Americans Driving in the UK - Scary Roads in the Yorkshire Dales

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

If you want to see more beautiful footage of the Yorkshire Dales, check out this video of the Burnsall area: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3-naqtqi9V4gNk

[@stephennicholson2833]

I was traveling on business about 35 years ago in England. I decided to take a detour after visiting my aunt in Sheffield and returning to my work assignment in Bolton by driving north through the Yorkshire Dales. We were big fans of the original All Creatures Great and Small. i decided to drive through the village of Askrigg since this was where Skeldale House was in the filming of the TV series. This was in the winter. As I approached Askrigg, I noticed that there were quite a few cars parked at the side of the road so I did likewise. When I walked into the village, I was surprised to see that they were filming for the TV series. I walked along and saw Mrs. Pumphreys Rolls Royce. I couldn't believe my luck. I was wearing my tweed suit jacket and my tweed hat which seemed so very appropriate. Then who would I see walking through the crowd watching the filming; Christopher Timothy who played James Herriot in the original series!! So I gather all my confidence and walked over to him and asked for a photo which he gladly agreed to. He was especially surprised to see an American this far from home. I couldn't wait to tell my wife of my adventure.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is the best story! I'm actually editing my video now for next Friday which is about All Creatures Great and Small. But the remake, not the original series. I love that you had that filming interaction with the classic original series!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Scary roads = great place! That's a golden rule - if it has lots of wide main roads to it, it probably isn't that an interesting place - usually! Really good video - and a useful one for not only for people travelling from abroad, but also city dwelling UK motorists too. Loved this Dara. Happy travelling. Take care both, Paul

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@westcountrywanderings I definitely agree with your motto! I know you love the little villages of Devon and Cornwall as much as we do, and they always have the scariest roads leading to them! Lol Thanks so much for watching and leaving your lovely comment . Cheers! XX Dara

[@authunhx3129]

Ivelet bridge in Swaledale, the packhorse bridge towards the end of your video, was used prior to 1580 by pall bearers conveying corpses from Upper Swaledale to St Andrew's church in Grinton. There is a coffin stone on the north side of the bridge which was placed to allow the bearers to rest. As a packhorse bridge, its main purpose was to facilitate the transport of lead ore which was mined in the locality. Life moved at a slow pace, slower even than those tractors you mention.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@authunhx3129 thanks for the history and context!

[@catherinewilkins2760]

A mesmerising, murmeration. Can't beat narrow roads, much better than fast motorways. Enjoy the views.

[@s.tranger1074]

Only if you have all day and have nothing else better to do!

[@lizbignell2820]

The warning road signs that amuse me are Hidden Dips, which always makes me think of a bowl of sour cream and chives skulking in the bushes waiting to jump out, and Heavy Plant Crossing which makes me imagine a ten tonne leek meandering across the road!

[@timelord5920]

Heavy plant crossing always makes me think of triffids.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

LOL, that's great Liz! Now you have me craving some thick wavy cut potato crisps with a sour cream dip!!

[@grahamstubbs4962]

@@timelord5920 Or Aspidistras. Hate those. 🙂

[@lizbignell2820]

I am sure you can find something to satisfy your craving!

[@brianscott5008]

@@timelord5920I remember seeing that very sign outside Dobbies Garden Centre whilst some construction was going ahead across the roundabout. The sign always raised a smile when I drove past and I had to ask my passengers or family to keep a keen eye out for triffids knowing how dangerous they were. 😅

[@nicksykes4575]

Hi Dara, you can tell Ian that the weight limit on those weak bridges is far less than they will hold, road engineers have to err on the side of caution. I'm used to travelling roads like this, as they are found in most rural parts of the UK, unfortunately I'm never driving a car when I've encountered them, and some little old ladies think it's easier to reverse an artic than their car. I did get stuck on a sandstone bridge once, when a bulldozer blade caught the parapet on both sides and I had to unchain it to lift the blade.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I would never be able to drive an arctic! I commend you! 🫡 That bridge incident sounds very tricky indeed!

[@777petew]

I'm in the UK, and we obviously don't have this in our cities. But when we visit these areas, most of us just expect and accept this. We're on holiday, so what's the rush? Part of the experience. Thank you.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it is a great opportunity to exercise patience and enjoy the journey... when a herd of cattle is blocking the road!

