Five Star Roads:
B6357
Start: Canonbie
Finish: Langlee (A68)
Distance: 36 Miles
Road Width Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
I keep looking for excuses to use this road. It goes from nowhere to anywhere and gets better and better. The first 12 miles are fairly simple: fast straight sections that drop into, and out of, tiny valleys via steep hills and long hairpins. Then, after the turn to the B6399 (Another great road) the road improves until the highlight, a section up a deserted valley. Here you can see the tarmac reach into the distance and as you will almost certainly be on your own it, will be a case of foot down and enjoy. After the valley you head into miles of sweeping bends through the forested Cheviots that is British driving at its very best!
Direction Notes:
The Road joins the A6088 for two miles after 27 miles: turn left at the T-junction (signpost Jedburgh) and join the A6088. Rejoin the B6357 2 miles later by turning right on the hill exiting Bonchester Bridge.
5 Stars The Borders and Northumberland: Road Listing
B723
Start: Eskdalemuir
Finish: Lockerbie
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A quarter of an hour and fourteen miles of motoring excellence, this road is a wide enough and has a decent surface. I said in my driving notes “fast, very fast” which is not so much a reflection of the top speeds you can attain, but the speeds you can carry through the open corners. Corners where you can see the apex early, use the whole road, and power through.
5 Stars
Start: Eskdalemuir
Finish: Lockerbie
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A quarter of an hour and fourteen miles of motoring excellence, this road is a wide enough and has a decent surface. I said in my driving notes “fast, very fast” which is not so much a reflection of the top speeds you can attain, but the speeds you can carry through the open corners. Corners where you can see the apex early, use the whole road, and power through.
5 Stars
A701
Start: Moffat
Finish: A72
Distance: 26 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The best and most famous road in the Borders the “Devil’s Beef Tub” is awesome. It starts by running up out of Moffat through a few miles of wide hairpins, then sweeps by the source of the Tweed and finally carves its way through the countryside to its meeting point with the A72. The surface is great and very wide but the odd speed camera sign reminds you of the fact that camera vans do operate in the area.
5 Stars
Start: Moffat
Finish: A72
Distance: 26 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The best and most famous road in the Borders the “Devil’s Beef Tub” is awesome. It starts by running up out of Moffat through a few miles of wide hairpins, then sweeps by the source of the Tweed and finally carves its way through the countryside to its meeting point with the A72. The surface is great and very wide but the odd speed camera sign reminds you of the fact that camera vans do operate in the area.
5 Stars
Four Star Roads:
A6112
Start: Coldstream
Finish: Grantshouse
Distance: 21 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
The Mini Cat and Fiddle*, this road is great with maybe the best section of road in the borders region (A701 included). The road is split in two halves by Duns. The first half from Coldstream is not that great, mainly long straights punctuated by sharp corners or short twisty sequences. After Duns however, the road really comes alive. It runs sharply up Horsely Hill and then snakes down the other side into Gransthouse. Long sweeping corners, wide hairpins and stunning views over Whiteadder Water in the valley below justify the word I used in my driving notes; “Epic”. The only thing wrong with this section is that it doesn’t last forever.
*See chapter four: the Peak District.
4 Stars
Start: Coldstream
Finish: Grantshouse
Distance: 21 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
The Mini Cat and Fiddle*, this road is great with maybe the best section of road in the borders region (A701 included). The road is split in two halves by Duns. The first half from Coldstream is not that great, mainly long straights punctuated by sharp corners or short twisty sequences. After Duns however, the road really comes alive. It runs sharply up Horsely Hill and then snakes down the other side into Gransthouse. Long sweeping corners, wide hairpins and stunning views over Whiteadder Water in the valley below justify the word I used in my driving notes; “Epic”. The only thing wrong with this section is that it doesn’t last forever.
*See chapter four: the Peak District.
4 Stars
B6320
Start: Chollerford
Finish: Otterburn
Distance: 20 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
For the first fifteen miles or so the B6320 offers some great driving alongside the North Tyne. The road then rises out of Bellingham and charges over the hills to the A68 and then Otterburn. Fantastic!
