Old A roads
Re: Old A roads
The A7,Carlisle to Edinburgh is designated the "scenic route" to Edinburgh ,the M74 being the preferred route.Certainly much quieter than the A roads on the Furness peninsula,my old stamping ground.Longtown to Hawick returning via Newcastleton or Hermitage castle makes a pretty good circuit.
Re: Old A roads
We,re all a"work in progress".cyclop wrote:The A7,Carlisle to Edinburgh is designated the "scenic route" to Edinburgh ,the M74 being the preferred route.Certainly much quieter than the A roads on the Furness peninsula,my old stamping ground.Longtown to Hawick returning via Newcastleton or Hermitage castle makes a pretty good circuit.
Re: Old A roads
When I last rode up the A7, there were brown signs every now and again proclaiming it was the "Historic Route to Edinburgh".
Great stuff, I'm sure everyone will agree. Good for the tourists etc. Good old turnpike and coaching route to Scotland's capital city from Carlisle.
Trouble was, on my way back south, the signs proclaimed "Historic Route to the M6".
I laughed so much, I nearly fell off my bike!
Great stuff, I'm sure everyone will agree. Good for the tourists etc. Good old turnpike and coaching route to Scotland's capital city from Carlisle.
Trouble was, on my way back south, the signs proclaimed "Historic Route to the M6".
I laughed so much, I nearly fell off my bike!
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Old A roads
I'm unsure now as to whether this thread is asking for roads which used to be A roads (or possibly which used to be the equivalent before road numbering was introduced) or ones which are still A roads but not too busy. If the latter, I'd nominate the A420 from the outskirts of Bristol (Warmley) to Chippenham and then the A4 as far east as Newbury. It's rather busy around Calne but the rest of it is similar to the A38 north of Bristol, as mentioned by the OP; wide, flat and straight, with in all probability less traffic than it was designed to cope with.
Re: Old A roads
Mick F wrote:Trouble was, on my way back south, the signs proclaimed "Historic Route to the M6".
I laughed so much, I nearly fell off my bike!
I keep a "Strange Sights" photo album for just such things, but I rarely get crackers like that! Closest that I remember is "Historic Downtown Parking Facility" in St Augustines, Florida... https://goo.gl/maps/iD62iybkqZu ... of course, it meant it was the best car park for the historic downtown area, but that wasn't how my brain parsed it either...
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
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Re: Old A roads
Flite wrote:The A6, Kendal to Shap. Quiet and spectacular
Plus1
Parts of the old Great North Road are still well worthy of a visit, with many of the old Coaching Inns still in existence, even if not licenced premises any more
Eg;
- The Swan, at Aberford (now sadly closed)
It still has its coaching bell!
Aberford itself is a splendid village on the old GNR, with a superb approach to it, from HookMoor (south side), with the magnificent Gascoigne Almshouses
- Brotherton 'Fox'
Where the York road, left the GNR
- Barnby Moor (Nottinghamshire), with the Old Bell http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/78933
- Markham Moor Hotel
- Scrooby Top, a magnificent building!
Not forgetting the CrossRoads Farm, at 'Bramham Crossroads'
Not seen, unless you know it's there & look for it!
I have a picture from when it actually was a cross-roads (taken from 'GNR')
Try this site
http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/contents.htm
Yorkshire Born & Bred. And, Proud Of It
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Re: Old A roads
Ah yes, I was thinking of the old A1 when I saw the title.
The first time I rode south through Aberford, I was very taken with the old coaching inn, much like Stamford in Lincs or Belford in Northumberland. A few hours later, I rode through Wakefield, and spotted that I was riding along Aberford Road, a sign of how important it once was.
The Great North Road is an interesting thing to try to follow, there are loads of variations.
The first time I rode south through Aberford, I was very taken with the old coaching inn, much like Stamford in Lincs or Belford in Northumberland. A few hours later, I rode through Wakefield, and spotted that I was riding along Aberford Road, a sign of how important it once was.
The Great North Road is an interesting thing to try to follow, there are loads of variations.
Re: Old A roads
BeeKeeper wrote:Flite wrote:The A6, Kendal to Shap. Quiet and spectacular
There must be other bits of the A6 which can be used, for example Carlisle to Penrith is quiet for most of its length.
I used to cycle the A6 between Derby and Bakewell quite frequently. Fairly busy but generally wide enough not to be a problem, scenic and relatively flat in a hilly part of the country.
Re: Old A roads
Richard A Thackeray wrote: - The Swan, at Aberford (now sadly closed)
It still has its coaching bell!
