Cotswolds - any fun roads?
- Thread starter NaCl
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MArtyn Veg
New member
Try the A44 between Burford and Moreton in Marsh, there’s a stretch of road called Fish Hill which is very popular for cars like ours and motorcycles. It’s a long winding stretch of a hill which going up has two lanes, it’s great 
If you try it you must make time to visit Bourton on the Water which has recently been voted as one of the most beautiful villages in the UK and/or Stow on the Wold where The Porch House Inn claims to be the oldest inn in England.
Map for info:
If you try it you must make time to visit Bourton on the Water which has recently been voted as one of the most beautiful villages in the UK and/or Stow on the Wold where The Porch House Inn claims to be the oldest inn in England.
Map for info:
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MajorTom
New member
And just to be a bit more specific Harry's test road is the B4437. A bit bumpy but a lovely piece of road with great scenery. I spent a fair bit of time blasting around in that area one Friday evening and one Saturday afternoon and it was surprisingly empty.
There's a nice little layby here, perfect for a photo break.
If you take the next left after that layby and continue north past Chadlington you end up at Clarkson's farm shop which might be worth popping by.
There's a nice little layby here, perfect for a photo break.
If you take the next left after that layby and continue north past Chadlington you end up at Clarkson's farm shop which might be worth popping by.cj10jeeper
New member
I spent last weekend in the Cotswolds.
My brief summary is that it’s great if you want to cruise gently around enjoying the scenery. Too much traffic, camper vans, etc. to get sporty.
Keep to the hills and avoid any of the main villages as you’ll be gridlocked on a Summer weekend and struggle parking.
Crashes are frequent, for instance the road from the top of Fish Hill to Moreton-In-Marsh is littered with warnings of numbers of accidents in last 3 years. I think it’s the number of cross roads that cause it coupled with fast bikers and cars.
Avoid Clarksons Farm. The car park is a dusty uneven mess (even they label it as ‘difficult for certain vehicles’. So overcrowded you’ll never get in. Went once, ticked off, never again and left with a beige mess on the car..
Don’t get me wrong it’s a glorious area and I go many times a year and love the scenery, hotels, pubs, etc. but never taken the F Type. That’s for Peak District, Wales, Lakes, etc. where there are empty roads.
My brief summary is that it’s great if you want to cruise gently around enjoying the scenery. Too much traffic, camper vans, etc. to get sporty.
Keep to the hills and avoid any of the main villages as you’ll be gridlocked on a Summer weekend and struggle parking.
Crashes are frequent, for instance the road from the top of Fish Hill to Moreton-In-Marsh is littered with warnings of numbers of accidents in last 3 years. I think it’s the number of cross roads that cause it coupled with fast bikers and cars.
Avoid Clarksons Farm. The car park is a dusty uneven mess (even they label it as ‘difficult for certain vehicles’. So overcrowded you’ll never get in. Went once, ticked off, never again and left with a beige mess on the car..
Don’t get me wrong it’s a glorious area and I go many times a year and love the scenery, hotels, pubs, etc. but never taken the F Type. That’s for Peak District, Wales, Lakes, etc. where there are empty roads.
NaCl
New member
Thanks MajorTom and cj10jeeper.
Ah, I'm quite conflicted now but will try not to get too hung up on the possible lack of spirited driving.
I've been getting into photography as a hobby this year so I'll probably focus on getting some nice photos, and the spirited driving will be a bonus if it happens haha.
Fingers crossed for some good weekend weather
Ah, I'm quite conflicted now but will try not to get too hung up on the possible lack of spirited driving.
I've been getting into photography as a hobby this year so I'll probably focus on getting some nice photos, and the spirited driving will be a bonus if it happens haha.
Fingers crossed for some good weekend weather
MArtyn Veg
New member
Just different opinions NaCI which we’re all entitled too
Where ever you go in the Cotswolds is beautiful. Enjoy the scenery and take lots of photos
Where ever you go in the Cotswolds is beautiful. Enjoy the scenery and take lots of photos
MajorTom
New member
I can imagine the roads are quite packed on summer weekends. As with other popular driving areas you'll increase your chances of a nice driving experience if you go there when most people are busy sleeping or dining.