4 Stars
Start: Chollerford
Finish: Otterburn
Distance: 20 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
For the first fifteen miles or so the B6320 offers some great driving alongside the North Tyne. The road then rises out of Bellingham and charges over the hills to the A68 and then Otterburn. Fantastic!
4 Stars
Unmarked Road
Start: Kielder Visitors Centre
Finish: Saughtree
Distance: 9 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
This is a road I have known about for many years and keep returning to. Busy in the high season, the run alongside the reservoir has long sweeping bends before things tighten up after Kielder Village. There is even a Kielder style wooded rally section before a narrow, but totally open section running alongside a stream. Attacked with second and third gears, it’s a mini rollercoaster of a road. Remember to keep a lookout for logging trucks, which frequent these roads.
4 Stars
Start: Kielder Visitors Centre
Finish: Saughtree
Distance: 9 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
This is a road I have known about for many years and keep returning to. Busy in the high season, the run alongside the reservoir has long sweeping bends before things tighten up after Kielder Village. There is even a Kielder style wooded rally section before a narrow, but totally open section running alongside a stream. Attacked with second and third gears, it’s a mini rollercoaster of a road. Remember to keep a lookout for logging trucks, which frequent these roads.
4 Stars
A708
Start: Moffat
Finish: Selkirk
Distance: 32 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Another of the Borders’ handful of fantastic roads, the A708 is fairly long, very quiet and never dull. The first twenty miles or so are very open, with fast and furious bends, as it leaves the few villages behind and heads into the wilderness alongside Yarrow Water. After a sweeping run alongside St Mary’s Loch the road becomes a bit narrower and even tighter. This last ten miles or so is let down slightly by a fairly rough surface. One day they will re-tarmac it and the end of the run will be as good as the start.
4 Stars
Start: Moffat
Finish: Selkirk
Distance: 32 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Another of the Borders’ handful of fantastic roads, the A708 is fairly long, very quiet and never dull. The first twenty miles or so are very open, with fast and furious bends, as it leaves the few villages behind and heads into the wilderness alongside Yarrow Water. After a sweeping run alongside St Mary’s Loch the road becomes a bit narrower and even tighter. This last ten miles or so is let down slightly by a fairly rough surface. One day they will re-tarmac it and the end of the run will be as good as the start.
4 Stars
A6088
Start: Hawick
Finish: A68
Distance: 14 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
There’s a moment on the A6088 that catches your breath: a mile or so from Hawick the road enters the start of a small valley and a couple of great bends come into view. These wide and well-surfaced bends continue for a couple of miles or so and are one of the highlights of the road. The road then drops into Bonchester Bridge via a high-hedged stretch, before a gloriously twisty hill drags it out the other side. After this it is fast and open driving all the way to the A68, about 7 miles later.
4 Stars
Start: Hawick
Finish: A68
Distance: 14 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
There’s a moment on the A6088 that catches your breath: a mile or so from Hawick the road enters the start of a small valley and a couple of great bends come into view. These wide and well-surfaced bends continue for a couple of miles or so and are one of the highlights of the road. The road then drops into Bonchester Bridge via a high-hedged stretch, before a gloriously twisty hill drags it out the other side. After this it is fast and open driving all the way to the A68, about 7 miles later.
4 Stars
B6352
Start: Kelso
Finish: A697
Distance: 17.5 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
One of my favourite roads in the region, the B6352 has a good mix of driving. The early section towards Yetholm has some tight corners mixed in with some faster ones. After Yetholm and a nice right hand ninety-degree bend the road runs up and alongside the north side of the valley. This great piece of road jinks through quick well-sighted corners, often with well-placed humps to unsettle the car. Finally the last few miles are of seemingly endless second and third gear bends, before coming to a sudden conclusion at the A697. The B6352 can be tricky to follow sometimes as it has a couple of confusing junctions along its route. Direction Notes:
After 8 miles, turn left as you go into Town Yetholm (signpost Wooler). After 11.2 miles, turn right at the t-junction (signpost Wooler). After 13.5 miles, turn left at the junction.
