If you look on an Ordnance Survey map, or even Google Maps, these are the ‘yellow roads’ – not quite B-roads with assigned numbers, and not single-track lanes or farm tracks to grind your sump on, but somewhere just between. And blissfully light on traffic because of it.
We begin this 23-mile blat just off at the large roundabout where the A5 and A43 meet. It’s easy to miss this minor road, as it looks like the back entrance to the large car dealership on the corner, but once past the lines of cars for sale the road becomes immediately rural, opening out with a series of sweeping bends across the fields. It’s a two-lane smooth section so watch out for emerging farm traffic as you pick up the pace. After a mile or so the first serious bend arrives – a sharp left with a turn-off to the right. You may be tempted to carry speed through the corner, however the NSL ends very soon after the exit and we arrive at the village of Greens Norton. It takes a few minutes to rumble through at a steady 30mph but keep to the main road as it winds past the pub and church, and soon you’ll be climbing Blakesley Hill towards the next section of open road.
Just like the run up from Towcester, this is a fast swoop of rolling crests, curves and bends. Still two lanes, with dashed white centre lines and decent tarmac, this is a good chance to stretch the Seven’s legs. Occasional farm entrances punctuate the hedgerows, and about midway to the next village the road descends slightly as it crosses the stream at Blackbridge Farm. The bridge is bare noticeable, but road curves beautifully to align perpendicular to the stream and climbs again once across. It’s a decent straight up the hill cresting after 500m, then a series of gentle left-handers carry you round and then down towards Blakesley village. The village streets are narrow, and the 30mph limit becomes optimistic if there is another vehicle is passing through, but it’s a brief pause before getting back on the power for the run north to Maidford. Along this stretch, a single left-hand bend needs careful navigation – the apex and inside lane is worn and potholed. The camber angle of the tarmac makes this a likely candidate for frequent wear and repair, so if you catch it on a smooth day, enjoy! Maidford is a staggered crossroads, so we jink right, then left and pass through the village on Townsend Road. The road wiggles slightly as you rise up on to a road that runs north westerly over the Northamptonshire countryside. Large hedges obscure much of the view away from the road, however the generous grass verges mean you never feel hemmed in. Rolling crests and a well-marked righthand bend make this another joyful section, which narrows and slows briefly at Little Preston, then carries on to Preston Capes. We pass south of the village, through outlying farms and houses, then rise up the gentle slope and the views open up again. Don’t get too distracted though, as the Mobile Phone Network mast that marks the top of the hill also sits in the middle of a great set of bends.
You can see the mast dead ahead as you approach the first righthander. The chevron boards continue out of sight, so you know it’s a serious bend, and the next set of chevrons are pointing left as you exit. The road rises as it passes the water tower and Mobile mast, which means visibility is slightly impaired as you approach the crest and sideroad on the left. The road drops away now, and curves slightly left before running down to another sharper right, but its barely a lift-off moment and opens out smoothly. Crossing open countryside allows you to give the Seven a longer stride and the curves are well spaced. The rolling crests remain, and there are many wiggles an jinks to weave through. There is a final right-then-left combination just before the crossroads at Charwelton, then it’s on the brakes for the Give Way junction ahead. It’s here we cross the A361, an exercise in clutch control as the side road we’re emerging from rises steeply onto the larger carriage way, dropping back down on the other side. Once across, the road narrows to a single track as it approaches the railway bridge. The tracks below are long gone, but the high-sided cast iron road bridge acts as like a chicane and needs to be approached with care. It’s not traffic light controlled either, so oncoming cars may not see you until you are both committed to cross.
Once over the bridge the road widens a little, but now lacks the white-line separations and smooth tarmac of earlier sections. While it’s still easily broad enough for two Sevens, any oncoming traffic needs a little more consideration, and the ruts can be a little distracting. However, it’s a winding road with varying cambers and elevations, so far from dull and opens out nicely once you clear the trees. There are some farm entrances to note, and the occasional sharper bend, but mostly this feels like a countryside cruise until arriving at Priors Marsden. Here we turn southwards, weaving through the village to pick up Hardwick Road and then the aptly named Leisure Drive down to Wormleighton and the junction with the A423. This is a bit of a pinch point, with both the railway and canal crossing above and below us to contend with before arriving at Fenny Compton. Passing through the village the road starts to climb steeply, and on a traffic-free day this two-mile section of Avon Dassett road is a sweet mini-hill climb up to Burton Dassett Country Park. At the top of the hill a right turn at the crossroads leads you out on to the hills for far-reaching views over the countryside. Park up and enjoy the views. It’s as good driving back the other way too.
