I hope this doesn't turn out to be a mistake.

[Harold_Shand]

I shall be riding to Carlisle next weekend rather than driving.

I am hoping my Divvy will stay in one piece and that it doesn't rain and that I don't come across a convoy of sheep burning French HGV drivers with menace and Agincourt in mind.

Assuming all goes well, this means I will have the bike in what I understand to be biking country. I could do with some pointers as what roads around A69 way would be worth a visit. The military road that runs alongside the A69 looks pretty tasty, the missus tells me it's like a roller coaster. I was thinking of heading down to Maryport or a blat around the lakes, but I don't want to get stuck behind slow traffic you haven't got a chance of getting past. You know the type of thing.

So, I am looking for a recentley resurfaced, wide laned, curvy, picturesque, speed camera free, HGV/caravan free, underused piece of heaven within 40-50 miles of Haltwhistle. Ideally with little or no roadside memorials.
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Resurrection]

[stinkwheel]

The military road is a stonker .

A68 is something of a rollercoaster too, there are odd speed cameras on it though.

Maryport is down the road from me. Crappy roads with loads of traffic on them going across from Carlisle, nae fun.

A popular road is the A686 to Alston then up to Heartside Cafe. If you look at the map, there are four roads going from Alston. All are interesting, make up a circuit. Be carefull on Heartside pass though, it is very twisty and the cops like to hang about on it.

If it were me I'd go A686 to Alston, nip up to Heartside cafe for lunch then back down to Alston and pick up the A689 towards Stanhope. Up the A68 through Tow Law and Corbridge. Get on the A69 for a short while then pick up the A6079 for a bit and hang a left onto the Military road (B6318) then double back on yourself along the A69 to get back to Haltwhistle. Roughly a 100 mile circuit. Take a map, I ALWAYS get lost trying to get on and off the military road.

EDIT: If you really want to head over to Maryport (you'll need to follow this on a map, they are unclassified roads), go through Carlisle on the A595 and hang a right at the McVities roundabout (B5307) then follow signs for Brugh by Sands then Glasson and Port Carlisle. Through Bowness on Solway, Cardunock and Anthorn (following the perimeter road of the old airfield). Then Kirkbride and Abbeytown. Then onto the B5302 through Silloth (where I live) and carry on down the coast road to Maryport.

Now, these are mostly single track roads. There are lots of very twisty bits and a couple of ludicrously long straight bits (roman roads). So watch out for tractors (and where they've been). There is one gate on that route just past bowness so keep an eye out for the sign, it isn't usually closed though. This route is taking you MILES out of your way but I sometimes go along it if I have plenty of time and can't be arsed sitting in a convoy of traffic on the main road. Goes through a lot of very pretty villages and good costal scenery. DON'T go this way if the weather is shit. If it's a very high tide and there is water about on the marsh, the signs are there for a reason (you'll see what I mean if it comes up).

[Keen]

[Harold_Shand]

Perhaps if I informed them I could buy their village if I wanted to and knock it down to build a Taj Mahal shaped curry house, I would gain their respect and they would become more predisposed to us southern dandies...

I shall take my best face slapping gloves.

Helpful stuff, chaps. I hope it stays dry.

I am hoping also to fit in a trip to 'Dirt Pot' and 'Slaggyford'.

I'm looking forward to it now, I've taken an extra day off work. I may, unfortunatley, have to fit seeing the in-laws somewhere along the line...
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.