4 Stars
Start: Kelso
Finish: A697
Distance: 17.5 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
One of my favourite roads in the region, the B6352 has a good mix of driving. The early section towards Yetholm has some tight corners mixed in with some faster ones. After Yetholm and a nice right hand ninety-degree bend the road runs up and alongside the north side of the valley. This great piece of road jinks through quick well-sighted corners, often with well-placed humps to unsettle the car. Finally the last few miles are of seemingly endless second and third gear bends, before coming to a sudden conclusion at the A697. The B6352 can be tricky to follow sometimes as it has a couple of confusing junctions along its route. Direction Notes:
After 8 miles, turn left as you go into Town Yetholm (signpost Wooler). After 11.2 miles, turn right at the t-junction (signpost Wooler). After 13.5 miles, turn left at the junction.
4 Stars
A699
Start: Selkirk
Finish: Kelso
Distance: 19 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Rolling over simple hills, this is a case of the product definitely equalling more than the sum of the parts. There are some roads that you just “hook up” and I did just that in a humble 1.1 Peugeot 106. The wet surface and Peugeot’s low powered engine could not spoil the fun as the fantastic little Pug chassis set itself up through the varied corners. This road is great from the moment it climbs up the hill out of Selkirk until it joins and chases the River Tweed, all the way into Kelso. Don’t miss the views of the beautiful Floors Castle on the edge of Kelso.
4 Stars
Start: Selkirk
Finish: Kelso
Distance: 19 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Rolling over simple hills, this is a case of the product definitely equalling more than the sum of the parts. There are some roads that you just “hook up” and I did just that in a humble 1.1 Peugeot 106. The wet surface and Peugeot’s low powered engine could not spoil the fun as the fantastic little Pug chassis set itself up through the varied corners. This road is great from the moment it climbs up the hill out of Selkirk until it joins and chases the River Tweed, all the way into Kelso. Don’t miss the views of the beautiful Floors Castle on the edge of Kelso.
4 Stars
B6399
Start: Hawick
Finish: B6537
Distance: 19 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
This is a great road with a lot of varied sections. The first five miles or so are some of the best in the area and one section in particular, where it runs up and over the head of a valley is brilliant. After this five miles it does tighten up, and get much narrower, so cars do have to slow down to pass. This narrow section is still great though, it’s a good surface that snakes through a very narrow valley. The majority of the corners are well sighted, which enable you to run them at speed. If only it was one way and you had a passenger with pace notes. The road widens up at it’s midpoint before narrowing again and getting a bit tight for the last few miles, until it meets the B6357.
4 Stars
Start: Hawick
Finish: B6537
Distance: 19 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
This is a great road with a lot of varied sections. The first five miles or so are some of the best in the area and one section in particular, where it runs up and over the head of a valley is brilliant. After this five miles it does tighten up, and get much narrower, so cars do have to slow down to pass. This narrow section is still great though, it’s a good surface that snakes through a very narrow valley. The majority of the corners are well sighted, which enable you to run them at speed. If only it was one way and you had a passenger with pace notes. The road widens up at it’s midpoint before narrowing again and getting a bit tight for the last few miles, until it meets the B6357.
4 Stars
B6341
Start: Alnwick
Finish: Otterburn
Distance: 26 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
The first half of this road is up and down and arrow-straight. Full of “hidden dip” warning signs, this is not a road to combine with a large lunch. Before it crosses the A697 it runs through a good downhill section, at the top of which is an unexpected jump. Slow down or prepare for some “hang time”. This is a typical Northumberland road. After Rothbury, things improve from a driving point view. It twists and turns alongside the river and provides great entertainment as well as some rugged scenery all the way to Otterburn.
