University Challenge Roads Questions

[GillsPeter]

One from The Wheel

Which of these counties does the M1 NOT pass through?
Warwickshire
Leicestershire
Derbyshire
Northamptonshire

Warwickshire.

[the cheesecake man]

Yes, considering the M1 gets within less than a mile from the wrong answer, it's not an easy one at all.

It seems easy at first: the M1 passes Leicester, Derby and Northampton but it doesn't pass Warwick .. then you remember it does pass Rugby.

[trickstat]

For me, Derbyshire is the most understandable wrong answer as the M1 passes between Derby and Nottingham and you might think that the boundary is to the west of the motorway. I saw the show and reassured myself at the time by realising that Bolsover is in Derbyshire and is East of the M1. For the other two counties it was quicker to think of places on each side.

Doesn't the 'Warwickshire' Avon pass under the M1 just south of the M6/A14 junction.

[Chris Bertram]

For me, Derbyshire is the most understandable wrong answer as the M1 passes between Derby and Nottingham and you might think that the boundary is to the west of the motorway. I saw the show and reassured myself at the time by realising that Bolsover is in Derbyshire and is East of the M1. For the other two counties it was quicker to think of places on each side.

Doesn't the 'Warwickshire' Avon pass under the M1 just south of the M6/A14 junction.

The "Warwickshire" Avon rises in Leicestershire, and also passes through Worcestershire (Evesham, Pershore) before discharging into the Severn in Gloucestershire (Tewkesbury). The watershed between the Severn and the Trent is hard to map, and though it may seem counterintuitive, most of Wolverhampton and Dudley (and, I think, all of Birmingham), despite being closer to the Severn, drain into the North Sea via the Trent and the Humber, while much of the land to the east of there drains into the Severn.

Derbyshire is a very strange shaped county. It's long and thin, stretching NNW-SSE with Derby at the southern end and Glossop at the northern end. But it has a couple of extra bulges - at the far south, there is one that reaches out SW towards Burton-on-Trent, and the other one is around Chesterfield, extending the county to the east, and containing the outer suburbs of Sheffield (using the modern county as the model here, as the UC question setters would certainly have done).

[Big L]

…The watershed between the Severn and the Trent is hard to map, and though it may seem counterintuitive, most of Wolverhampton and Dudley (and, I think, all of Birmingham), despite being closer to the Severn, drain into the North Sea via the Trent and the Humber, while much of the land to the east of there drains into the Severn…

The Smestow Brook, which is the biggest natural watercourse in Wolverhampton files into the Stour, then on to the Severn. The Penk, which rises in Perton, flows north to the Sow then the Trent. The Tame has two legs, according to Wikipedia, one starting in Oldbury and one in Willenhall, that join at Bescot and head for Tamworth then the Trent, as does the Rae which seems to drain most of Birmingham.

[Chris Bertram]

…The watershed between the Severn and the Trent is hard to map, and though it may seem counterintuitive, most of Wolverhampton and Dudley (and, I think, all of Birmingham), despite being closer to the Severn, drain into the North Sea via the Trent and the Humber, while much of the land to the east of there drains into the Severn…

The Smestow Brook, which is the biggest natural watercourse in Wolverhampton files into the Stour, then on to the Severn. The Penk, which rises in Perton, flows north to the Sow then the Trent. The Tame has two legs, according to Wikipedia, one starting in Oldbury and one in Willenhall, that join at Bescot and head for Tamworth then the Trent, as does the Rae which seems to drain most of Birmingham.

Birmingham is not renowned for its rivers (why do you think they dug all those canals), but the ones it has all flow north east and eventually feed the Trent. This includes, as you say, the Tame, which originates further west, the Rea (as in the Rea Bank Stand at Edgbaston, now named the Hollies stand), and the Cole, with the Blyth in Solihull following suit. Smaller streams include the Bourn Brook and the Aston Brook.

[the cheesecake man]

Derbyshire is a very strange shaped county. It's long and thin, stretching NNW-SSE with Derby at the southern end and Glossop at the northern end. But it has a couple of extra bulges - at the far south, there is one that reaches out SW towards Burton-on-Trent, and the other one is around Chesterfield, extending the county to the east, and containing the outer suburbs of Sheffield (using the modern county as the model here, as the UC question setters would certainly have done).

I suspect most residents of Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh would take offence at that last bit.

…The watershed between the Severn and the Trent is hard to map, and though it may seem counterintuitive, most of Wolverhampton and Dudley (and, I think, all of Birmingham), despite being closer to the Severn, drain into the North Sea via the Trent and the Humber, while much of the land to the east of there drains into the Severn…
Birmingham is not renowned for its rivers (why do you think they dug all those canals), but the ones it has all flow north east and eventually feed the Trent. This includes, as you say, the Tame, which originates further west, the Rea (as in the Rea Bank Stand at Edgbaston, now named the Hollies stand), and the Cole, with the Blyth in Solihull following suit. Smaller streams include the Bourn Brook and the Aston Brook.

The Birmingham & Worcester Canal makes a long descent from Gas Street Basin in central Birmingham to the River Severn at Worcester (including the longest flight of locks at Tardebigge), suggesting at first glance that Birmingham (or at least the southern half) is in the Severn Basin rather than Trent. Closer scrutiny would suggest the watershed is at Wast Hills Tunnel, just to the south of the city between Hawkesley and Hopwood.

