Recommended roads

[Gromit]

The seed was sown by Mr Bailey where it has henceforth blossomed into this thread for you good people to make others aware of your favourite stretches of UK Tarmac.

It must be noted that the management and members of Boxertrix hold no responsibility for the personal gratification or self-indulgent enjoyment (or points on licenses) brought about by pointing one's motorcycle down these routes.

Fill your boots people.

[Gromit]

Bagsy go first...

A39 Bridgwater to Newquay (approx 133 miles)

It's got the lot - from fast, open stretches of smooth Tarmac to bumpy and technical switch-backs. A couple of healthy 1 in 3 gradients thrown in too (Porlock Hill and climb out of Lynmouth). Best done out of season.

[Me-109]

Me next, me next! How's about:

Start at Hawes;
W on B6270 to Kirkby Stephen;
N on B6259 through Warcop to A66;
W through Temple Sowerby onto B6412 Culgaith to A686;
N on A686 Hartside Pass (cafe), through Alston, to J w/B6305 {Hexham};
E on B6305 to Hexham (shops, cafes etc.);
S on B6306 round Derwent Res. to Edmundbyers (J);
S on B6278 to Eggleston (J);
W on B6282 to Middleton in Teesdale (J);
S on B6276 to Brough to J w/A66 for routes E or W or straight ahead A685 to Kirkby Stephen (cafe, chippie, toilets) again;
S on A685 to J w/A683 {Sedbergh};
S on A683 to Sedbergh and J w/A684 {Hawes};
E on A684 to Hawes (beer, bed, etc.) to complete circular (OK figure-eight) route.

Pretty much the Oop North 06 tour and a handy reminder for those that may like to revisit.

[Gromit]

Another one (one of Andy Morrisson of RapidTraining's faves)...

Burford to Charlbury - leave Burford heading north on the A361, taking a right turn onto B4437 to Charlbury.

Only 10 miles or so but the B4427 is scary - a laxative in Tarmac.

[bigblackfalco]

Haven't done this one for a few years; I used to get a regular courier job from Heathrow to Tewkesbury.
The B4077 is the fastest B road I think I've ever been on.I love it because it is hardly used...you feel like the road has been made just for you.
Road surface is not perfect...lots of crests and long sweepers.
About 20 miles.Extremely big grin factor
Bailey.

[bigblackfalco]

Have to thank Gus for pointing this one out for me.
This is bike heaven.Scenary is spectacular.
Me and my girlfriend did this 2 up on my Tuono....140mph in places, using every bit of tyre and road available!
Very highly recommended.
Unfortunately often targetted by the Police for understandable reasons.
Bailey.

[PBBoxer]

Settle to Ribblehead (my favourite road , often missed,twisty, technical)
Ribblehead to Hawes (fast and open, popular)
Hawes to Leyburn (twisty but v quick a road)
Leyburn to masham (smaller road, tricky )
Masham to Ripon (A road and quick)
Ripon to Borobridge (very open and seldom policed)
South to A59 (very quick)
A59 to Harrogate (boring bit, policed well, but short stretch)
Harrogate t Ripon
Ripon to Pately bridge, throught to Grassington
Grassington to Skipton

Nice run, lots of places to stop. Corking

[Dog Tyred]

Fort William to Inverness to Ullapool via Dingwall. (A832 and A835 I think) Stunning roads and breath taking scenery (if you dare take your eyes of the road )

Also the first two thirds of the road to Mallaigg from FW. Once you are out of the built up area the road is stupid fast (if you wish) or just admire the fantastic scenery. After Loch Elit? the road becomes broken single track through the woods and there really isn't anything worth going beyond this point for anyway (unless of course your heading for the ferry!). My advice, when you get to the Loch just turn round and do it all again

[timbox2]

New one to me the other week, A442 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster


Yesterday, A39 Bridgwater to Minehead( If not too much traffic, lots of double whites, and narrow)


And my real favourite, anywhere in Northern/ Mid France, they put all our roads to shame, mind you Irelands getting there too, loads of Euro money spent recently.

[JoeC]

Following my recent trip to Okehampton in Devon, thought I would share these circular routes with you. I did not do all of these routes so please double check directions yourselves just in case I am inaccurate.

Okehampton – Shaldon - Dartmouth – Plymouth – Okehampton

A368 Tavistock
B3357 Two Bridges
Buckfast
A384 Totnes
A381 Newton Abbot
A383
A381 Teignmouth
A379 Shaldon
** BREAK **
A379 Hillhead
B3205 Kingswear & Ferry
** BREAK **
A379 Stokenham / Salcombe / Kingsbridge
B3274 Churchstow
A379 Plymouth
** BREAK **
A386 Okehampton

Okehampton – Lynmouth – Tiverton – Okehampton

A386 Great Torrington / Bickford
A39 Lynmouth / Lynton
** BREAK **
A39 Minehead
A396 Tiverton
A3072 Crediton
A377 Copplestone
A3072
B3215 Okehampton

Okehampton – Lynmouth – Tiverton – Okehampton

B3217 Exbourne / Monkokehampton / Dolton
A3124 Great Torrington
B3232 Barnstaple
A39 Lynmouth
** BREAK **
B3223 Simonbath / Dulverton / Brushford / Morebath
B3190 Brendon Hill
B3224 Elworthy
B3188 Chapel Ford
B3227 Waterrow / Petton / Shillingford / Bampton
A396 Tilverton
B3137
B3042
A377 Crediton
B3220 Winkleigh
A3124
A3072
B3215 Okehampton

Okehampton – Boscastle – Tavistock – Moretonhampstead – Okehampton

A3079 Maddaford
A3072 Holswothy / Bude
A39 Coppathorne
B3263 Boscastle
** BREAK **
B3266 Bodmin
A389 Bodmin
A38 Liskeard
A390 Tavistock
B3357 Two Bridges
B3212 Moretonhampstead
A382 Easton / Whiddon Down
A3124 Turn left
A3072 Turn left
B3215 Okehampton

Good luck and watch out for the muck from the tractors and cattle.

[horse27]

Nothing too exciting as I live down south but if I am heading to Portsmouth from London I take this route (rather than the A3/M3) ... very picturesque and some very nice biking roads.

Follow the A24 towards Dorking (stop at Box Hill for a coffee if you must)
A24 -> A29 (towards Ockley)
A29 -> A272 (near Billingshurst)
A272 through Petworth and Midhurst
Over the A3 at Petersfield and carry on the A272
A272 -> A32 (at the junction you can go left for Meon Valley to Fareham and P'mouth or right to go up the A32 to Alton and back on the A31 to Guildford and London ... nice loop)

Makes a dull ride I do a lot very interesting - can get busy in summer. The Meon Valley route (A32) is great - fast and twisty as it follows the valley) - few 40s and one 30 ... no cameras (but watch out for the mobile unit sometimes based opposite Bahnstormer on the A32 at Farringdon - but that's a 40 so you should know better!).

[Mont]

Re: Llandrindod Wells to Newton. A483

At Crossgates take the right A44 towards Kington past 'Water break it's neck', strange place name I know. The road and view is stunning. Hope you've not missed this bit.

[andy griff]

Bloody hell, a 7 year time lapse on the llandrindod wells post reply - would have been quicker to put a bottle in the sea