[@jeanlongsden1696]

our bus routes go down country lanes like that. as for the bridges, they give you the maximum width and weight on the signs. it is also advisable to honk your horn if you cant see over the crest of a bridge or hill, to let anyone on the other side know that you are heading towards them.

[@MemesAndVehiclesYT]

And I think same applies when going round blind bends. My parents live in Stroud and we pass through a forest on the way. Always dark and poor visibility, so I honk. Saved me from high speed drivers coming right into my little ‘76 mini.

[@sovereignjoe5730]

Thanks for this video, your observations & commentary mad me chuckle a lot, much appreciation.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@sovereignjoe5730 thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@user-TonyUK]

If you thought the Yorkshire roads where bad take a look at the Hardknotts/Wrynose Pass in the Lake District - a 1 in 7 incline with hairpin bends, blind corners and FREE RANGE SHEEP OR CATTLE. If you try it take note of the ROMAN FORT on the Western Edge of the Pass.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@user-TonyUK well it sounds like a beautiful place, but the type of driving challenge that would make my blood run cold! Lol

[@user-TonyUK]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I have hike through it several times as I use it as a short cut to the Lake District from the South East of England.

[@user-TonyUK]

If you where to try it in an typical Amerian Motorhome your Front Fender would be approx 15 to 20 feet HIGHER than the back fender..... YES its that steep and the corners are VERY SHARP, there are some videos of the Pass here on KZbin to watch.

[@user-TonyUK]

@@MagentaOtterTravels There are some videos of drivers going over the Pass on KZbin if you want to view them

[@gchecosse]

The "Weak" bridge said 10 tonnes. Your car doesn't weigh that much so it'll be fine. For a blind summit you honk the horn.

[@ians3586]

I was so engrossed by the sight of the bridge, I didn't notice the weight limit but I'm very surprised that it can hold that much. Looks can be deceiving.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Excellent advice. Cheers! Dara

[@ians3586]

@@yosserc that is exactly my thinking and why I only want to use the horn very sparingly. I've done lots of driving on these country lanes and haven't really had problems with it. I drive slowly so I have plenty of time to react and keep an eye on what is ahead and where turnouts are. The reality is, I rarely encounter cars coming the other way. My wife, as passenger, is far more nervous about things than I am.

[@campermobile3217]

@@yosserc I can say from experience in the Dales that no one honks horns. I think one of the entries in the country code is to not make noise like that.

[@joh22293]

@@campermobile3217 I used to drive over that bridge at Ivelet regularly and I always honked the horn first.

[@alanalderson1427]

As a Yorkshireman, I am used to driving on these roads. Yes, it can be a bit scary, but patience is a virtue. For me, Murphys Law seems to apply a lot since there is always an oncoming vehicle on the tightest of blind bends. 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes! Murphy's Law of Yorkshire roads ;-)

[@torfrida6663]

@@MagentaOtterTravels and Lincolnshire…. 😀🇬🇧

[@roderickjoyce6716]

@@torfrida6663 and Northumberland ... but I cycle, so it's easier to squeeze past or get out of the way :)

[@oastie3]

@@alanalderson1427 I find the vehicle coming the other way always catches me at the narrowest point, exactly where the road edge, on my side, is all broken up or has a huge pothole.🤨

[@antonycharnock2993]

And the Peak District... 😂

[@lilyshambles5644]

As a child I remember being told to breathe in when we passed vehicles on narrow roads, as if that was going to help! The worst roads for me were crossing the Pennines, narrow, winding and with serious drops about 6 inches from the side of the road. Regarding the hills there used to be an advert in the 70's or early 80's I think telling you not to speed up them as you never knew what was on the other side. In the ad I think it was a UFO.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's funny! Haven't seen a UFO road hazard yet! Yes, when we go through a very narrow pass, I do tell everyone in the car to inhale! haha

[@speleokeir]

I've spent a lot of time caving in the Dales which often involves going on the back roads. There's one particular road in the Malham Cove area and I remember the first time we went on it. We were in two cars and our friends in the one in front suddenly stopped. Then they disappeared from sight completely! One minute they were there and the next they were gone! Moving very slowly forward we got to the brow of a small slope and then the road suddenly dipped down to the edge of a 20 foot escarpement which bordered a small ravine before taking a sudden 90 degree left turn. Then another 90 to the right over a humpback bridge which crossed a beck and repeat on the other side. Good fun!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@speleokeir oh wow, that sounds like a wild time!

