Good driving roads

Unread post by **RichardW** » 13 Dec 2010, 12:15

CitroJim wrote:In fact even getting there is good. The M6 through the Lake District is jaw droppingly beautiful...

This is not helping Toby, but....

The M6 is a mere peppercorn down payment

. Many of the main routes in the Highlands are spectacular - A82 from Crainlarich to Fort William (avoid the bit up Loch Lomond, that's just tedious and the road through Callendar to Crainlarich is much better!); the Road to the Isles from FW to Mallaig; almost anything around Ullapool; the A9 (it has a bit of a dangerous reputation, but that's probably due to everyone watching the scenery!). To name but a few. May is the time to come - weather usually not bad (for Scotland!) and the midges have not really got into their stride.

Hope you have a good day Toby!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Dec 2010, 14:32

Toby,

That's a good route

I know all of those roads. Hopefully there'll not be another soul about and you can enjoy them to the full

Going up Caen Hill toward Devizes on the A361, stop off at Caen Hill Locks and admire the engineering that went into the flight of 29 locks on the Kennet and Avon canal. It's quite something. You'll see how steep Caen Hill is and then imagine a canal going up and over it! On the other side of Caen Hill you can see some substantial earthworks that did the same for the now long-disused railway as the locks do for the canal.

Richard, Scotland. Yes, I must. I have an idea now for a nice holiday in 2011. You have sold it to me

evilally · Unread post by **evilally** » 13 Dec 2010, 17:27

RichardW wrote:
CitroJim wrote:In fact even getting there is good. The M6 through the Lake District is jaw droppingly beautiful...
This is not helping Toby, but....

The M6 is a mere peppercorn down payment . Many of the main routes in the Highlands are spectacular - A82 from Crainlarich to Fort William (avoid the bit up Loch Lomond, that's just tedious and the road through Callendar to Crainlarich is much better!); the Road to the Isles from FW to Mallaig; almost anything around Ullapool; the A9 (it has a bit of a dangerous reputation, but that's probably due to everyone watching the scenery!). To name but a few. May is the time to come - weather usually not bad (for Scotland!) and the midges have not really got into their stride.

Hope you have a good day Toby!

Seriously, an FCF roadtrip somewhere would be great. We could hook up with our southern friends in Glasgow or wherever, head up the A82 to Fort William then on to Applecross, have a BBQ then a few pints at the inn

Me going up the pass of the cattle 3 years ago (in October...a bit damp and cold):

View across to the Isle of Skye from the Applecross Inn:

I'm sort of going off topic, but if there's suitable interest, we should start another thread! FCF Roadtrip 2011

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Dec 2010, 17:44

evilally wrote: I'm sort of going off topic, but if there's suitable interest, we should start another thread! FCF Roadtrip 2011

Good idea Ally

I'm keen on it and just the reason I need to come to Scotland at long last!!!

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 13 Dec 2010, 17:49

CitroJim wrote:
evilally wrote: I'm sort of going off topic, but if there's suitable interest, we should start another thread! FCF Roadtrip 2011
Good idea Ally I'm keen on it and just the reason I need to come to Scotland at long last!!!

+1

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Dec 2010, 18:11

We'll lay on a petrol tanker as part of the convoy for those of us in V6s and Activas

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 13 Dec 2010, 18:13

I'll hold you to that

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Dec 2010, 11:30

Thats a great idea.

Also, providing I can get the Activa sorted for 2012 (including insured etc.) There is the Citroen Classic Challenge around France which should be good.

Updated the route to include a blast up the M5, needs to be done

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF ... 469177&z=9

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 16 Dec 2010, 20:57

evilally wrote: I'm sort of going off topic, but if there's suitable interest, we should start another thread! FCF Roadtrip 2011

Ill be up for that, certainly.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 16 Dec 2010, 21:03

cant remember what it was called but i loved the road that ran along st Mary's loch in the borders, me and the Mrs went on our first holiday there, been back three times and am hoping to go nxt year on our honeymoon, with the Activa

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 16 Dec 2010, 21:33

Scotland is within easy reach for me, and there are some great roads in places.

