By motorcycle/car etc. For me, it’s the Sustan Pass in Switzerland. I rode it in September 2017 and was blown away by it. I was staying in Interlaken the night before and when I got up the weather looked awful for the day but despite that I decided to ride the pass anyway. The ascent was fantastic, the weather at the top was shit and made things scary but the descent was sublime. I’ve ridden lots of roads in Europe but the Sustan tops the lot. This is my video of it all, compressed into 12 minutes. Soz if it appears I’m being a little self indulgent,
https://youtu.be/PbdYyRoUpV0Would love to hear about roads or routes that have really impressed you guys, especially as I’m always planning trips and looking for ideas.
Comments
Which is a fun thrill whenever like 7 hours is spent on mainland Europe from Amsterdam (NL) to Calais(FR) via Verne (B) in the same coach...
The flatness of that picturesque trip make the M20 like a roller-coaster/ride... On the M20 that's carved into the hills with bends and inclines and all of that, is way cool after coming from such a flat plain. - then you hit London again and traffic and then that's another hour.
https://i.imgur.com/mQ2VkjI.jpg
I've done the coast road from LA to San Francisco and it was rather romantic, but a rented Toyota econobox with squeaky tyres and the charisma of a kitchen kettle rather took the shine off it as a driving experience
I think though that the Stelvio pass in Northern Italy takes the biscuit.
As an adult I love the road from Craignure to Fionphortt especially in an evening as the sun starts to drop.
Three spring to mind for me - all done on motorbike. First is the ZA-925 out of Sanabria in north western Spain and heading towards Braganca in Portugal (where it becomes the N103). Takes you through the Montesinho national park. About 25 miles in length. I rode it 4 times while over there on hols - and don't think I saw more than a dozen cars on it.
The next is the N106 in France, between Ales and Mende - through the Cevennes national park. It's 102km of biking heaven.
And last but definitely not least is the D906 in France. Starting at Chamborigaud (once you've done 75% of the N106 route above in a southerly direction), and following the D906 all the way to Vichy. Its in the region of 300km in total (takes in a little bit of motorway) and takes you though some of the most beautiful countryside in central France.
The second was the SS125 across the mountains in SE Sardinia, in my brother-in-law's Fiat Panda. It was like a Super Mario Kart. Have been going there for 23 years but have still to ride that road on a bike bigger than an unrestricted Aprilia scooter.
The A18 from Ramsey Hairpin until you get to Creg Ny Baa.
It's even better when the road is closed to two way traffic or closed to the public all together
I don't seek out riding mountain passes, mainly because I like to poodle along and look at the scenery in those situations, rather than ride the road - missing out on some of the riding challenge of it all.
One of my best days riding ever was going from Krakow to Prague on a cross-country route using rural roads, little traffic yet (once I left Poland) on well-surfaced roads. Much of the route was in hilly country and very pretty. From memory, I couldn't tell you the roads, but I'm going to go back to my maps and see if I've still got the route written down.
All motorcycling, of course. I've driven cars in Sardinia and Corsica. I wouldn't mind going back with a bike.
Pacific Highway, especially through Big Sur, north to south. Pretty amazing
I think my favourite was a 60ish mile loop from Edinburgh airport over the hills to the Kincardine Bridge, then back down the other side of the Forth before finishing across the Forth road Bridge. Just the right mix of hills, stunning views and fast bendy descents. Even a cobbled section through on of the villages in the North side. Did it in a touch over 4 hours so not too shabby either.
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youThis year we did a lot of the Dutch coast and across the Afsluidtijk dyke which was kinda cool.
https://i.imgur.com/537bm5R.jpg
Cycling over the top of the Langdales, in the Lake District. Fantastic stuff. (The road up is marked as 1:4 so don't stop whatever you do, you might have trouble getting restarted.)