What was the coaching bell for? I'm guessing it can't have been a door bell! Maybe it was rung to summon the passengers when the coach was ready to depart? (I did google 'coaching bell' but the results were predictable... )
(For some reason I can't get the photo in my quote )
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Re: Old A roads
Dean wrote:Ah yes, I was thinking of the old A1 when I saw the title.
The first time I rode south through Aberford, I was very taken with the old coaching inn, much like Stamford in Lincs or Belford in Northumberland. A few hours later, I rode through Wakefield, and spotted that I was riding along Aberford Road, a sign of how important it once was.
The Great North Road is an interesting thing to try to follow, there are loads of variations.
There's a brilliant book (good to read in conjunction with the 'A1' link I gave
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00S ... HXD6W10THM
Bmblbzzz wrote:Richard A Thackeray wrote: - The Swan, at Aberford (now sadly closed)
It still has its coaching bell!
What was the coaching bell for? I'm guessing it can't have been a door bell! Maybe it was rung to summon the passengers when the coach was ready to depart? (I did google 'coaching bell' but the results were predictable... )
(For some reason I can't get the photo in my quote )
Yes, exactly, to summon the stable lads/grooms that a coach was arriving & needed fresh horses
And, also to warn passengers of the impending departure
There's also a sign too, or was (may have gone now?)
There's also this house at Bawtry, with the most wonderful address
Yorkshire Born & Bred. And, Proud Of It
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Re: Old A roads
Thanks. I wonder when the PO last issued a licence to let horses?
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Re: Old A roads
Richard A Thackeray wrote:There's a brilliant book (good to read in conjunction with the 'A1' link I gave
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00S ... HXD6W10THM
On the back of owning that book, I've ordered this one earlier today
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1870067797/r ... ra_ohs=0-0
Yorkshire Born & Bred. And, Proud Of It
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
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Re: Old A roads
The pre-1830's 'GNR' at Wentbridge, now Jacksons Lane
Note the present A1 viaduct in the background
This, plus next 3 images
One shows the same cottages back in 1910-1920
I know it's a FaceBook page, but as it's Public, they're apparently visible to non-registered viewer
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater
Plus, there's also this beautiful little milestone, partially hidden, you only really see it from a bike, a car-driver would pass right by, unless he/she knew it was there
Note the present A1 viaduct in the background
This, plus next 3 images
One shows the same cottages back in 1910-1920
I know it's a FaceBook page, but as it's Public, they're apparently visible to non-registered viewer
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater
Plus, there's also this beautiful little milestone, partially hidden, you only really see it from a bike, a car-driver would pass right by, unless he/she knew it was there
Yorkshire Born & Bred. And, Proud Of It
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Re: Old A roads
Very interesting Richard!
Very interesting indeed.
Just chatting down the boozer yesterday late afternoon about the village of Lewwanick, Cornwall.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.60166 ... 482961,15z
The Old A30 used to come up from Plusha and latterly (before the dual carriageway) the alignment turned north before the village. You can see the roads on the Google link.
Originally, the Old A30 went through Lewannick and past the Archer Arms opposite the church and then went north. Again, you can see the roads.
This is the village by the pub.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.60067 ... 312!8i6656
The Old A30 used to come up the side of the pub and turn sharply across the front.
How long ago that the Old A30 came this way, I don't know. Perhaps it wasn't called the A30 in those days.
I remember the Old A30 turning off before the village, it's probably only 25years ago that the dual carriageway was built.
Very interesting indeed.
Just chatting down the boozer yesterday late afternoon about the village of Lewwanick, Cornwall.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.60166 ... 482961,15z
The Old A30 used to come up from Plusha and latterly (before the dual carriageway) the alignment turned north before the village. You can see the roads on the Google link.
Originally, the Old A30 went through Lewannick and past the Archer Arms opposite the church and then went north. Again, you can see the roads.
This is the village by the pub.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.60067 ... 312!8i6656
The Old A30 used to come up the side of the pub and turn sharply across the front.
How long ago that the Old A30 came this way, I don't know. Perhaps it wasn't called the A30 in those days.
I remember the Old A30 turning off before the village, it's probably only 25years ago that the dual carriageway was built.
Mick F. Cornwall
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Re: Old A roads
Mick F wrote:Very interesting Richard!
Very interesting indeed.
The Old A30 used to come up from Plusha and latterly (before the dual carriageway) the alignment turned north before the village. You can see the roads on the Google link.
Thankyou!
Did you see that BBC4 programme about the A30 a few months ago, as you say, (it was) very interesting indeed!!
Yorkshire Born & Bred. And, Proud Of It
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/
Generally to be found plodding along; with www.ackworthroadrunnersandac.co.uk
The 'Wheels go round & round' with; http://www.featherstoneroadclub.co.uk/