I think we should get a thread going?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 24 Dec 2010, 18:43

I'm off, in just under thirty minutes. The route for curious bods: Sydney - Temora - Ganmain - Wodonga - Wagga - Ganmain - Sydney.

Say 1600km; one day, one driver, one passenger.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 26 Dec 2010, 01:10

Varied the route slightly due to some incredible deluges, but got my 990 miles in. Aquaplaning with a trailer is outside even my ideas of "fun". Returned 0430H Boxing Day (a day, as I observed to my somewhat pious neighbour, that we celebrate the birth of the baby box).

Disappointingly no snakes spotted - dead or alive. Plenty of roadkill; mostly wallabies and wombats. Cleared some weeds, fed the mozzies generously, watched a wood duck in my dam, picked pears from the tree - petite old school fruit that reminds one how the trend to "supersizing" has even affected fruit and veg.

Brought my ID19 back seat up to Sydney for a scrub - the vinyl is basically undamaged but filthy, and it will come up a treat.

This abandoned community hall is about 25 miles from my place. I'm fishing for how to approach the locals to buy and relocate it... Would be a ripper, with excellent historical cred.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 26 Dec 2010, 11:33

Whilst not as impressive as addo's, I completed mine yesterday. 240miles in the end, which kept me out the house from 10 until 4.

Was pheasant suicide day it seems, I was following a Land Rover who hit a pheasant with some force. Then 45 mins later one ran out in front of me and as much as I hate hitting anything, I won't swerve so just hit it. Thankfully, no damage to the Coupé's notoriously fragile bumper. The entire journey was strewn with dead pheasants and coming out of Salisbury on the A338, about 7 were all over the road as if they'd been bowled through. They really are stupid!

There was a bit more traffic around than I thought and it wasn't until I hit Somerset it really thinned out and I started to enjoy myself a bit more.

The A356 was fantastic, there is excellent scenery and then just outside Beaminster an array of transmitters which I find interesting for some reason. Climbing out of Crewkerne on the A30 was brilliant as just at that point, my music and the scenery was perfectly matched. There is something special about a snow covered landscape and Brian Eno's An Ending (Ascent) combined together. Quick blast up the M5 which the Coupé seemed to appreciate - it was also fairly empty

The Mendips were stunning and Cheddar Gorge was brilliant. Climbing up the Gorge was fun. Coming back down was not!...

I'd chosen a minor road to get back to the A371 and on turning into it could see it was not a good choice. It was covered in ice and thick snow, and obviously went fairly steeply back downhill. Back end all over the place and was very bottom clenching. ABS was useless as it would stop the wheels locking, but wouldn't slow the car down which I needed to do as it was downhill and a narrow road. I found I could cadence brake more effectively than the ABS on this occasion and get the speed down. I really wish there was a legitimate (in insurance terms) switch for the ABS.

Salisbury Plain is good for a drive although yesterday visibility was useless with freezing fog. Good job I've got some decent screen wash.

All in all a great drive, not quite as spirited as it would have been due to the conditions and the unfamiliarity with the roads (from a speed camera point of view) but all the roads were pretty good for driving. Some were particularly suited to an Activa and next year I think I will do the same route with mine. I also used less fuel than I thought I would. Just a smidgen over half a tank. I've done 240miles and the range readout suggests I still have another 240 left. Not bad for a V6! I certainly wasn't trying for economy... Also, still the Coupé manages to look good when its now absolutely filthy.

Definitely one for the summer though - maybe an FCF Cheddar Gorge meet sometime?

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 26 Dec 2010, 13:07

Was wondering how the drive went Toby. I went out for a potter around the countryside in the afternoon. Rather picturesque and theres something quite tranquil about watching the world go by, standing on a hedge covered in a thick layer of snow.

Another FCF meet down here would be most welcome, I've not been to Chedder Gorge either.