Coast to Coast Tour (Devon) April 12-15th
Sunday 12th Dinner at Hotel
We meet for dinner at the hotel near SIDMOUTH.
DAY ONE – MONDAY 13th
First we head north through the hills of East Devon on minor roads through wooded countryside around Fairway Hill towards Honiton. We skirt the town on good country roads with some long straight sections through picturesque countryside. After crossing the busy A30 we take the B road along Brown Down and along the edge of the Blackdown Hills. We keep heading north to cross the M5 at West Brackland. A maize of country roads and little villages bring us to our coffee stop at the ‘Whistle Stop’ café on the platform of Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset railway.
After refreshing ourselves with the accompaniment of hopefully some steam trains we head off north again. A long B road run takes us into the Brendon Hills as we climb the flanks of Exmoor. Then, a little diversion over the hills with views all around leads us to a wooded valley which we follow to the highest pub on Exmoor, The Rest and Be Thankful Inn, for lunch.
The afternoon run takes us right across the National Park to Exford. From here we head south across Winsford Hill and then follow the twisting B road through the wooded valley to Dulverton. The main road which follows the River Exe takes us back to Tiverton where we can have the traditional ‘tea and scones’ at the magnificent Knightshayes Court.
Our final leg of approximately 30 miles continues down the now much wider Exe Valley before we turn off at ‘Jenny’s Portion’? to go through the delightful village of Silverton and pass Killerton Park. Here we turn eastward through the woods of Side Down and cross country to Ottery St Mary. A final climb over East Hill brings us back to the hotel.
DAY TWO – TUESDAY 14th
We set off in a different direction today heading south to Sidmouth before taking the main road east for a short while. Some quiet back roads take us to Honiton again, but this time we take a short route through the town and head north to the highest airfield in Devon at Dunkeswell. We stop for coffee at the ‘Aviator Coffee Bar’ overlooking the still active airfield.
After coffee we head north again crossing the main A38 and the Bristol-Exeter main railway line near Whiteball Tunnel, which is approached by a steep gradient and is a favourite place for filming steam trains, although I can’t guarantee we will see one today.
We then head on towards Exmoor passing through delightful villages such as; Milverton, Wivelscombe and Huish Champlflower! We then pass Wimball Lake near Exebridge.
We head north through the wooded valleys to Coppleham and the edge of the moor and continue right across the vast open moor almost to the north coast where we descend Porlock Hill on the main road with its severe gradients and sharp bends. This brings us to the seaside village of Porlock Weir for lunch.
The afternoon run returns us to Porlock village but this time we use the toll road to reach the moors again. We then head west to Lynton and Lynmouth where you might like to venture down the funicular railway which links the two towns.
A little Toll road then brings us to the fascinating and atmospheric, Valley of the Rocks. Whilst it is a valley there is no river running through it, but we are never far from the sea and there are some spectacular rock features – not to mention goats. From here the roads get even narrower as they hug the cliffs above the beautiful Woody Bay. Continuing west we take to minor roads as we reach the remote north coast with views out across the Bristol Channel. Following the coast we descend into a deep valley and pass the isolated Hunter’s Inn.
All that remains is a run down the twisty main road to Barnstaple and on to our seaside hotel at Instow.
DAY THREE Wednesday 15th
This morning we leave the hotel and take the coast road following the River Torridge to Bideford where we turn inland and go across country to the valley of the River Taw. After a brief detour on wooded country roads through Buckington we follow the River Taw on the main A377. Heading south to Eggesford we then cut across to Winckleigh and using a mixture of main and country roads we make our way further south to the edge of Dartmoor. Crossing the busy A30 we reach the mediaeval villages of Sticklepath and South Zeal where we stop for coffee.
After a brief main road run very minor roads bring us on to the moor via Chagford and then down into the valley at Widecombe in the moor (of Uncle Tom Cobbley fame).
Some wooded valleys bring us back up onto the vast expanse of the moor itself where a good main road brings us to Two Bridges for lunch.