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

They look like motorways after going over Hardknot Pass last year in Cumbria...now that's a scary road!

[@Escapee5931]

My wife wimped out at the first corner so I had to take over driving! 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Even the name sounds intimidating!!!

[@Brian-om2hh]

Try the road over Buttertubs in North Yorkshire..... It makes Hardknot pass look like a US freeway....

[@DH.2016]

@@MagentaOtterTravels There's the exposed foundations of the walls and buildings of a Roman fort there on that road, too. What a place to be posted to if you were a Roman soldier back then!

[@joebutlersnr7017]

​@@Brian-om2hhbeen on both but butter tubs were a doddle compared to hard knot and Wrynose pass , both done on a motorbike.

[@alabama1413]

This is a fantastic video Dana, beautifully filmed & presented. Thank you for sharing. Narrow lanes don’t phase me I have to say. 🤗❤️

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I sure love where they lead! But sometimes they scare me a bit. Glad you are used to them. Thanks for watching! Hopefully you saw our video of Burnsall... lovely drone footage in that one!

[@ChrisShelley-v2g]

Horton in Ribblesdale has an "interesting" humpback bridge, barley wide enough for a car, but the milk lorry has to get past/over/through this pinch point which is also on a bend just for good measure, a must see village though, well it has two pubs, a small shop and a post office which is also a Cafe, general shop for things the other shop doesn't sell, it's where the mountain rescue team is based (directed from), it's a gift shop, plus much more and closed Wednesdays and Sundays, there's also a half day closing too, lazy so-n-so's.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Ha ha, that is very interesting! Cheers for that!

[@merlin5476]

Driving in coastal towns and in cities is far more stressful than the countryside. I love driving around the countryside whenever i can .

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Rules for driving in the Dales. 1. Agricultural vehicles = someone trying to earn a living, so they have right of way. 2. There are MANY times more sheep in the Dales than people, and they are the "money", so sheep have right of way. 3. On narrow roads, a little courtesy means a lot, so everyone but _you_ has right of way. 😉 But seriously, the trick is to look as far ahead as possible, and if you see the glint of vehicle paintwork then pull in at the first passing place and let the other driver pass - It's a lot easier than reversing. You're a tourist, so what's the hurry ?

[@glennrowe2961]

The farmers aren’t the only people on the roads trying to earn a living. And they certainly don’t have a particular right of way.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

@@glennrowe2961 In that part of the world there's very little other traffic than agricultural vehicles except for tourists, mostly at weekends, and they tend to stick to the main roads. And it's easier to make way for a tractor & trailer than for him to get out of _your_ way, so it's sensible to do that.

[@glennrowe2961]

@@Kevin-mx1vi How about on the A59 ??

[@glennrowe2961]

@@Kevin-mx1vi I live in that part of the world, and I know there’s plenty of folk going about their daily business. Where is the sense in giving way to a vehicle that’s then going to hold you up ??🤷🏻‍♂️

[@antonycharnock2993]

@@glennrowe2961 I don't think the A59 or A65 counts in this respect...although its quite interesting to watch tractors with hay trailers drive around the roundabout in my home town of Rotherham...

[@petercaulf]

The problem with using a sat nav is that they will always take the most direct route and this means many narrow lanes and sometimes even farm tracks! Tbh it's better to use keep a map with you as a back up, because most places can be reached by using main roads, not narrow winding lanes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, some of the roads that Google maps has taken us down were definitely ill advised! Lol

[@simonpkershaw]

I grew up there, have cycled and driven all those roads! The bridge you were worried about has been there longer than the USA

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes it's definitely older than the US! And as people have pointed out to me, the weight limit is 10 tons, so we really didn't need to be worrying about it 😆

[@ChrisBrown-px1oy]

I started driving lessons in the north-western suburbs of London early in 1985. Sharing the driving as a supervised learner on a two-week summer family holiday in the Yorkshire dales was like starting all over again, and I never lost my taste for exploring the countryside on narrow lanes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@ChrisBrown-px1oy I can understand that. It is a lovely adventure!

