Ancient lanes and old main roads

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Sweep
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by Sweep »

RickH wrote:
Sweep wrote:
JakobW wrote:I believe he's just finishing up a 'Lost Lanes North' book, though exactly what that's going to cover I'm not sure. Either way, like all the other books, I'm sure it will be lovely and a suitable spur to touring daydreams.

Tend to avoid books of planned rides for various reasons but that sounds interesting. Will keep a look out. Folks feel free to nudge it/me when it appears.

Even if you don't want to do the planned routes they may provide a source of "I hadn't thought of going that way" moments. :D

True.
Sweep
wjhall
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by wjhall »

Bmblbzzz wrote:
foxyrider wrote:The A38 between Almondbury and south Gloucester is generally pretty quiet, ... ...
....

This is an interesting example of how people's perceptions differ. I agree with you about the A38 -.....


It is indeed an example of how perceptions differ, I only touch the A38 at places where it can be crossed directly, or nearly so, and in the first case take cover behind a lamp post, look both ways carefully, wait for a really large gap in the traffic and move quickly and carefully across. Where the crossing is slightly staggered, its wait for a large gap, head down, low gear, and pedal hard to the turnoff.
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Adamcycles17
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by Adamcycles17 »

An ancient lane I can recommend is the Welsh Road which is Towcester to Royal Leamington Spa via Blakeley, Preston Capes, Priors Marston and Southam. Lovely quite former drove road which climbs up into the hills south of Daventry. Just don't expect any cafes!
mattsccm
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by mattsccm »

That bit of the A38 quiet!!! What on earth are you used to? I hate crossing it even . Can't comment on. Thurston other books but his Welsh one was a bit unimaginative and seemed to be a rehash of every other article about cycling in Wales. Ah well, it's sold I guess.
keyboardmonkey
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by keyboardmonkey »

Sweep wrote:
JakobW wrote:I believe he's just finishing up a 'Lost Lanes North' book, though exactly what that's going to cover I'm not sure. Either way, like all the other books, I'm sure it will be lovely and a suitable spur to touring daydreams.

Tend to avoid books of planned rides for various reasons but that sounds interesting. Will keep a look out. Folks feel free to nudge it/me when it appears.

I've got a copy, since discounted by a fiver(!) and well worth considering IMHO:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910636215/
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Traction_man
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by Traction_man »

on the topic of books on old trunk roads, I recommend 'The Great North Road Then and Now' by Chris Cooper:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1870067797/ ... 5EbTFD6QX3

some great nostalgic views of the road as it was, as well as of the quiet backwater that parts of the old A1 now are (not the dual carriageway!).

cheers,

Keith
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mjr
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by mjr »

A forthcoming 5select show about roman roads might give some more suggestions: https://www.tcbmediarights.com/screener ... roads.html
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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JakobW
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by JakobW »

keyboardmonkey wrote:
Sweep wrote:
JakobW wrote:I believe he's just finishing up a 'Lost Lanes North' book, though exactly what that's going to cover I'm not sure. Either way, like all the other books, I'm sure it will be lovely and a suitable spur to touring daydreams.

Tend to avoid books of planned rides for various reasons but that sounds interesting. Will keep a look out. Folks feel free to nudge it/me when it appears.

I've got a copy, since discounted by a fiver(!) and well worth considering IMHO:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910636215/


I forgot about this thread! I pre-ordered a copy from the author, and it came at the beginning of May (with a Lost Lanes patch for the saddlebag). It's every bit as nice as the earlier ones, and I'm already trying to work out how to bring the bike when I next visit family in God's Own Country...

Jack Thurston's been posting highlights/out-take photos from the rides on his Instagram, which might be of interest: https://instagram.com/_lostlanes
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Sweep
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by Sweep »

"god's own country" clearly has a fearsome pr team (clear from endless tv progs) but scanning the cover, can i ask if there are any rides in lancashire?
Sweep
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simonineaston
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by simonineaston »

My chums are thoroughly tired of me saying, "D'you know what - I love these sunken lanes - they're so ancient..." every time we come across one on one of our walks. Mind you, they're mostly unridable, as they're often stoney and steep. See here this one north of Bath, where it is said, the Royalist infantry ascended the west flank of Hanging Hill, where the roundheads had pitched their troops, during the Battle of Lansdowne.
sunken, steep & stoney lane...
sunken, steep & stoney lane...
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
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simonineaston
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by simonineaston »

Roughly the same ground, drawn by cartographers in the late 1880s...
OS one inch 1880-1905
OS one inch 1880-1905
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
keyboardmonkey
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by keyboardmonkey »

Sweep wrote:"god's own country" clearly has a fearsome pr team (clear from endless tv progs) but scanning the cover, can i ask if there are any rides in lancashire?


Of the 30 there are 15 in Yorkshire and 3 in Lancashire.
JakobW
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by JakobW »

Sweep wrote:"god's own country" clearly has a fearsome pr team (clear from endless tv progs) but scanning the cover, can i ask if there are any rides in lancashire?


Cumbria and the Lakes - 7 rides
The North East - 5 rides
North Yorks Moors & Yorkshire Wolds - 5 rides
Yorkshire Dales - 5 rides
West Yorks & South Yorks - 5 rides
Lancashire - 3 rides

I was going to complain I couldn't get my picture of the overview map to upload, but I note that on Jack Thurston's website he's put up the initial section of the book in a book display widget, which will give you the overview map and a list of all the rides: https://lostlanes.co.uk/product/lost-lanes-north/
Jamesh
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by Jamesh »

Traction_man wrote:on the topic of books on old trunk roads, I recommend 'The Great North Road Then and Now' by Chris Cooper:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1870067797/ ... 5EbTFD6QX3

some great nostalgic views of the road as it was, as well as of the quiet backwater that parts of the old A1 now are (not the dual carriageway!).

cheers,

Keith


I've brought a copy and it's a great book.

Living in Yorkshire, obviously some of the rides I've already done, but I'm looking forward to some more obscure rides in the near future.

Cheers James
st599_uk
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Re: Ancient lanes and old main roads

Post by st599_uk »

Soreen (The malt loaf company) were running a project on lost bike lanes: https://www.soreen.com/soreencycleproject/about/
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