In the afternoon we continue across the moor westward with Dartmoor Prison visible to the south. A spectacular scenic descent brings us into the edge of Tavistock where we turn north on the main road. More minor roads then take us through the picturesque countryside of West Devon. After passing through Okehampton we take the main road north to Great Torrington.
We finish our tour with a visit to the Dartington Crystal Factory. It is only a short run from here back to the hotel.
4 nights 2 hotels £1,599
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The Lakes and Borders and Solway Tour
May 10-15th
SUNDAY May 10th
We meet for dinner at the APPLEBY MANOR HOTEL, at 7.30.
DAY ONE Monday 11th
An epic day’s driving starts by following the route of an old Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club’s Little Devils Tour, south through the Eden Valley, passing Sunbiggin Tarn and into familiar territory around Killington Lake before stopping for coffee at the even more familiar Station Inn at Oxenholme.
After skirting around Kendal the route continues with the climb over the superb Kirkstone Pass and the full length of Ullswater and a stop for lunch on the Lakeside.
After lunch we continue into a lesser known area of the Lake District, Matterdale. We climb up from Ullswater and within minutes are in remote mountain scenery all round. Heading north we cross the A66 and thread our way through a maize of quiet country lanes with spectacular views of the north lakes hills before much gentler scenery around Greystoke Forest, and eastward to cross the old A6 and into the Eden Valley. We follow the picturesque valley on the west side with beautiful views across the green, rolling hills to the east. We skirt the town of Penrith and follow the River Eden and the Settle-Carlisle Railway to the south. More quiet lanes bring us back to Appleby.
DAY TWO Tuesday 12th
Leaving Appleby we head north through the lanes again until we reach the infamous Hartside Pass. We climb over the pass to Alston and stop for coffee at the remote little Nook farm shop.
After lunch we take to a very minor road up into the hills above the South Tyne Valley to get views as far as Kielder Forest and the Scottish Borders. Coming down from the hills we pass through Haltwhistle before climbing back upto Hadrians Wall. We follow the wall to Greenhead where we stop for lunch.
After lunch we cross country to the edge of the mighty Kielder Forest on our way to Newcastleton, passing Bewcastle which is 1141 miles from Rome!?
The final run takes us through the forests again into some quiet lanes in the Border regions and our hotel near Kelso.
DAY THREE – Wednesday 13th .
Today we head west going across country to Selkirk and then briefly down the main road to Ashkirk. Some minor roads with wonderful un-spoilt views then take us over the hills to the Ettrick Valley .The main road then takes us along the shores of beautiful St Mary’s Loch where we stop for coffee.
After coffee we retrace our steps before we turn off towards the Meggett Reservoir. This road climbs up into the hills past the picturesque reservoir and up into wild moorland countryside. As we drop down the other side we suddenly get a stunning view of the Talla reservoir hundreds of feet below. We descend the steeply graded road to the shores of the reservoir then follow it all the way out to the main A701.
Turning south towards Moffat the road takes us past the dramatic ‘Devils Beef Tub’, a large depression in the surrounding hills. Before we reach the town we turn west and cross the M74 before traversing the wonderful Dalvine Pass. After the pass we stop for lunch at the impressive Drumlanrigg Castle.
The afternoon run consists of a cross country route on all types of road passing Loch Ken before entering the Laurieston Forest to loop round to our hotel for the next three nights.
DAY FOUR Thursday 14th
Today we leave Gatehouse of Fleet via the main A75 road which follows the picturesque coast to Newton Stewart where we turn south down the other side of the estuary onto the Machar Penninsula. We pass Wigtown, the Scottish book town and take the main road cross country to Port William on the shores of Luce Bay. We will have coffee at ‘The View’, a little café on the harbour side which lives up to its name.
After coffee we follow the coast northward before cutting inland again on some minor roads which take us past Machum Loch and across the A75 again to the edge of the Galloway Forest Park. We stop for lunch at the beautiful gardens of Castle Kennedy.
