I see that in a recent ‘survey’ by an insurance company, the Snake Pass has been voted Britain’s best road. That must be by the locals. I doubt that more than 5 per cent of the population could point to the Snake Pass on a map, let alone find it. Satellite navigation has taken the place of good, old-fashioned geography and nowadays most people arrive at their destination without knowing how they got there.
If the Yanks ever switch off their satellites, the population of that tribe of short people who live in long grass will swell by millions, overnight.
Anyway, back to the Snake Pass. Provided you know how to overtake, to experience the Snake it at its best, drive westwards, although that has the disadvantage of depositing you in Glossop, which is as wrist-slashingly dreary as it sounds. By way of compensation, God created West Sussex, where you will find some of the most picturesque roads in the whole of Britain, especially those that run along the foot of, and over, the South Downs.
As you say, God also created the A272, which has for generations been the definitive picturesque southern cross-country route…
Starting from a point just to the north of the village of Cross-In-Hand in East Sussex (which was my most recent UK address), it runs all the way through to the town of Winchester at its western extremity.
I rode the route regularly in my “Spotty Youth – Cyclist/Motorcyclist” days many years ago, and revisited more recently in my Elan S4 Sprint. My last A272 run was 14 years ago in 1994 just prior to leaving UK again, by which time it was becoming cluttered. I would imagine that by now it is heavily trafficked & nanified.
AlfaMartini | 13 Sep 08 - 13:48Ah, the A272. This road was part of my regular run from Andover to Sheernes (and you think Glossop is dreary!) for several years. What a pleasure.
nedrover | 14 Sep 08 - 3:50