In most places the city/town centre is downhill on most approaches (although not usually as obviously as this), with Birmingham you find yourself climbing. This is slightly related to Birmingham's lack of rivers and West Bromwich having the highest football ground.

[wrinkly]

In most places the city/town centre is downhill on most approaches (although not usually as obviously as this), with Birmingham you find yourself climbing. This is slightly related to Birmingham's lack of rivers and West Bromwich having the highest football ground.

Oldham town centre seems to be situated almost on a summit, with slightly higher ground only to the north. Despite some of the steepest railways in the country being nearby, all the town's railway stations were downhill from the centre. When the Metrolink tram system was first opened to Oldham about 2012, it first followed the former railway route below the town centre, but was later diverted along the main street.

[jgharston]

The Birmingham & Worcester Canal makes a long descent from Gas Street Basin in central Birmingham to the River Severn at Worcester (including the longest flight of locks at Tardebigge), suggesting at first glance that Birmingham (or at least the southern half) is in the Severn Basin rather than Trent. Closer scrutiny would suggest the watershed is at Wast Hills Tunnel, just to the south of the city between Hawkesley and Hopwood.

Quite a lot of the Vision Of Britain local authority boundary maps show the Severn/Trent watershed around there, and others elsewhere. Probably because the water boards were sort-of "local authorities" for the purpose of the maps. Example here.

[the cheesecake man]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

[IAN]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

It is a shame that Victoria made such a big issue about what a boring question it was. She needs to join SABRE and learn the error of her ways!

[the cheesecake man]

It is a shame that Victoria made such a big issue about what a boring question it was. She needs to join SABRE and learn the error of her ways!

Absolutely. Even if it had been boring it deserved appreciation for combining two unrelated things.

[6637]

One from The Wheel

Which of these counties does the M1 NOT pass through?
Warwickshire
Leicestershire
Derbyshire
Northamptonshire

Thanks to county boundaries often being counterintuitive, it's not an easy question. The M1 does very close to Warwickshire.
For example I'd be impressed if someone instinctively knew the answer to all of these...
Does the M40 pass through Northamptonshire?
Does the M40 pass through Hertfordshire?
Does the M1 pass through Buckinghamshire?
Does the M11 pass through Hertfordshire?
Does the A1 pass through Northamptonshire?
Does the A1 pass through Leicestershire?
Does the A14 pass through Leicestershire?
Does the A42 pass through Derbyshire?
Does the A3 pass through Sussex?
Does the A303 pass through Dorset?
Does the A303 pass through Devon?

(three of these questions have different answers depending on which definition of the county borders you are using, so would presumably never be selected for a quiz show...)

[solocle]

Does the A303 pass through Dorset?
Does the A303 pass through Devon?

It passses through both . I don't think historical boundaries actually change that, the Dorset/Wilts/Somerset tripoint is pretty ancient, marked by Egbert's Stone.

[Rob590]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

I don't see it. I'm trying something about yellow, green, brown, but I don't see a sequence or a connection to the numbers. There are two colours on a diversionary route sign, and I suppose primary routes could be three because the route numbers are in yellow, but there aren't four on tourist signs...

It could be a word one with nothing to do with roads, but if it is I don't see it either!

[mfmman]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

I don't see it. I'm trying something about yellow, green, brown, but I don't see a sequence or a connection to the numbers. There are two colours on a diversionary route sign, and I suppose primary routes could be three because the route numbers are in yellow, but there aren't four on tourist signs...

It could be a word one with nothing to do with roads, but if it is I don't see it either!

It could drive you loopy thinking about it

[IAN]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

I don't see it. I'm trying something about yellow, green, brown, but I don't see a sequence or a connection to the numbers. There are two colours on a diversionary route sign, and I suppose primary routes could be three because the route numbers are in yellow, but there aren't four on tourist signs...

It could be a word one with nothing to do with roads, but if it is I don't see it either!

The numbers are nothing to do with roads, road furniture or any other aspect of roads. If you’re really stuck you can always see the quiz on iPlayer.

[Steven]

Does the A303 pass through Dorset?
Does the A303 pass through Devon?

It passses through both . I don't think historical boundaries actually change that, the Dorset/Wilts/Somerset tripoint is pretty ancient, marked by Egbert's Stone.

If only there was a map layer or two on SABRE Maps that could tell you for sure...

[Rob590]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

I don't see it. I'm trying something about yellow, green, brown, but I don't see a sequence or a connection to the numbers. There are two colours on a diversionary route sign, and I suppose primary routes could be three because the route numbers are in yellow, but there aren't four on tourist signs...

It could be a word one with nothing to do with roads, but if it is I don't see it either!

The numbers are nothing to do with roads, road furniture or any other aspect of roads. If you’re really stuck you can always see the quiz on iPlayer.

Well we are just sitting down to watch the recording of it, was hoping to impress the family by getting it straight away

[rhyds]

Brilliant Only Connect sequence
Diversionary route (2)
Primary route (3)
Tourist destination (4)
?

I don't see it. I'm trying something about yellow, green, brown, but I don't see a sequence or a connection to the numbers. There are two colours on a diversionary route sign, and I suppose primary routes could be three because the route numbers are in yellow, but there aren't four on tourist signs...

It could be a word one with nothing to do with roads, but if it is I don't see it either!

It could drive you loopy thinking about it

...Me and you and him and me...