Leisure Drive

[Rob590]

The A5087 Ulverston - Barrow-in-Furness has brown tourist signposts at either end, labelled as 'Coastal Route'. I don't recognize the red logo though - it looks Lancashirey but these are modern signs so I can't work out who it is!

[Chris Bertram]

The A5087 Ulverston - Barrow-in-Furness has brown tourist signposts at either end, labelled as 'Coastal Route'. I don't recognize the red logo though - it looks Lancashirey but these are modern signs so I can't work out who it is!

English Tourist Board, or Visit England, or whatever it's called this week.

[RichardA626]

My older Highway Codes had a Holiday Route in the signs section, a black HR & an arrow on a yellow background.

I presume this was to pointe recommended route to a resort, I can't every recally seeing one in use so I'm guessing the brown signs replaced them.

[Glen]

Holiday Routes were diversion routes to avoid the main roads during peak traffic in the holiday season - so not necessarily the best, most direct, or most scenic routes, but just a way to disperse traffic to reduce congestion on the main roads.

[Ruperts Trooper]

Holiday Routes were diversion routes to avoid the main roads during peak traffic in the holiday season - so not necessarily the best, most direct, or most scenic routes, but just a way to disperse traffic to reduce congestion on the main roads.

And some of the HRs followed routes that those of us who could map read had been using for decades to avoid the bottlenecks, like Exeter - life was never the same when all and sundry started using the routes!

[Glen]

...............

[Johnathan404]

I think the most well-known sieving holiday route signage is on the M4 at J15 and on the A419. An alternative to the Severn Bridge tolls I assume.

The A417 also has a "scenic route" direction sign at Birdlip. There aren't any more to follow it up mind, and the following 'viewpoint' sign points to a cul-de-sac, but the potential is there.

[ronA1066]

The A1120 from Stowmarket to Yoxford in Suffolk - or parts of it - is signed as a Tourist Route. Large brown signs list a variety of tourist attractions along or close to the road. Unfortunately not all the HGVs follow the advised but much longer through route via the A14 and the A12.

[AndrewGPaul]

There's also the signs for the B8008 between Arisaig and Mallaig:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.92267 ... 312!8i6656

[Glen]

"Alternative scenic/tourist/coastal route" type directions are fairly common in touristy areas, often on a bypassed road like that, or sometimes just a longer way to get somewhere. They are usually only signed at either end and usually just in isolation rather than part of a wider published route.

[Big Nick]

I'd love to know more about this brown sign in Eardisley, it seems to start here https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.14060 ... 6656?hl=en and finishes 2 miles down the road here at a Great Oak which is rather impressive https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.14044 ... 6656?hl=en but seems pointless.

I do recommend the Tram Inn at Eardisley for lunch. The New Strand Inn over the road is full of books The main bar is still in use, the back bar with pool table is now the village Post Office and the conservatory is the dining room!

[vlad]

I knew I remembered that signposted leisure drives were marked on some maps at least.

I've found something called the Official Tourist Map Staffordshire Shropshire and West Midlands, presumably dating to the late 1970s going by which roads are open (it's not dated) and one of a series covering Great Britain south of about Oban.

Below is a scan of part of the Vale Of Trent Leisure Drive, which also got to Tutbury and Lichfield. There are quite a few leisure drives marked on the map with green lines.

[Rambo]

Thread bump!

There are a couple of 'Leisure Drive' signs still hanging on in Cheshire. This one in Mouldsworth. Also another near Manley Mere, Frodsham are two i have noted. I'm curious to know when they started and what were the actual routes as such as these signs appear to be meaningless today.

[Truvelo]

The map vlad posted of Rugeley I'm sure there's some signs still in place. I've seen some round here but I can't remember exactly where they were.

[Richard_Fairhurst]

This one on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border: https://goo.gl/maps/TQynipcHaw3FEhNg6

[Big L]

I passed a couple of these signs this week; this one on the outskirts of Leamington Spa and this one the other side of Kenilworth.

[Big L]

...Two met near Milford Common in Staffs.- one following an AA Day Drive towards Great Haywood and Salt before going back into Stafford; the other over Cannock Chase in some form- passing the German Military Cemetery and the Pye Green Tower at one point...

Sign still there I think.

[KeithW]

There's a good list of these in North Yorkshire here.
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... hire-49742

I am a happy bunny having done one of them day today.
Stokesley to Helmsley

Look out for the Talivan that's usually parked up somewhere along the route. It was on the climb up to Bilsdale Moor today.

[KeithW]

"Northumberland Coastal Trial" is well signposted.
I also saw signs for a tourist route around the north coast from Edinburgh to Dunbar. Then there is the Trossachs trial.

Thesrs one in Kielder too but I think it has a toll on it.... ?

It does but its worth it. Last time I drove it payment was by honesty box.