After lunch we head further north into some remote countryside before looping around into the forest again. The run home takes us through the forest back to Newton Stewart and briefly onto the A75 before we turn off onto one last detour over the fells to our hotel back to our hotel.
DAY FIVE Friday 15th
Our final day starts with another run over the fells to Newton Stewart (on a different road) before we take the main road into the heart of Glentrool Forest and a stop for coffee at the visitor centre. From here we head north into some really remote countryside passing right through the forest to its northern edge and a stop for lunch near the village of ‘Sraiton’, not to be confused with the instruction ‘Straight On’!
After lunch we return southwards along the A713 to Carsphairn where we turn off onto a minor road through Glen Ken as far as St John’s Town where we cross the Glen and enter the Galloway Forest again. We can then have a stop for tea on the shores of picturesque Clatteringshaws Loch.
The final run takes us down the main road through the forest back to the A75 and along the coast for one last time on our way to the hotel.
5 Days, 6 Nights, 3 Hotels £2499 per car
To download a booking form click here
The Dublin – Donegal Tour ‘26 5th – 12th July
The 2026 Irish Tour is essentially a shortened version of the highly successful 2022 event. As you would expect though there are a few new twists – and turns. Six days but only 3 different hotels makes life easier for everyone and the basic route will be run in reverse with a new mid event section.
DAY ONE 5th July
We will meet for lunch at a hotel near Holyhead. (Some people travelling a long distance may opt to stay here overnight). We then take the 2.30 ferry to Dublin, arriving at 5.30. Unfortunately this drops us right into the rush hour traffic but this year we will take the tunnel out of Dublin to avoid the city centre traffic jams. Once out of the tunnel we have a 60 mile motorway run north to our first hotel just south of Cavan, This means dinner will be a little later than normal but the lakeside setting should make for a pleasant first evening.
DAY TWO 6th July
We start the tour proper today by travelling through rolling countryside to Cavan where we take the main road north. We then head north west towards the Iron Mountains. Minor roads take us round the mountains to Lough McNean and on to Killyclogher. We follow the shores of Loch Melvin and then head north to Belleek where we can stop for coffee at the famous pottery factory.
From here we follow the edge of Lower Lough Erne before turning north again into wide open country around Lough Derg Forest and the edge of Killeter Forest on our way to Ballybofey. Here we take the main road to Letterkenny where we stop for lunch.
After lunch country roads take us via Ramelton and Milford in the heart of Donegal Rally country. The shores of Melroy Bay bring us to Downings and the Beach Hotel for the next two nights.
DAY THREE 7th July
Today you have the option of ‘chilling out’ on the beach or a tour of the heart of Donegal. The tour route starts with a run through Glen Village and past Lough Glen on minor roads before we head into more mountainous country and stop for coffee at the delightful Fintown narrow gauge railway.
After coffee we climb over the hills on a good main road into the next valley with views of the Derryveigh Mountains ahead. A more minor road then takes up the valley into the Glendowan Mountains where we get spectacular views of the valley ahead. We skirt the tranquil Gartan Lough on minor roads as we head back to Ramelton. Here we take a good but very twisty road across to Lough Swilly which we follow northwards with views across the water to the hills of Northern Ireland. After a scenic cliff side climb we come to the summit of the famous Knockalla Hillclimb where we can look down on the stunning sandy beach of Ballmastocker Bay. A stop for lunch in Portsalon will be welcome by now.
The afternoon run takes us to the northern most point of the Fanad Penninsula before we turn south again skirting Mulroy Bay and taking the Harry Blaney Bridge back to Downings.
ATLANTIC DRIVE is a ten mile loop from the hotel in Downings which is part of ‘THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY’. There are stunning views of secluded bays, spectacular beaches and rocky cliffs. It can be driven in either direction and can be done at the end of day two or three or at the start of day four. It is upto you and may depend on the weather – you could even do it both ways on different days.