[@petermicklethwaite6281]

The Starlings you saw flying is called a Murmaration.

[@stephenphillip5656]

The Yorkshire Dales roads don't faze me but I have a bit of an advantage here - I live on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales & I visit "my back yard" regularly on my motorcycle. *BLISS!.*

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That definitely is an advantage!

[@tracybrock8415]

Driving through North Devon on the way to my niece’s wedding was pretty hair raising - I spent most of the journey with my eyes closed, despite the beautiful scenery. The lanes were barely a vehicle’s width with high hedges or sheer drops! I’m from London, so really not used to narrow lanes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Well if your eyes were closed, I hope you weren't the driver! Lol

[@ians3586]

Ian the driver here and I can relate. I've driven the roads in Exmoor and around the North Devon coast and they are exactly as you describe. I would say the driving is less challenging in The Dales.

[@grahampeckett6434]

My husband and I owned and ran a pub in Thoralby around 2002. Although All Creatures was filmed in the Yorkshire Dale's the Veterinary was based in Pickering on the Yorkshire Moors. The Dale's was chosen as the location for filming as more picturesque. James Herriot did honeymoon at The Wheatsheaf Inn @ Carperby not far from Aysgarth Falls. Well worth a visit for lunch or dinner.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@grahampeckett6434 wow those are some fun facts! Thanks so much for sharing your comment!

[@FlourEggsYeast]

Dara! So excited for this; we've gone on some scary roads ourselves while in southern Italy. Can't wait to watch.

[@chrisattwood8701]

If you want to find a really narrow bridge, try the one at little stainforth!! I grew up and learnt to drive in the dales, great roads.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrisattwood8701 ha ha, maybe that will make me avoid Little Stainforth 😉

[@chairman823]

I live in Yorkshire and have ridden my bike along many of those roads. Cows and sheep are a definite hazard going downhill.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chairman823 oh my, you are so brave! I could never do that on a bicycle!🚴 😳

[@charlottewebster4233]

I imagine it could be terrifying to drive along country roads in the UK when you're used to US traffic. Everything from remembering to stick to the left, road signs that make no sense, the lack of markings or lighting, the narrow and winding bends with high hedges and little barriers and the inevitable point where you're faced with a road full of sheep, cattle or horses mooching along in front of you. I live out in the sticks in Lancashire (just down the road from Yorkshire) and we have everything from the usual livestock to skittish stupid ass pheasant, deer, rabbits and the occasional dog run out on quiet country lanes. It's one of the few places you can legit call into work late because there's 100 dairy cows holding up traffic.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

haha, great excuse for being late to work! And yes, pheasants can fly... but they usually walk down the middle of the road it NO HURRY!

[@dek123]

I joined the army in North Yorkshire and learned to drive on those roads

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That would be good training!

[@Chrisjude100]

I was born in W. Yorkshire (the West Riding as it was, where the Dales are located). City dweller, but would cycle or walk them most weekends, and cross the moors. I recognize some of the vistas and am subscribing. Never really drove the roads as there was no car in my family until after I had left home in 1969. My uncle Henry (Harry) was a good friend of James Herriot (Wight, actually). They may have met while serving in the RAF during WWII. I left the UK for Italy nearly 50 years ago and have done some scary driving here in the Alps. I could perhaps get used to Dales driving if I needed to! Fun fact; I am Christopher and my brother was (I am sad to say) Timothy.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Chrisjude100 thank you so much for your comment. It was lovely to hear from you! Thank you for subscribing and welcome to the Magenta Otter Tribe! We drove around in the Italian Alps, and actually I was the one who had to do the driving! It was too scary for me! Ian rode an electric bike through the Dolomites and loved it though! Most fun day of his life! Cheers! Dara

[@Chrisjude100]

@@MagentaOtterTravels ♥♥

[@mattbaker3797]