4 Stars
Start: Alnwick
Finish: Otterburn
Distance: 26 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
The first half of this road is up and down and arrow-straight. Full of “hidden dip” warning signs, this is not a road to combine with a large lunch. Before it crosses the A697 it runs through a good downhill section, at the top of which is an unexpected jump. Slow down or prepare for some “hang time”. This is a typical Northumberland road. After Rothbury, things improve from a driving point view. It twists and turns alongside the river and provides great entertainment as well as some rugged scenery all the way to Otterburn.
4 Stars
Three Star Roads:
B7068
Start: Langholm
Finish: Lockerbie
Distance: 17.5 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
A mixture of hills and good corners, combined with a decent surface, this road allows the driver to get into a rhythm. The highlight is a smooth section of tarmac at around the halfway point.
3 Stars
Start: Langholm
Finish: Lockerbie
Distance: 17.5 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
A mixture of hills and good corners, combined with a decent surface, this road allows the driver to get into a rhythm. The highlight is a smooth section of tarmac at around the halfway point.
3 Stars
B6368
Start: Haddington
Finish: A7
Distance: 13 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Split into two sections by the A68, the section between the Haddington and the A68 is a typical Borders country road, running over countryside. The three to four miles between the A68 and the A7 climb over the hills and have some excellent, if short, stretches.
3 Stars
Start: Haddington
Finish: A7
Distance: 13 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Split into two sections by the A68, the section between the Haddington and the A68 is a typical Borders country road, running over countryside. The three to four miles between the A68 and the A7 climb over the hills and have some excellent, if short, stretches.
3 Stars
B6355
Start: Eyemouth
Finish: Gifford
Distance: 29 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Running over the Lammermuir Hills, this is a very quiet, winding and scenic drive with some fine sections. Despite being narrow at times (always room for two cars though) it is very well sighted throughout, and is not ruined by its lack of width. Lookout for Lambs during the lambing season.
3 Stars
Start: Eyemouth
Finish: Gifford
Distance: 29 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Running over the Lammermuir Hills, this is a very quiet, winding and scenic drive with some fine sections. Despite being narrow at times (always room for two cars though) it is very well sighted throughout, and is not ruined by its lack of width. Lookout for Lambs during the lambing season.
3 Stars
B6342
Start: Rothbury
Finish: A68
Distance: 25 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Running through some excellent countryside, this road has some good combinations of corners, with some very straight and bumpy sections. The road improves after it crosses the A696 and is well surfaced, with some very good driving on offer.
3 Stars
Start: Rothbury
Finish: A68
Distance: 25 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Running through some excellent countryside, this road has some good combinations of corners, with some very straight and bumpy sections. The road improves after it crosses the A696 and is well surfaced, with some very good driving on offer.
3 Stars
B1341
Start: A1
Finish: Bamburgh
Distance: 6 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Fairly straight road with some very sharp low speed bends behind high hedgerows. There is a risk of grounding on a couple of poor bits of tarmac about a mile from Bamburgh.
3 Stars
Start: A1
Finish: Bamburgh
Distance: 6 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Fairly straight road with some very sharp low speed bends behind high hedgerows. There is a risk of grounding on a couple of poor bits of tarmac about a mile from Bamburgh.
3 Stars
B709
Start: Heriot
Finish: Langholm
Distance: 58 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
The first four miles are narrow until a left turn, after four miles, onto the main part of the B709. After this, it’s a bit wider with centre lines, and runs up and down some amazing empty valleys. The section before the A72 (Innerleithen fourteen miles from the start) ends in twisty style including a fun humpback bridge, just after a golf course. Crossing the A708 at 22 miles, the road is then fairly narrow all the way to Eskdalemuir where it widens out a touch and becomes more fun. At around twenty nine miles in particular, the road has a good stretch, as it runs alongside a small valley that overlooks the forest below. Despite these good sections, the road does not really become wide enough to be flowing until about 10 miles from Langholm. At this point it races through the hills and surrounding forests. The B709 is a beautiful drive on which you will only see a handful of other cars. It is sadly just too narrow in places to be a true driver’s road and because of this, only gets three stars.