DAY FOUR 8th July
Leaving Downings for the last time we take the coastal road past Doe Castle and head north to Greeslough before skirting the imposing bulk of Muckish Mountain. We then head inland for a coffee stop at the Glen Veigh National Park centre.
From here we head down the valley with views ahead of Dunlewey Loch and Lough Nacine. A main road run then takes us to Dunglow for lunch.
Another main road after lunch continues south until we turn onto minor roads into the Blue Stack Mountains. After crossing the mountains we reach our new hotel near Donegal for another two nights.
DAY FIVE 9th July
After a run around the picturesque Lough Eske on very minor roads we take the main road over Barnsmore Gap back towards Ballybofey, but this time we loop around taking minor roads to the north of the Blue Stack Mountains and then head west to the impressive Assaranca Waterfalls, and then onto the Folk Village at Glencolmcille for a coffee. After coffee we make a brief detour to the stunning Silver Strand Beach.
We return to Donegal along the dramatic coastline via Killybegs.
DAY SIX 10th July
We leave Donegal Town and head south following The Wild Atlantic Way to Ballshanon and Bundoran before we turn away from the coast for the last time. The scenery is no less spectacular than previous days though as we climb the flanks of the Dartry Mountains and pass the isolated Glendalough.
We continue through Manorhamilton before making a westerly detour to the shores of Lough Gill near Sligo. We then stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant near Dromhair.
The afternoon route takes us along the shores of Lough Allen with the Iron Mountains across the water. From Drumshambo at the head of the Lough the scenery changes dramatically as we take to some long straight country roads through much flatter countryside. It is still a picturesque drive as we pass Lough Ryan and continue through Drumlish to pick up the main road to Granard, and finally the country road past Lough Sheelin back to our hotel where we started on day two.
DAY SEVEN 11th July
The ferry doesn’t leave Dublin until 2.30pm so you have plenty of time to drive the 70 miles. If you wish to avoid the motorway as much as possible you can follow the road to Old Castle and go via the Megalithic Tombs at Loughcrew. It is not far then to pick up the M3 for the run into Dublin and the tunnel back to the port.
6 Nights 3 Hotels + Ferry £2,850
Click here to download a booking form
Little Devils Tour September 13th
In association with Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club.
Part of the HRCR Scentic Tours Series.
After last year’s venture further south we will be returning to a more northerly route for 2026. The start will again be in the Kendal area with the majority of the route in the classic road rally area of Killington Lake and the Eden Valley with a linking route in the Dales. The afternoon section will use some scenic sections in the North Lakes.
So, something for everybody and all on good driving roads in superb scenery.
The entry fee is £75 which includes coffee at the start, coffee and cake in the first part of the route, a hot meal at the ‘half way’ point, and tea and buns at the finish.
£75 per car – Accommodation NOT included
click to download booking form
Autumn Dales Tour October 4-7th
On the basis of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and the response from this year, we will be doing a repeat of the previous few years tours based at Headlam Hall near Barnard Castle. However, just to keep things fresh, and me occupied, there will be a few changes. Mainly the starting venue, as we return to the west of the Pennines and a hotel in Kendal (tbc) for the start venue. This gives us chance to explore the upper reaches of the Eden Valley again, hopefully without all the road closures we had in 2024.
START Sunday 4th. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY ONE Monday 5th
We leave Kendal avoiding the congested town centre and are straight into rolling hills as we follow the A684 to Sedbergh. There are brief views of Morecambe Bay to the south as we head into hilly country to cross the M6 motorway and enter the Western Dales with views ahead of the Howgill Fells and the entrance to Garsdale and Dentdale.
