An english route for a change!

I've kind of nicked this out of an old AA magazine, but it's a good drive.

At Penrith, M6 jct 40, head east on A686 to Alston. Pass via Melmerby and buy good organic cakes, biscuits and bread from the village bakery.

Climb 600+ metres up Hartside Height. See the 'golfball' of the Aircraft radar on top of Great Dun Fell. Head into Alston - England's highest town.

Continue from Alston across into Northumberland to Haydon Bridge, where the road meets the busy A69 Carlisle-Newcastle trunk road.

Yeah a great drive out, on that road numerous times.

A regular route of mine when heading that way, always good fun, watch out for lots of bikes (of the motor and push variety), especially on sunny afternoons/evenings and all weekends, and the occasional unmarked Police bike too.

Not so much fun in the fog/cloud, I have a look from the M6 to see what the hills look like as I approach and take a less fun but slightly less grotty drive up to Carlisle and across the A69 in that case. In the winter, not that we're there anymore hopefully, it does get closed/ restricted to 4x4s so be sensible in the snow

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This is the best driving road ever, loads of hairpin bends with good views of on coming traffic due to height of roads. I was born and bred in Penrith so know it well. Cafe at the top is spot on.

Took my previous car up there, an MG ZS180 and it was the most exhillerating drive Ive ever had in 4 wheels!