3 Stars
Start: Heriot
Finish: Langholm
Distance: 58 Miles
Road Width: Varying
Road Notes:
The first four miles are narrow until a left turn, after four miles, onto the main part of the B709. After this, it’s a bit wider with centre lines, and runs up and down some amazing empty valleys. The section before the A72 (Innerleithen fourteen miles from the start) ends in twisty style including a fun humpback bridge, just after a golf course. Crossing the A708 at 22 miles, the road is then fairly narrow all the way to Eskdalemuir where it widens out a touch and becomes more fun. At around twenty nine miles in particular, the road has a good stretch, as it runs alongside a small valley that overlooks the forest below. Despite these good sections, the road does not really become wide enough to be flowing until about 10 miles from Langholm. At this point it races through the hills and surrounding forests. The B709 is a beautiful drive on which you will only see a handful of other cars. It is sadly just too narrow in places to be a true driver’s road and because of this, only gets three stars.
3 Stars
B6343
Start: Cambo
Finish: Morpeth
Distance: 11 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
This is a wide and twisty road that allows the driver to get into a rhythm. An excellent road and a shame that it’s only 11miles long.
3 Stars
Start: Cambo
Finish: Morpeth
Distance: 11 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
This is a wide and twisty road that allows the driver to get into a rhythm. An excellent road and a shame that it’s only 11miles long.
3 Stars
A1107
Start: A1
Finish: Eyemouth (A1)
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Stunning! You drop off the A1 into a glorious few miles with spectacular views over the sea as the road runs along the hillside, about a mile back from the cliff tops. This is a real “rhythm” road with fast corners and reasonable visibility. Sadly, after to few miles it drops back from the cliffs and straightens up. Well worth the effort though, and no surprise to hear the word “epic” on my Dictaphone.
3 Stars
Start: A1
Finish: Eyemouth (A1)
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Stunning! You drop off the A1 into a glorious few miles with spectacular views over the sea as the road runs along the hillside, about a mile back from the cliff tops. This is a real “rhythm” road with fast corners and reasonable visibility. Sadly, after to few miles it drops back from the cliffs and straightens up. Well worth the effort though, and no surprise to hear the word “epic” on my Dictaphone.
3 Stars
B6364
Start: Kelso
Finish: A6089
Distance: 7 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
This is a good fast road that starts out with some nice sweeping corners, thrown together with a few tight sections. After a few miles it straightens out a bit, but remains fun, as it runs over some low hills.
3 Stars
Start: Kelso
Finish: A6089
Distance: 7 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
This is a good fast road that starts out with some nice sweeping corners, thrown together with a few tight sections. After a few miles it straightens out a bit, but remains fun, as it runs over some low hills.
3 Stars
B6351
Start: A697
Finish: B6352
Distance: 6 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Lightweight mid-engine car meets narrow muddy road with tight turns! Surely a recipe for disaster, but I loved this short stretch of road, even in the conditions I first found it. The corners beg to be driven at, and second gear nailed the one dry section that the farmer had missed. Not that wide, not even that well surfaced, but great fun in a smaller car. Coming from Wooler you will definitely miss the right turn at five miles and continue on unmarked roads to Town Yetholm. No problem as they are the same, if a bit narrower.
3 Stars
Start: A697
Finish: B6352
Distance: 6 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Lightweight mid-engine car meets narrow muddy road with tight turns! Surely a recipe for disaster, but I loved this short stretch of road, even in the conditions I first found it. The corners beg to be driven at, and second gear nailed the one dry section that the farmer had missed. Not that wide, not even that well surfaced, but great fun in a smaller car. Coming from Wooler you will definitely miss the right turn at five miles and continue on unmarked roads to Town Yetholm. No problem as they are the same, if a bit narrower.
3 Stars
B6362
Start: Stow
Finish: Lauder
Distance: 4 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
A short hop over the hills between the A7 and A69, this starts with a steep twisty climb out of Stow and sweeps quickly over the top into Lauder: great fun.
3 Stars
Start: Stow
Finish: Lauder
Distance: 4 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
A short hop over the hills between the A7 and A69, this starts with a steep twisty climb out of Stow and sweeps quickly over the top into Lauder: great fun.