I’m from the UK and have lived in the Derbyshire Dales for most of my life. The roads there are very similar to the Yorkshire Dales. It was however in Devon that I had my most challenging drive. We have a touring caravan (I believe you guys in the states call them “travel trailers”). The caravan is 25 feet long and when attached to the car the whole rig is 40 foot. We were coming from a lovely camp site in Devon and had to negotiate 5 miles of roads much like in your video to get to the main road. I was turning right into another road when I noticed a 4x4 waiting to turn left out of it. I flashed him to let him come out as he was blocking where I wanted to go but he pointed behind him and I noticed he was towing a giant toilet block bigger than our caravan. I had to reverse back with the caravan to let him out and then squeeze past each other. I had to do this twice because there was another identical rig behind him.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh goodness!!! We would not be able to handle that challenge!😳

[@russbetts1467]

Welcome to England. We hope you enjoy your stay. After 70 odd years of travelling on Britain's roads, I've become somewhat immune to them, so I just enjoy the - sometimes frustrating - journey. Russ. Hampshire.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Good motto for life in general. Enjoy the journey!

[@melanierhianna]

Punting through roads like this in my Land Rover is a regular past time for me. To be fair it is easier with a car with a higher driving position than say a little hatch back that's low to the ground.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I agree!

[@Amandafusion1]

I loved watching this video. Some of my family live in Easy Horsley and the roads are very thin with tight corners yet people go fast...when I drive there I am the slow driver everyone is behind. Where as my parents live up north and I have hit a few pheasants from time to time that decided to cross the road as I was passing! Love this video , Thank you for posting, You have me missing home again:)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Amandafusion1 sorry to make you miss home, but glad you had the chance to watch this video! Watching it makes me want to go back as well!🩷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Cheers! XX

[@Cheesemaker-o2v]

Definitely some dicey roads to deal with but the great Yorkshire scenery more than makes up for it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Most definitely!

[@hongk0ngfu3y]

The final weak bridge was rated for sub 10 tons so nothing to fear

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Phew! Next time we will just toot the horn and not worry about the bridge caving in ;-)

[@hongk0ngfu3y]

@@MagentaOtterTravels yeah some narrow humped bridges need a volunteer to wave you over🤣

[@ivandavies1388]

On a blind summit, it is a good idea to sounds your horn to let other traffic know you are there

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm glad we have learned that tip since posting this video!

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Oh I was sooooo envious. love those roads. I know Leen gets nervy as he is in the passenger side of a right hand drive vehicle ( we use our own 🇳🇱 car on holiday in the UK. Our recent French Holiday had at times something of a hairsalon- Hairpins everywhere. On steep roads too. Oh Dara, one of my most fun activities. Challenging roads. Loved this so much. Can’t wait ti try them out myself. Have a great weekend. ❤👌🇳🇱🙋🏼‍♀️🥝

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I look forward to your Yorkshire Dales road trip report one day in the future ;-)

[@garthcox4307]

Starling murmations are amazing. They happen at the end of the day, just before they roost for the night. Starlings are also excellent mimics, they do a very good car alarm😂

[@frankward8336]

That flock of starlings is called a murmur, or murmuration.😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Great name!

[@robertwalker1742]

You must try the Durham dales which lead into Northumbria, even better.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@robertwalker1742 sounds great! We do love County Durham 🩷

[@torfrida6663]

Oh dear! For a Brit accustomed to driving our countryside, your nervous passenger noises are hilarious. Just so long as you don’t make your driver more nervous! That would be dangerous. 😀💕👍🇬🇧

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Trust me, Ian is used to my prattling on! He's had 32 years practice tuning me out LOL! Seriously, I think he was most nervous on that packhorse bridge. But now we've learned we should honk our horn.

[@johnlbirch]

I live in the UK and when we visited places like this with the children and had all day to explore we'd often ask the children "left or right" at any junction. The result could be quite exciting, we visited some unusual places, though TBH (I did not tell them!) I normally knew roughly where we were heading by using things like the sun.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@johnlbirch how wonderful that you were blessed with some natural navigation skills! I am rubbish when it comes to directions! But that does sound like a fun game to play with the kiddos... "choose your own adventure!"

[@johnlbirch]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Trouble is I am rubbish at navigation when I am in towns and cities!

[@melanierhianna]

Its called a murmuration of starlings.

