bendiest roads in the UK revealed - MINI2

Hat · #1 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 11:55 AM

Bendiest roads in the UK revealed

Most of the bendiest roads in the UK are in rural areas

Britain's bendiest roads - where drivers can face the same gravitational forces as on a rollercoaster or race track - have been named.
Most are minor country roads in hilly areas, although in sixth place was the A157 in Lincolnshire - a county generally thought of as flat.
A mile-long stretch of the B3081, between Cann Common in Dorset and Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, came out top.
One part of the road is called the Zig Zag Hill.

Top 10 bendy roads in Britain
B3081- Cann Common to Tollard Royal, Dorset/Wiltshire
A686 - Penrith to Melmerby, Cumbria
A537 - Macclesfield to Buxton, Cheshire/Derbyshire
A466 - Monmouth and Staunton, Monmouth
A4061 - Pricetown and Treorchy, Rhondda, Wales
A157 - Louth to Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
B2130 - Godalming to Cranleigh, Surrey
B6270 - Keld and Reeth, North Yorkshire
A39 - Bridgwater to Minehead, Somerset
B797 - Mennock to Warnlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway

Source: Continental Tyres

Last month, the B3081 was criticised after a study by Dorset County Council showed that 54% of the road's surface was of "poor quality".

The study, which was carried out by Continental Tyres, found that by driving at 30mph on the road the driver would experience the same lateral forces as he or she would while driving around Brands Hatch or on a rollercoaster. Tracey Hyem of Continental Tyres said: "At 30mph in an average family hatchback, some British roads are so bendy they exert the kind of forces you would expect on a racetrack."

good to see at least one of these - B6270 Keld to Reeth road has been used on the Tan Hill Run

SoggyCornFlakes · #2 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 12:53 PM

and the A537 is very clsoe the the Ball this year

Ade1986 · #3 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 01:05 PM

Ah good old zigzag hill that is a nice road, agree on the quality of Dorset they are shocking around my way.

Harpo · #4 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 01:21 PM

Zig-Zag Hill has featured on many an SCNM run - often both up and down, and on one occasion, the run split with one half going down, and the other half going up passing on the hill. Very cool.

"Reedy" · #5 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 01:24 PM

Travelled the A537, many a time

can confirm its bendy

Richy777 · #6 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 02:41 PM

I carnt belive The road from Penrith to Alston via Hartside pass is not on that list. It is one of my favs. plenty twisty bits with big up hills as well = very nice.

Beezerk · #7 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 03:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Richy777

I carnt belive The road from Penrith to Alston via Hartside pass is not on that list. It is one of my favs. plenty twisty bits with big up hills as well = very nice.

Yep, I agree.
The drive from Penrith across to Hexham via ALston and stuff got voted into the list of worlds top 10 best drives.

Richard Crofts · #8 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 04:06 PM

They want to try the A442? Road that runs between Telford and the south (Ludlow, Kidder, Cleobury mortimer etc etc) This is hell bendy and hilly too....ultimate S country...you need some oomph to power on out the bends and get by stuff!

MINI-Morgan · #9 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 04:49 PM

I have to agree with ZigZag Hill! Its fantastic! And i've even killed a gearbox on a car once going up it last year. Not a Mini obvously! Also the only place you can breakdown and see cars coming down the hill handbraking it around each and every hairpin corner. Pretty scary to be in the wood section with cars racing up and down the hill.

Shame Snakes Pass going between Manchester and Shefield isnt on there

paul wheadon · #10 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 05:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Richy777

I carnt belive The road from Penrith to Alston via Hartside pass is not on that list. It is one of my favs. plenty twisty bits with big up hills as well = very nice.

If you look closely it is no 2 on the list A686, Penrith to Melmerby, Cumbria.
It was part of M1LES's Hadrian Wall run about 18 months ago. We went up and down.............just to get a good feel of it.
I think Captain can confirm it was rather bendy, as he 360'd his yellow peril. just past Hartside cafe.
Great road for MINIs and bikes.

Hat · #11 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 06:45 PM

i remember that 360 - he was right behind me at the time

hartside was a great blast, chasing bikes & terrifying tourists

Richy777 · #12 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 07:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by paul wheadon

If you look closely it is no 2 on the list A686, Penrith to Melmerby, Cumbria.
It was part of M1LES's Hadrian Wall run about 18 months ago. We went up and down.............just to get a good feel of it.
I think Captain can confirm it was rather bendy, as he 360'd his yellow peril. just past Hartside cafe.
Great road for MINIs and bikes.

Sorry I must not have read it all, its the Melmerby , Cumbria that threw me. I driver the road a lot being from the north east every time I am over the west side for work its allways my route home in my Golf, but just carnt wait to try it out in the MINI next month, It might be one of my first mini adventures?

paul wheadon · #13 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 07:51 PM

One hell of a road to begin your MINI adventure.........................enjoy.

insane*mini · #14 (**permalink**) Feb 6th, 2006, 08:15 PM

Ok, I wanted the "This Thread Is Useless Without Pics" smiley, but I couldn't get it to work. But that's my statement.

Nev · #15 (**permalink**) Feb 7th, 2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

B2130 - Godalming to Cranleigh, Surrey

I drive this road about 4 times a week, including late in the evening! It is a twisty (and fast) road, but I am surprised it is in the 10 most twisty.

Good fun though, It is also the road that goes to the Top Gear track, and there are two very sharp corners just near the track, one which is almost a hairpin.