3 Stars
B6396
Start: B6352
Finish: B6352
Distance: 7.3 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The B6396 is a wide sweeping road, with an excellent surface on the Scottish side of the border.
3 Stars
Start: B6352
Finish: B6352
Distance: 7.3 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The B6396 is a wide sweeping road, with an excellent surface on the Scottish side of the border.
3 Stars
A6089
Start: A697
Finish: Kelso
Distance: 14 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A relatively wide road, that sweeps over the hills and down into Kelso. It can be busy, but has a few overtaking places and some entertaining corners, including a couple immediately after yumps in the tarmac. The road also has one or two well-sighted fast sweeping bends.
3 Stars
Start: A697
Finish: Kelso
Distance: 14 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A relatively wide road, that sweeps over the hills and down into Kelso. It can be busy, but has a few overtaking places and some entertaining corners, including a couple immediately after yumps in the tarmac. The road also has one or two well-sighted fast sweeping bends.
3 Stars
B6348
Start: A697
Finish: A1
Distance: 10 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
A brilliant fast road running ten miles over low hills and through scenic countryside. Lookout for a great uphill section, that is short, but sweet.
3 Stars
Start: A697
Finish: A1
Distance: 10 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
A brilliant fast road running ten miles over low hills and through scenic countryside. Lookout for a great uphill section, that is short, but sweet.
3 Stars
B712
Start: A701
Finish: A72
Distance: 7.5 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Nice and twisty, wide enough, with a good surface: this road follows and crosses the Tweed a couple of times and is very picturesque.
3 Stars
Start: A701
Finish: A72
Distance: 7.5 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
Nice and twisty, wide enough, with a good surface: this road follows and crosses the Tweed a couple of times and is very picturesque.
3 Stars
B7060
Start: A707
Finish: A7
Distance: 2.1 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Two miles long but definitely worth it, especially if you are in a nimble car. You hands are never stationary on the wheel as this narrow road hugs the side of a small hillside. It also makes a neat shortcut from the A707 across to the A7.
3 Stars
Start: A707
Finish: A7
Distance: 2.1 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
Two miles long but definitely worth it, especially if you are in a nimble car. You hands are never stationary on the wheel as this narrow road hugs the side of a small hillside. It also makes a neat shortcut from the A707 across to the A7.
3 Stars
Two Star Roads:
Unmarked Road
Start: Boreland
Finish: Moffat
Distance: 9 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
With only enough room to pass at reduced speed, this road is slightly spoiled by its width. It does have some open sections though, and is great fun in a car that doesn’t need too much room. The surface is also quite varied, but on the whole pretty good.
2 Stars
Unmarked Road
Start: Boreland
Finish: Moffat
Distance: 9 Miles
Road Width: Narrow (two cars can pass easily)
Road Notes:
With only enough room to pass at reduced speed, this road is slightly spoiled by its width. It does have some open sections though, and is great fun in a car that doesn’t need too much room. The surface is also quite varied, but on the whole pretty good.
2 Stars
A72
Start: Galashiels
Finish: A702
Distance: 35 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The A72 could be a great driver’s road: It’s wide, twisty and very flowing. Unfortunately it carries a lot of local and tourist traffic around the Peebles and Galashiels areas. It’s not busy like roads in the south, but it is easy to catch a small queue of traffic and get stuck. Overtaking is sparse and usually dangerous. The one time in six when you get it to yourself, it is a great road though.
2 Stars
Start: Galashiels
Finish: A702
Distance: 35 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The A72 could be a great driver’s road: It’s wide, twisty and very flowing. Unfortunately it carries a lot of local and tourist traffic around the Peebles and Galashiels areas. It’s not busy like roads in the south, but it is easy to catch a small queue of traffic and get stuck. Overtaking is sparse and usually dangerous. The one time in six when you get it to yourself, it is a great road though.
2 Stars
A707
Start: A72
Finish: Selkirk
Distance: 7 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Good fun, if sometimes busy road linking Selkirk to the A72.
