BEST OF BURGESS’ B-ROADS
‘B-road motoring with excellent food en route’
Our starting point is Great Gidding, a sleepy Huntingdonshire village with an excellent pub whose car park is often used as a staging post for cycle rallies. Begin your trip well before or shortly after one of these events; no point in struggling along twixt pushbikes. Clearing the village puts you straight into a challenging national speed limit (NSL) road along a tightening left-hander that will quickly see a softly sprung car heeling over; settling the car sees a right-hand hairpin I advise you not to cut in the name of safety. Winwick Road turns fast and intestinal for the next mile or so – allow plenty of time to scrub off speed as you approach Winwick itself; its lanes narrow as you exit. Tall hedges give a road-rally feel; clearing Winwick brings the NSL back into play. Don’t get carried away before the junction - you’re turning left at the end and there’s very little run-off.
You’re heading for Kimbolton – and this stretch is strictly enforced. The Swan in Old Weston offers excellent food, but a large matrix sign will tick you off if you’re foolish enough to speed through the village. The B660 rollercoaster picks up its rhythm again, enough to make you almost miss the left-hander for Catworth. A gently undulating NSL road (often strewn with panicking wildlife) takes you over the A14 into the village; the staggered junction can be a pain if people decide to pull out in front of you. Make sure to look left as you leave the twisty village of Catworth – the local service station always has an unusual selection of classics in stock in various states of [dis]repair. The final leg connects you to Chelveston via Covington; the right-hand bend takes you to a narrow road, which looks like you’re darting into someone’s drive. Mind the suicidal pheasants and slow down for the wooded area – or else you’ll bottom out. Turn right on to the B645 and open the car out for the final stretch before stopping at the Star and Garter pub in Chelveston for lunch.