Is the CAMC UK Route Planner fine to use?

[jimmyg352]

If you're not already aware Streetmap allows the 1:50.000 OS maps to be viewed which shows road widths and gradients - as well as other higher and lower scales.

I used to use Streetmaps but now I’ve got full OS maps on my phone & Ipad which I use for off-road cycling routes, both 1:50.000 & 1:25.000.
Still my fault for not checking.

 

[Buckman]

Google Earth also gives you street view so no issue and only one program to use?

 

[RogerL]

Google Earth also gives you street view so no issue and only one program to use?

Google Earth, as opposed to StreetView, doesn't give road widths and are often obscured by trees and sometimes the line of the camera van - AFAIK neither Google Earth or StreetView gives gradients.

StreetMap can identify roads narrower than 4m while Google Earth / StreetView can visually show whether a road is wide enough to have centre line marking - so a combination of all three is a good way to check routes.

 

[Dustydog]

Did Bealach Na Ba last year and thought maybe with the caravan🙀. Some of the hairpins are so acute and rise steeply on the turn it would be madness to try. I can see the caravan bottoming out and damaged. Imagine the difficulties the rescue services would have.
Absolutely a no no.
Yet Sutton Bank years ago was open to caravans. Heavy HGV Artics are allowed so why not caravans?

In the early dawn of cars reverse gear was the lowest. Many reversed up steep hills. Maybe thats a possible 😜😜

 

[RogerL]

Did Bealach Na Ba last year and thought maybe with the caravan🙀. Some of the hairpins are so acute and rise steeply on the turn it would be madness to try. I can see the caravan bottoming out and damaged. Imagine the difficulties the rescue services would have.
Absolutely a no no.
Yet Sutton Bank years ago was open to caravans. Heavy HGV Artics are allowed so why not caravans?

In the early dawn of cars reverse gear was the lowest. Many reversed up steep hills. Maybe thats a possible 😜😜

The Bealach-na-Ba would be physically driveable with a caravan if it were closed to oncoming traffic - in an outfit with plenty of power/torque and a good 4wd system - I wouldn't want to try it in some of my old FWD cars!

Sutton Bank is open to big HGVs but not caravans because the alternative route isn't suitable for HGVs - and many caravan outfits would struggle to restart if/when they come to a stop at the hairpin.

 

[Dustydog]

I’m confident my outfit could restart easily on the 1:4 bend. 😜

 

[Sam Vimes]

Some cyclists can't even manage Bealach-na-Ba and miss the bends and sail off into the yonder.

Haven't been that way for years as like so many other places here it gets rammed with tick box tourists.

 

[RogerL]

I’m confident my outfit could restart easily on the 1:4 bend. 😜

But then you have one of the best towcars there is.

 

[Dustydog]

But then you have one of the best towcars there is.

My two Mk 1 Sorentos had the low ratio 4x4 transfer boxes. Could almost climb a vertical wall 😉

 

[Hutch]

My two Mk 1 Sorentos had the low ratio 4x4 transfer boxes. Could almost climb a vertical wall 😉

One of the problems is with the driver, the car might be capable, but the driver is not capable.
A friend of mine, changed his Audi A6 estate, for a Tuerag, because his tyres were spinning on wet grass, with the TowRag, he then managed to get all 4 wheels spinning on wet grass. Tyres and gentle driving would have been better.

 

[Dustydog]

One of the problems is with the driver, the car might be capable, but the driver is not capable.
A friend of mine, changed his Audi A6 estate, for a Tuerag, because his tyres were spinning on wet grass, with the TowRag, he then managed to get all 4 wheels spinning on wet grass. Tyres and gentle driving would have been better.

Must have lead in his pencil, shoe.😉

 

[Hutch]

Must have lead in his pencil, shoe.😉

He certainly didn't read his handbook for the TowRag, I had to show him how to put it into Sports mode for going down hills using the engine,to slow down , rather than overheating his brakes and this was in Switzerland.