg

The A9 is the main road North but boring in comparason - there are unmarked police cars on both roads.

 

[Karen]

Oh wow love the pic. Wish I had more holiday and less work time as I feel an urge to visit.

 

[Martin]

Im not far from the Lake District and wouldnt mind going for a drive up there. I dont know any of the decent roads though, would prefer smoothish roads rather than farm tracks. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Karen]

I only found a couple of big A roads! Trouble is the most spectacular roads are the worst ie narrow etc. Plus the B roads didnt seem much like the B roads I know... There are some amazing places to visit though if you want to do some sightseeing as well.