DRIVING ROUTES

Top Ten Autumn Driving Routes? Your alternate suggestions please.
submit your favourite route HERE


1. The A466 through the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley.

2. The Dalby Forest Drive through the North Yorks Moors.

3. The drive to the Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire.

4. Ten miles of the A595 through the Duddon Valley, Cumbria.

=5. Cwmcarn Forest Drive in Caerfilli, South Wales.

=5. Aberfeldy, Loch Tay and Glen Lyon, in Perthshire taking the A827 and the B846.

7. Dukes Pass, a fantastic 10 mile drive through the heart of the Trossachs.

8. 15 miles of unclassified roads from Cannich to Glen Affric in the Highlands.

9. From Crief to Strathearn, Perthshire.

10. The four mile drive through Hamsterley Forest, County Durham.
With the 100,000th Convertible having rolled off the production line at Mini's Plant Oxford in September, the Mini One, Cooper and Cooper S Convertibles now account for almost one in every four Minis sold.

The poll was conducted on www.newcarnet.com between 27th September and 18th October 2006.

From a shortlist produced by the Forestry Commission, the Forest of Dean road scored a narrow victory as a result of its rolling tree-covered hillsides, its winding riverside route and the mystical Tintern Abbey.

Edged into a close second, with its spectacular 'Rigg and Dale' landscape is the tour through the Dalby Forest within the North York Moors National Park. The network of forest roads, including a nine-mile stretch up to a northerly plateau, is a must for adventure seekers. There is a £5 cost for entry to the Forest Drive. Access is via Thornton le Dale on the A170 Helmsley to Scarborough road.

More great drives?

Scotland emerged as the No.1 destination for multiple autumn drive attractions with no less than four of the top ten routes nominated located north of the border: Dukes Pass near Stirling, Glen Affric in the Highlands, the route linking Crieff and Strathearn and the roads between Aberfeldy, Loch Tay and Glen Lyon in Perthshire were all selected for mention.

1. A87 Invergarry to Isle of Skye, Scotland

2. A4086 "Pass of Llanberis" from Caernarfon to Capel Curig, North Wales

3. A827 Killin to Ballinluig, Scotland

4. B4407 Ffestiniog to Pentrefoelas, North Wales

5. A686 Penrith to Hayden Bridge through Gilderdale Forest, Pennines

6. B3223 across the Brendon Hills & Exmoor Forest

7. B3306 St Just to St Ives, South West

8. B4368 from Abermule

9. B466 from Chepstow to Hereford

10. A4069 Brynamman to Llangadog

11. A40 from Ross to Camarthen

12. B4465 and A46 from Bristol to Cheltenham

13. B3081 from Shaftesbury towards Ringwood

14. A39 from Porlock to Barnstaple

15. A2 Douglas to Ramsey - Isle Of Man

16. A82 Glasgow to Fort William

17. A264 East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells

18. A484 Llandovery to Tregaron

19. A368 Marksbury and Bishop Sutton

20. A54 Buxton to Congleton

21. B3135 Cheddar Gorge

22. A543 Pentrefoelas to Bylchau

23. A44 Goginan to Eisteddfa Gurig

24. B6013 from Higham to Buckland Hollow

25. A69 Allendale to Alston

26. B158 Brookmans Park to Hertford

27. A422 Banbury to Stratford

28. B1053 Saffron Walden to Braintree

29. A838 from Laxford Bridge to Lairg

30. B660 Kimbolton to Ramsey 

North East

B6265 from Grassington to Greenhow Hill and unclassified Greenhow Hill to Blubberhouses. Fantastic moorland scenery and lightly trafficked fast dales roads. Lots of long straights, elevation change with a good mixture and slow and fast corners. Several other good local roads but this route demands respect!

South East

The A319 Chertsey Road. One of the few roads I'd choose a hot hatch over a supercar. Nasty bumps and undulating surfaces show up too stiff suspension, narrow sections with blind crests makes it feel more like a rally stage, real sweaty palms sensation

Scotland & Northern Ireland

For me the best roads are in Scotland. Wide and smooth with few hidden junctions and challenging corners with great scenery. My favourite has to be the A82 Loch Lomond to Inverness. Over a hundred miles of heaven!

Wales

A470 from Merthyr Tydfil to Brecon. This 17 mile stretch of road takes you through the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It has everything from high speed corners to tight low speed corners, long straights, inclines, declines, brain-dead sheep in the road and a great burger van in the middle!! Its a must for any driving/riding fanatic!

South East

Branch off the M25 and take a B road. It is the best tonic for preventing road rage. One example is the B269 from Oxted towards Tonbridge. Tight and demanding in places, fast and open in others, it is a pretty bumpy road in places that rewards a good chassis as much as a good driver.

South West Sick of the caravan clogged dual carriageways of the West country on your way to Cornwall. Well, forget the A38 or A30 and take the B3212 from Exeter to Plymouth instead. Dartmoor takes no prisoners when it comes to demanding driving.

Home Counties
A413 Buckingham to Aylesbury

Sick of the M1 and M40 when trekking from the Midlands to London? These 17 miles of flowing bends are far more appetising than half an hour at Watford Gap services.

Wales
A481 Builth Wells to Radnor

A 15-mile high-altitude dash through the wilderness. Unforgiving, rewarding and a gateway to more Welsh driving gems.

East Midlands
B645 from St Neots to Higham Ferrers

This is the old A45, a major east - west trunk road. Now the lorries have moved to the A14 to sit side by side at 56mph, it is far more fun to average 56mph on the gently undulating parallel old road. This 17 mile stretch is a highlight with long ninety degree bends and sweeping curves.

West Midlands
A444 from the A5 to the M42

This 11 mile stretch starts at MIRA, home to a handling circuit for Britain's car industry. The result of their labours can be immediately tested on this well surfaced stretch north towards the M42.

North West
A537 Macclesfield to Buxton and A5004 Buxton to Whalley Bridge

20 miles of possibly the most demanding road in Britain. Make sure it is a clear day (it can be foggy up there) when you have an appointment in Manchester, and take this detour. You may have to budget for a set of brake pads though...

North East
A686 from Alston to Haydon Bridge

Forget the M6 and A1 and head up the middle of the Pennines inatead. Just make sure your car has enough brake pad life before you set out.

South Scotland / Borders
A708 Moffat to Selkirk

If you are heading north to Edinburgh and don't fancy the motorway around Glasgow, turn off the M74 at Moffat and take this fantastic road. The ten miles or so past St Marys Loch are worth the detour.

Scotland
A83 Campbeltown to Loch Lomond

The Daddy of the list. 100 miles of fantastic scenery, demanding bends, and a blast past Loch Fyne. As you near the end, you pass through a place called Rest and Be Thankful. Indeed.

Any More? submit your favourite route HERE