From Sedbergh we drive the full length of Garsdale to the Moorcock Inn and the junction with Mallerstang. Just before we turn into Mallerstang we pass the impressive Dandry Mire viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle Railway, which we follow all the way up the valley. At the ruins of Pendragon Castle we turn off onto the little minor road know locally as ‘The Tommy Road’ – but nobody knows why!? We then take the main road north before turning south over Ash Fell with its panoramic views over the Lune Valley. Once down in the valley we turn off onto minor roads again passing Sunbiggin Tarn to the north. Country roads with views over the Eden Valley to the Pennines lead us into Appleby for coffee at the Appleby Manor Hotel.
From Appleby we head north following the River Eden and the S+C Railway through Langwathby, and then onto minor roads along the flanks of Hartside and on into the more remote parts of the Eden Valley, but still on good quiet country roads as far as Talkin Tarn. From here we climb over the fell with views ahead to Kielder Forest and the Scottish Borders. We then head south towards Alston, stopping for lunch at the little ‘Nook’ farm shop.
In the afternoon we skirt Alston before heading south into Teesdale and then climb across the fells to St John’s Chapel and Dadry Shield in Weardale, where a little minor road takes us along the edge of the valley almost into Stanhope. Another climb over the fells on main roads takes us back to Teesdale and on to Barnard Castle and the hotel, Headlam Hall.
DAY TWO Tuesday 6th
We leave Headlam and take the main road into Darlington, avoiding the town centre and head out onto country roads to Crofton on Tees. We follow the River Tees through pleasant countryside before heading towards the North York Moors via Appleton Wiske. A short run up the A19/A172 brings us to Carleton in Cleveland where we turn onto minor roads again and climb into the Cleveland Hills with spectacular views over Teeside. More little roads through the valley lead us to Chop Gate where we turn south and run along the edge of the moors before turning off into the forest on our way to Sutton Bank, with fantastic views down into the rolling countryside below.
After a coffee stop at the visitor centre we will descend Sutton Bank via the Gliding Club and White Horse at Kilburn. We then go across country through Coxwold and Raskelt on our way to Ripon. Skirting the town we head into some quiet lanes around Galphay with surprise wiews before we head north through Kirkby Malzeard. After passing through Masham with its breweries we stop for lunch at the Thorp Perrow Arbortoreum and Bird of Prey Centre.
The afternoon run then takes us past the secluded Thornton Resevoir to by-pass Leyburn and head into the Dales. We climb over the moors to Grinton and then take a lesser known road through Marske with wonderful views of the Northern Dales before we cross the A66 and make our way back to Headlam.
DAY THREE Wednesday 7th
Almost a re-run of last year’s final day, but with a few ‘tweaks’ as you would expect., such as doing the route in reverse. We head north from the hotel on quiet country roads through Ingleton, Esperey, Lowlands and Highlands on our way to join the main A68. This takes us up onto higher ground at Tow Law where we strike off North East along the ridge of the hill with wind turbines in every direction and views down into the valley below. Turning west we cross the A68 again into more quiet lanes which take us on to the wonderfully named, ‘Muggleswick Common’, a vast open area of moorland above the picturesque Derwent Reservoir. We circle the reservoir running along the north shore with stunning views down the length of the water.
Once again we head north passing through Slaley Forest into a maize of little lanes which bring us to a straight road alongside Hexham Racecourse looking down on the town below.
It is then only a short run to the fabulous Langley Castle for even more fabulous lunch.
The afternoon run is less complicated than this morning as I am sure many navigators may be less attentive after the excesses of lunch! We take the main road towards Alston with its hairpin bends as we drop down into the West Allendale Valley where the woods may be in Autumn colours. We climb out of the valley again to Allendale Town and Allenheads before taking the remote moorland road through Rookhope and the little road along the hillside with views down into the valley as we approach Stanhope.
The main road then takes us through Stanhope with an optional comfort break at the Dales Visitor Centre and on down Weardale to Wolsingham. The final leg then takes us via Hamsterley Forest in to Teesdale and back to Barnard Castle and Headlam for our final dinner. the hotel.
4 Days 2 Hotels £1,799 per car