When I want to go for a proper blast on a popular road I usually do it at dawn or a bit before dusk. Another plus with those times of the day is that they make photographing a bit more interesting.
When I want to go for a proper blast on a popular road I usually do it at dawn or a bit before dusk. Another plus with those times of the day is that they make photographing a bit more interesting.
NaCl
New member
Got to try out the routes recommended in this thread. Friday evening was brilliant for empty roads around the A44, but Saturday has been packed with cyclists on every A and B road. Oh well, scenery is gorgeous so it makes up for it.
I forgot to pack my camera but snapped this with my phone yesterday:
A Jaguar C-X75!!! Numberplate looked like CX15 JAG, which if I'm not mistaken, is the one owned by Ian Callum's design company. I'd like to think it was Mr Callum himself driving through Moreton-in-Marsh that evening.
I heard it before seeing it... absolutely incredible presence, really wish Jaguar made a production version of this when they had the chance.
I forgot to pack my camera but snapped this with my phone yesterday:
A Jaguar C-X75!!! Numberplate looked like CX15 JAG, which if I'm not mistaken, is the one owned by Ian Callum's design company. I'd like to think it was Mr Callum himself driving through Moreton-in-Marsh that evening.
I heard it before seeing it... absolutely incredible presence, really wish Jaguar made a production version of this when they had the chance.
The C-X75 could possibly on its way to Salon Prive.Will see if its on a stand tomorrow as attending in paddock 9(in the cheap seats!).
Spent the past two days driving round the Cotswolds and the condition of some of the roads are beyond belief,I thought Kent was bad.
Crawled down a lane to the Plough in Finstock and the road was like a tank had travelled down it.Centre of the lane looked like 10 cm above the rest of it on both sides.Grounded out against the engine cover at 2 mph at one point which was unavoidable and soul destroying.
Spent the past two days driving round the Cotswolds and the condition of some of the roads are beyond belief,I thought Kent was bad.
Crawled down a lane to the Plough in Finstock and the road was like a tank had travelled down it.Centre of the lane looked like 10 cm above the rest of it on both sides.Grounded out against the engine cover at 2 mph at one point which was unavoidable and soul destroying.
NaCl
New member
Just an update on this from my experience last week:
Fish Hill - very, very fun (moreso when going up the hill) but be wary of mobile speed cameras at the bottom of the hill during the day. Evenings (6pm onwards) were much better (and the best time to go imo) with greatly reduced traffic and no mobile speed cameras.
B4437 - another fun stretch of road (even in the pouring rain) with some tight corners dotted around. Lanes are wide enough for the F-Type but be wary when larger SUVs or Pickup trucks are in the oncoming lane. Traffic was light even during midday Sunday and you'll spot other enthusiasts having a fun drive (got a flash from a V8 Vantage driver).
A436 + A40 (Stow-on-the-Wold to Cheltenham) - a fun set of A roads. Starts off quite narrow coming out of Stow-on-the-Wold but the A40 opens it up and has a great mix of curves and straights. Traffic was moderate in both lanes so passing opportunities were limited. I suspect the A40 would be another great candidate for an evening drive.
Fish Hill - very, very fun (moreso when going up the hill) but be wary of mobile speed cameras at the bottom of the hill during the day. Evenings (6pm onwards) were much better (and the best time to go imo) with greatly reduced traffic and no mobile speed cameras.
B4437 - another fun stretch of road (even in the pouring rain) with some tight corners dotted around. Lanes are wide enough for the F-Type but be wary when larger SUVs or Pickup trucks are in the oncoming lane. Traffic was light even during midday Sunday and you'll spot other enthusiasts having a fun drive (got a flash from a V8 Vantage driver).
A436 + A40 (Stow-on-the-Wold to Cheltenham) - a fun set of A roads. Starts off quite narrow coming out of Stow-on-the-Wold but the A40 opens it up and has a great mix of curves and straights. Traffic was moderate in both lanes so passing opportunities were limited. I suspect the A40 would be another great candidate for an evening drive.
MArtyn Veg
New member
Thanks for the update. Glad you enjoyed the glorious Cotswolds 