[@iainwolstencroft3764]

Sometimes it can be easier driving at night as you have the headlights of the oncoming traffic can give you a heads up of their coming towards you

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@iainwolstencroft3764 very true!

[@da90sReAlvloc]

You right dara even to me some of our roads are difficult. , but. A lot of our roads were built for horse and carts. Hell we even have roads. Built by romans, so obviously when some of our roads were built they didn't even consider that cars would be a thing, Great video dara. Stay safe, 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Definitely!

[@bulwinkle]

I recognize many of the roads in this video. I live in the Yorkshire dales.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

How fun! You are lucky to live there.

[@leplessis8179]

Come to Cornwall and see some really narrow lanes!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We have! That's where I came up with the saying that the very best places are at the end of scary little lanes!🤣

[@gar6446]

If its blind beep your horn, gives anyone out of sight a warning. 10 tonne bridges are not weak. Its to bar trucks. If your worried about stone walls with bush camouflage, try not to think of the hedges concealing a car wide rhyne full of water for you to drop into like you'd find on the somerset levels.

[@ians3586]

Those are good points. So far we haven't encountered many rhynes, fortunately.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Somerset and Devon are both stunningly beautiful too... but also scary to drive through the narrow lanes with their own surprises ;-)

[@robertwatford7425]

The murmurations of starlings is a joy to watch on a bright summer evening. Those sorts of roads are good fun, particularly when a garbage truck comes round a blind bend at thirty and expects you to get out of the way :-) And if cows are going to use the roads you'ld think they'd use their horns more...

[@FeinDining]

HOLY COW! Whatever terror you have, ours is a million times more! We would definitely go the passenger route, and probably with a couple of nice sleep masks so we can count virtual sheep and not actually see all the things that would make us never get in the car to begin with. Have no fear, you're a braver soul than we are ♥

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@FeinDining yeah it can be a bit scary😱 ... but SO worth it! 🥰

[@StephenandAndie]

The sheep, cows, stone walls - it is SO picturesque!!! Beautiful.😍

[@apacherider7110]

The flock of starlings is called a murmuration.

[@iannorton2253]

I live in Derbyshire. I find it great fun driving the country lanes, but I do have a very small and narrow vehicle.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I would never want to drive a large car in Britain! Whenever we someone with a very large luxury car on these tiny country roads we always say "why?!"

[@iannorton2253]

@@MagentaOtterTravels It takes skill, confidence and daring much of the time. Also, some negotiation with the oncoming driver. There's occasionally an element of bullying when the other vehicle is bigger and forces you to give way and reverse; especially if they're in something big and posh like a Range Rover. You have to not mind the possibility a few bodywork scratches from closer than wanted encounters with hedges, as well. Some of the best places are 'hidden away' along a country lane. I'm glad you and Ian are enjoying your trips around the British countryside. I've not yet explored the Yorkshire Dales, but am inspired to after seeing videos such as yours and the TV programmes that have been on recently.

[@markwiles5397]

The countryside is just a joy.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I agree!

[@garygrimmett7945]

Go to the dales quite often..beautiful...gods own country...

[@ians3586]

Couldn't agree more. A magical place.

[@tonycasey3183]

Thanks Dara - great video. Just a little tip. When you are approaching a blind summit, blind bend or that packhorse bridge, it is a good idea to sound your horn and have your window down a bit so that you can hear if somebody else on the other side is sounding theirs. You were right about Brits tending not to notice cars parked on the side of the road. I am loving your Dales Diary

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Tony! That is a GREAT tip!

[@stevetaylor8698]

@@MagentaOtterTravels No! There is enough noise from traffic as it is. Just slow down and be prepared for traffic coming the other way.

[@Crabneedspony]

We call Yorkshire “Gods Country”, glad you enjoyed it, bridges that are narrow and have low walls are called “pack horse bridges” the low walls allowed the baggage the horses carried to be above the bridge wall

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Crabneedspony they are beautiful bridges! But honestly better suited for packhorses than cars! 😉 The first time I saw a packhorse bridge was in Somerset. And it was only a pedestrian bridge now. Which is probably much safer!