2 Stars
Start: A72
Finish: Selkirk
Distance: 7 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Good fun, if sometimes busy road linking Selkirk to the A72.
2 Stars
A697
Start: A1
Finish: A68
Distance: 75 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Fast straight dull road with some interesting corners and a handful of speed cameras along its length. This road is best used to get into the heart of the Borders (from Newcastle upon Tyne) and amongst some of the better roads. This road always seems better at night, when it’s empty and the headlights are picking out the corners.
2 Stars
Start: A1
Finish: A68
Distance: 75 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Fast straight dull road with some interesting corners and a handful of speed cameras along its length. This road is best used to get into the heart of the Borders (from Newcastle upon Tyne) and amongst some of the better roads. This road always seems better at night, when it’s empty and the headlights are picking out the corners.
2 Stars
A6105
Start: B6364/Greenlaw
Finish: Duns
Distance: 7.6 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Not a massively exciting road but good for stitching some of the other roads in the area together. It has some decent stretches with some fast corners.
Direction Notes:
In Greenlaw, turn right at the t-junction, then left 500 meters later signposted Duns.
2 Stars
Start: B6364/Greenlaw
Finish: Duns
Distance: 7.6 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Not a massively exciting road but good for stitching some of the other roads in the area together. It has some decent stretches with some fast corners.
Direction Notes:
In Greenlaw, turn right at the t-junction, then left 500 meters later signposted Duns.
2 Stars
A698
Start: Kelso
Finish: Hawick
Distance: 20 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The A698 is a sweeping road with some nice tight sections. It can get fairly busy though, which is a shame.
Direction Notes:
The road joins the A68 for a while: after 10 miles, turn right signpost Hawick. After 1 mile, turn left signpost B698: Hawick.
2 Stars
Start: Kelso
Finish: Hawick
Distance: 20 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
The A698 is a sweeping road with some nice tight sections. It can get fairly busy though, which is a shame.
Direction Notes:
The road joins the A68 for a while: after 10 miles, turn right signpost Hawick. After 1 mile, turn left signpost B698: Hawick.
2 Stars
Unmarked Road
Start: A1
Finish: Lindersfarne
Distance: 4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A small road, that runs over to the Holy Island. Not really a driver’s road but it is fun crossing the causeway to the island itself: as long as the tide is out.
2 Stars
Start: A1
Finish: Lindersfarne
Distance: 4 Miles
Road Width: Medium (Centre Lines)
Road Notes:
A small road, that runs over to the Holy Island. Not really a driver’s road but it is fun crossing the causeway to the island itself: as long as the tide is out.
2 Stars
B1340
Start: Bamburgh
Finish: Alnwick
Distance: 17 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Of varying widths, this road is fast and straight but not overly exciting. It does, however, have a good surface that allows for smooth quick driving.
Direction Notes:
Turn left turn 6 miles from Bamburgh.
2 Stars
List of Recomended Drives:
The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys
The Tweed, the Moorfoot Hills, and the Lammermuir Hills
The Tweed and the Cheviots
The Kelso Monster (and the Monster’s tail)
The East Roman and Kielder Loop
The West Roman and Kielder Water Loop
The Extended Roman and Kielder Loop
Index of all roads tested
Complete Road Index
Back to Northumberland Home Page
Start: Bamburgh
Finish: Alnwick
Distance: 17 Miles
Road Width: Wide
Road Notes:
Of varying widths, this road is fast and straight but not overly exciting. It does, however, have a good surface that allows for smooth quick driving.
Direction Notes:
Turn left turn 6 miles from Bamburgh.
2 Stars
List of Recomended Drives:
The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys
The Tweed, the Moorfoot Hills, and the Lammermuir Hills
The Tweed and the Cheviots
The Kelso Monster (and the Monster’s tail)
The East Roman and Kielder Loop
The West Roman and Kielder Water Loop
The Extended Roman and Kielder Loop
Index of all roads tested
Complete Road Index
Back to Northumberland Home Page
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