NorthWest and North East
WINDERMERE TO WASDALE Best for: Confident drivers with a taste for adventure. Distance: 30 miles What to expect: Start amid pretty lakeside gift shops and end up at challenging, steep mountain passes and England’s highest mountain. The route: Round the neat and genteel north shore of Lake Windermere, then head west into the wilder fells. Take Wrynose Pass and the fearsome Hardknott Pass, looping round the lanes to Wastwater and Wasdale Head. Top tip: Watch for Herdwick sheep wandering across the road. They think they belong here more than cars… Pitstop: The Boot Inn serves fine pub food and has cosy rooms in the heart of some of England’s wildest countryside (thebooteskdale.co.uk/new).
CROSSING NORTH ENGLAND: HADRIAN’S WALL FROM MARYPORT TO TYNEMOUTH Best for: History fans who fancy stopping for a stroll. Distance: 100 miles What to expect: A scenic adventure from Maryport where Roman fortifications began, along the little-known Solway Coast then a drive back in time following the world’s largest Roman remains, Hadrian’s Wall, across the rolling northern hills to the priory and castle at Tynemouth. The route: From Maryport follow the coast north, through Solway Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to Bowness-on-Solway, then east, taking the A689 to skip around Carlisle. You’ll need a road atlas to follow smaller roads close to the Roman wall and fortifications as far as Wallsend and the mouth of the Tyne. Top tip: Park at Walltown Quarry Country Park, (nine miles west of Housesteads) for a short walk to find the best views of the wall. Pitstop: Reward yourself at the eastern end of the drive with award-winning seafood at Riley’s Fish Shack overlooking King Edward’s Bay at Tynemouth (rileysfishshack.com).
ACROSS THE DALES: THE M6 TO THE A1, KENDAL TO DARLINGTON VIA BUTTERTUBS PASS Best for: Rolling hills and great driving roads. Distance: 60 miles What to expect: Quaint villages and traditional market towns along exciting winding roads with impressive views of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The drivers’ highlight will be Buttertubs Pass, once judged ‘England’s only truly spectacular road’ by Jeremy Clarkson. The route: From Kendal (or M6 J37) head east on A684 to Hawes, then turn north through Buttertubs Pass and east on B6270 via Swaledale villages towards Richmond and the A1. Top tip: Just behind the Green Dragon pub at Hardaw on the road to Buttertubs you’ll find Hardraw Force, England’s tallest waterfall. Pitstop: Take a short detour north of Thwaite to the remote Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub (tanhillinn.com). It attracts everything from car rallies to famous live bands.
NORTH YORK MOORS CIRCUIT: FROM THIRSK TO THE SEA AND BACK Best for: Moorland hills covered in heather and distant sea views. Distance: 100 miles What to expect: A circuit of small roads across the moors between the A19 and picturesque harbours at Staithes and Whitby. The route: Start at Thirsk, head via the Hambleton Hill to Hawnby, north through Blisdale on the B1257 and past Great Ayton on the A173. Take the A174 to Staithes and Whitby, before turning inland through the lanes of Eskdale and Rosedale to the A170 and back to Thirsk. Top tip: Rosedale Chimney Bank is a twisting stretch between Rosedale Abbey and Hutton-le-Hole. There’s an alternative route, but try one of the UK’s steepest roads for a driving challenge. Pitstop: The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk, is a renovated country inn next to the church in a village north of Thirsk (thecarpenters armsfelixkirk.com).
KENDAL TO KESWICK: THE WORDSWORTH ROAD Best for: Sights that inspire poetry. Distance: 30 miles What to expect: From steamboats to tea shops, museums to historic homes, this route includes the sights of the poet Wordsworth’s famous Lake District. The route: Start at the M6 or the town of Kendal, take the B5284 over the hills to Bowness, then follow the lake shore north through Windermere to Ambleside. Then use the A591 to head north between Thirlmere and Helvellyn to Keswick. Top tip: Stop for a short stroll in the poet’s home village of Grasmere. There are five free National Trust walks available here (nationaltrust.org.uk) Pitstop: Follow fellow poets Tennyson and Coleridge’s footsteps to find fine pub food at the Royal Oak, Keswick (royaloakkeswick.co.uk).
BEVERLEY AND THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS Best for: Wide open countryside, long straight roads and big skies. Distance: 85 miles What to expect: Beverley and Howden’s impressive minsters, Bridlington’s classic seaside and Flamborough’s dramatic cliffs. The route: From the M62 head for Beverley then Bridlington and Flamborough Head. Turn inland through Wolds towns like Driffield and Pocklington back to the M62 at Howden. Top tip: At Pocklington, Burnby Hall’s spectacular lakes are home to the national water lily collection (www.burnbyhall gardens.com). Pitstop: Splash out on the Michelin-starred food at the family-run Pipe And Glass pub near Beverley (pipeand glass.co.uk).
THE BRONTE WAY: FROM CALDERDALE TO HAWORTH Best for: Old mills, tea shops and pubs. Distance: 25 miles What to expect: The rugged moors and industrial landscapes that inspired the Bronte sisters around Haworth. The route: Leave the M62 at J24 and take the A629 as it loops dramatically down into Calderdale. At Sowerby Bridge follow the lane south of the river through Boulderclough to Mytholmroyd. At Hebden Bridge, the A6033 leads north across the moors to Haworth. Top tip: A short detour from Hebden Bridge takes you north into the pretty hilltop weaving village of Heptonstall, where writer Sylvia Plath is buried. Pitstop: The White Lion Inn, Hebden Bridge (whitelionhotel. net) is a tastefully modernised 17th Century boutique hotel with acclaimed pub food.
DURHAM DALES TO THE CHEVIOTS, BARNARD CASTLE TO JEDBURGH Best for: Exploring the wonderful
wilds of Northumberland National Park and the Scottish borders. Distance: 100 miles
What to expect: Quiet, scenic roads through unspoilt farmland, forests and moors.
The route: Take B6277 north west from Barnard Castle to Alston, then A689 to Lambley, through the lanes north to the A69, and on to the B6318 at Greenhead. This winds through pretty hills into Scotland where you turn on to the B6357 north to Jedburgh.
Top tip: At the old stone bridge over Kershope Burn near Pentonbridge you’ll be crossing one of the quietest but most picturesque border points between England and Scotland.
Pitstop: Just before crossing the border, the Pentonbridge Inn offers pub grub, fine food and stylish rooms with glorious views (pentonbridgeinn.co.uk). A MID-YORKSHIRE CIRCUIT: HARROGATE, RIPON AND APPLETREEWICK
Best for: Short walks, long views and traditional tea shops. Distance: 56 miles
What to expect: Rolling countryside dotted with historic sights and classic North Yorkshire country towns and villages.
The route: Take the A59 west from Harrogate to Bolton Bridge, then B6160 to Appletreewick, cut through the lanes to Hebden. The B6265 leads east to Ripon, then use the A61 to return to Harrogate.
Top tip: Leave time for sights along the route, such as Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Park, Brimham Rocks and Bolton Priory.
Pitstop: Craven Arms, Appletreewick (craven-cruckbarn. co.uk) is an atmospheric country pub with accommodation in pretty shepherd’s huts in the garden.