7 days, 7 Great British roads and a Caterham 7
Living in London and owning a Caterham Seven means that getting to a good road to enjoy it takes some work. But no pain no gain. So in a brief interlude between lockdowns Nik Berg and son Max embraced the effort and sought out seven of the mainland’s most amazing roads in just seven days.
A39 Atlantic Highway, Devon
Just getting to the start of our journey is quite a mission. Over 150 miles of motorway, and mostly dual carriageway has to be dealt, but the sun is out, the roof is down and our spirits are high. So when, almost four hours after leaving home we arrive at Porlock we’re eager for some more entertaining asphalt. Snaking out of the little hamlet Porlock Hill is one of the steepest roads in Britain. In just a handful of hairpins it takes you up on to Exmoor and, in the late summer into a barrage of colour. Purple moorgrass, yellow gorse, and blue skies make a wonderful combination as we zoom across Exmoor towards Lynton. The ocean suddenly comes into view and we hug the coast down into the town where I hand over the keys to Max for the first time so I can grab photos. This is done not without trepidation as I remember exactly what kind of driver I was at 19. Thankfully Max has a more mature head on his shoulders and we’re soon on our way to our first overnight camping spot in Wales. Read more about the Atlantic Highway.
A4069 Black Mountain Pass
Our first surprise is that the Black Mountain Pass now has a 40mph speed limit. Our second surprise is that in the Caterham that still feels rather rapid. You sit so close to the ground that your sense of speed is exaggerated, the noise from the sidepipe adds to the sensory overload and the continuous corners mean you’re alway busy behind the diminutive steering wheel. In a supercar you might be bored having to cover ground at such a steady pace, but not in a Seven. Besides you only have to look around at the weird and wonderful hills and drumlins or out over the expansive views for more entertainment. Read more about the Black Mountain Pass.
A59 Snake Pass
We continue north through Wales on the rather wonderful A483, before another multi-motorway grind to Manchester. Just outside the city sits Glossop and entry to Snake Pass and the wonderful Peak District. Fiendishly steep climbs and falls dominate this road, which is rather heavily-trafficked unless you get your timing just right. Read more about Snake Pass.
Buttertubs Pass
After our second night under canvas the haul across towards the Yorkshire Dales is tiresome, but worth it. Buttertubs Pass is not to everyone’s taste. It’s narrow and badly surfaced. Some parts look only suitable for 4x4s, others are so tight that anything beyond a Mini would seem a squeeze. The Seven feels just right as we take on the fairground ride of the pass, in a series of wild whoops, drops and corners. Read more about Buttertubs Pass.
B5289 Honister Pass
By the time we reach the end of the bonkers Buttertubs we’re in Cumbria where we have a long list of passes to pick from. With an overnight storm leaving us soaked and the Kirkstone Pass shrouded in cloud we turn towards the Honister Pass near Keswick. Clear of bad weather, but full of carefree sheep it’s a cracking road. Read more about the Honister Pass.
A82 Glencoe
Next stop Scotland. This means more motorway, which isn’t the Caterham’s natural habitat, but at least the M6 in these parts is picturesque and we get to stop off at the lovely Tebay Services for a bite and stretch. We make it to Drymen, near Loch Lomond for an overnight break, before following the banks of the Loch north. As we near Glencoe the road opens out, stretching out in a valley of breathtaking scale. Read more about the road to Glencoe.
Applecross Pass
Our final road is the Applecross Pass from Tornapress to Applecross. The locals call in Balach na Ba and it was once a drovers’ path. Frankly it’s not much wider than that today and if you find yourself there at peak Instagram time it’s a nightmare. You’ll be pulling over in every passing place and probably never get out of second gear. The truly epic landscape does its best to make up for what you lose in driving fun. That is unless you happen to get there at 5am, just as the dawn is breaking with not a single car to be seen over the road’s seven miles of bumpy, twisty brilliance. A fabulous way to finish our seven-road marathon. And only 600 miles to home! Read more about the Applecross Pass.
A more detailed account of this Seven adventure is at Hagerty.co.uk.