Whats the best road in Britain?

[Diehard]

Well I have to ask because I have just come back from a 2 hour ride between Barnard Castle (County Durham) and Penrith. And between Alston and Penrith there is a little biker-cafe on-top of a big hill (can't remember the name) and going down that hill is (what I believe anyway) the best road I have ever ridden down! Very twisty, knee-down stuff, recently re-surfaced so slick like a track, and very FAST. My mate followed on a 9R and it was great (apart from miss-judging one corner and nearly going off the cliff). Will go back on a Sunday when the cafe will be open and more biker's around. Highly recommend. Oh and I also got 110 mph on the A66 back (not bad for a 17stone bloke on a 1990 NSR 125). Anyway after my showing off about what a good ride I have just had, what would you think is the best road you have ever ridden on and why?
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If I Die... I Die!

[McJamweasel]

The A537 Macclesfield to Buxton, better known as the Cat & Fiddle. Bend after bend, after bend.... and great scenery to boot.

[Diehard]

Come on jam honestly, 102 by my clock but 110 by my mates 9R next to me (mine seems to be a little behind juding by those 'show-your-speed' signs ya get). So to settle an argument, spilt the difference 106 mph. I was going down hill with a bloody good wind behind me but I didn't wanna say that! But honestly I was chuffed with that speed. Since I opened the powervalve and installed the new engine, I can cruse nicely at 80-85 without leaning down over the tank or flogging it.
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If I Die... I Die!

[M1ke]

A543 better known to some as the denbigh moors. In this country I have never found a better road.

Its up near the north coast of wales, just south of rhyl and about 30 miles from the horse shoe pass (A542)

Also for those near stoke I recomend the A519 from newport to newcastle under lyme.

Around Shrewsbury one of my favourite local roads is the B5062 that runs from Shrewsbury to Newport. Some proper knee down bends on some bits of that road and you can also lift the front wheel over some bumps (which is fun on the cbr250) Maurice nearly highsided on a bit of that road

[McJamweasel]

Both your speedo and your mate's will be miles over. 95mph tops - thats if you're lucky.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Diehard]

Sorry jam we're gonna have to agree to diss-agree, I felt like I needed to change gear again cos I was red-lineing in 6th, and so had to slow down cos I didn't want my engine to 'pop'... I can see I'm gonna have to do that speed past a camera and post the pic on the web-site before you'll believe me . Maybe I can borrow a radar-gun off me dad .
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If I Die... I Die!

[Frost]

[aqualung1]

i have a few special roads for letting off steam (one i shall keep to myself as seems untouched), the A272 is fun,and the A35 but watch out for police/speed cameras on both

[Mr C]

[stinkwheel]

Without a shadow of a doubt, the best biking road is the UK is the Applecross road near Shieldaig in the Scottish Highlands. It is an unclassified road which goes in a circuit of about 24 miles with a vertical deviation of 800m. It is single track and consists of a single, pristine road surface all the way. Heartside looks like a motorway compared to this road (both in straightness and volume of traffic)

It is the closest thing you will find to a racetrack in the UK and Highland region has two static speed cameras (both in Inverness), two 'safety camera' vans (shared out over one of the largest regions in the UK) and the coppers all drive landrovers or vans.

All the other roads up in that area are very similar, nae speed cameras, pristine road surface and virtually no traffic, I recorded an AVERAGE speed of 68mph on the B class roads between Kyle of Lochalsh and Fort William on a GPZ500s (that's a full tank of fuel) There is NOWHERE in England you can do that!

Look! (Applecross road)
https://www.sentient-entity.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/travelshots/uk/bealachnaba3.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Jebus]

Hello,

The lack of speed cameras along with the great roads are the main reason's why i am happy about moving to Scotland with my family, some time next year.

The next one is that lots of country pubs to go on the pull in me landrover.
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2nd time around CBT: 8/9/11
125 Varadero

[Shaun]

[map]

Like to nominate the A939 from Nairn through Grantown-on-Spey down to Balmoral (ish). Not fast, not wide, has sheep but left me with the widest grin
Also has the advantage of an excellent cafe at Bridge-of-Brown and you can dive off for the whisky distillery at Glenlivet.

I think if you pick any A road in Scotland north of Loch Lomond with more than 2 digits you'll probably enjoy the scenery

[Robin]

Diehard, it is a great road and not too far from me.

Hartside cafe at the top is normally quite full of bikes at the weekend.

A word of warning though, take it steady on the pass! You might well be able to handle it but often there are other bikes and cars about who get caught out and often end up on the wrong side of the road (ie in your line). Almost everytime I've been up there on a weekend I've seen somebody pulling a bike out of a hedge, or even worse.

Also there are no fixed speed cameras around there that I know of, but the local police do often patrol the roads around there and the mobile 'safety' camera van can be found on many of the roads leading up to Hartside. The local bike police are sensible and tend not to concentrate on minor offences but they do come down heavy on people riding like tw@ts. A little bit of moderation might just save a liscense. Slow down through the villages.

I do know a better road on the area, but I'm not going to tell cos I want to keep it to myself

[skida]

The road you travelled on from Alston to Penrith is the A686 and you joined it halfway along. It is indeed a fine road and has been listed by the AA as one of the finest in the world. Robin is right about the need for care; not just on the bends but also in the villages. I got my first points in 30 years two weeks ago in Melmerby after getting caught out by a mobile camera van doing 37 in a 30.

The A68 from Bishop Auckland to the Scottish Borders is also a fine ride.

[Robin]

[Diehard]

[skida]

You shouldn't be so selfish Robin, good roads are for everybody. Although I was hacked off at the AA for encouraging box drivers to get on the A686 which tends to spoil the riding.

[Diehard]

I ain't one for speeding through villages, basically because one of my mates kids were killed by an iddiot doing 60mph over a small crest in a village. The kid was only 9 months old.
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If I Die... I Die!

[skida]

I agree with you Diehard. I too slow right down through the villages. I just got caught out going down a steep bank on the overrun thinking "What's that van parked there for?"

[gingernuts66]

Stinkywheely I spent 6 days in applecross at the pub in May this year and found the whole area you mention stunning.Every hill and corner revealed something special and the roads were awesome.The pass of the cattle going over is stupendous and for exhilaration the road to Ullapool

[Fallen Angel]

[tgabber]

[JonB]

[loueye2000]