[@anthonydarby3973]

Hiya Dara and Ian,,lovely video of the Yorkshire Dale's. Especially liked the sheep/lambs on the road and the 'cow pile up,😂 and Ian you mastered the hump back bridge like a pro. Beautiful scenery, its like a tonic, as always massive thanks to you both, take care, Tony here in the UK ❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I am always a bit amused when cows are blocking the way, as they really don't seem to care! Same thing happened to us on a walking path back in 2020 when we were in Devon. It was the first cow video I did.🤣 I'm so glad that you are enjoying the videos in the Yorkshire series. I really do love the scenery in the Dales! Remind me what part of the UK you live in, Tony?

[@anthonydarby3973]

Hiya Dara, I'm now living in a small suburb of Stockport, literally on the side of the peak forest canal, beautiful walks and scenery just a couple of minutes from my front door,,don't get the chance to get out as much as used to that is why I love watching your videos and sharing the drive with you both, Tony

[@ians3586]

Thank you Tony. It's worth the challenge to be able to take in the beautiful scenery. Fortunately we don't have a posh car, so if I were to have any minor scrapes, it wouldn't be a big deal.

[@Brian3989]

The bridge around the 6 minute mark had been around since the days of pack horses. The roads had also been around for generations. While the cattle coming out of the field could not come to you, as there was a cattle grid in road to stop them walking across.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I didn't realise until you pointed that out that it was a pack horse bridge! They are lovely! But not the best for cars in 2024 unfortunately...

[@Brian3989]

@@MagentaOtterTravels After further consideration, not sure about it being a packhorse bridge. Certainly back to days of horse transport. Pack horse bridges have lower or no walls. We don't have the big wide roads of USA nor the vast open spaces, many a road in England and Wales date back many generations. In Scotland I know some roads were only created in last 50 years.

[@melanierhianna]

The thing to remember is that everything is older than cars. Much is older than the US.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Definitely! The scary bridge was built for a packhorse not two way automobile traffic!

[@russcattell955i]

I can imagine the reactions of Natasha & Debbie, the Cincinnati Gals. Ha ha.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@russcattell955i yes, I hope Natasha watches it!

[@joebutlersnr7017]

Get yourself over to the lake District and drive over Wrynose and Hardknott pass , having to stop on a 4 in 1 hill in the wet and doing a hill start without spinning the wheels and burning the clutch is quite an achievement.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I don't think my nerves or my driving skills are up to that challenge! Lol We did spend some time in the Lake District this summer, but I don't think we drove over that pass .

[@kevanbodsworth9868]

My childhood was on the edge of Sheffield next to this area. I was often up there with my brother on our bikes, ,With "no visibility " you can use your horn ,

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@kevanbodsworth9868 definitely a lesson we have learnt! Cheers!

[@stevedonoghue1868]

Now imagine a self-driving car trying to cope with these roads! Bit different to US grid systems and wide roads.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@stevedonoghue1868 yes that would be wild!!

[@InaMacallan]

I rashly decided to take a 'shortcut' across the Yorkshire moors. As the stone walls got closer and closer and the passing places fewer and fewer, we encountered a tractor towing a slurry trailer. I made such a mess of reversing that the farmer eventually took over and backed my car into a field entrance before returning to his own vehicle and driving on. I never try roads marked in yellow on the OS maps since.

[@torfrida6663]

😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@ians3586]

That sounds like some of my experiences driving in Dartmoor.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's a great story! haha Thanks for sharing :-) XX Dara

[@Phiyedough]

I once went on a house-hunting trip in western Ireland. This was before the days of GPS and I had great difficulty finding some of the little white cottages on my list. I was in an Astra van with no side or rear windows. One narrow lane had fuchsia hedges each side that had not been trimmed. It got gradually more overgrown until both door mirrors were embedded in the hedges! I had to reverse about half a mile to a field entrance, open the gate and use the field to turn round!

[@glenmiller272]

Some of these bridges stand the test of time, the bridge in my town in Wales has been there since the 1200s, and was refurbished in the 1500s, and still stands to this day!, although there's a weight limit on it and traffic light system either end now, to reduce the amount of vehicles putting stress on it..

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, HGV's need to not use those ancient bridges so that we can keep them around for another 8 or 9 hundred years!

[@stephenbooth7072]

These are the only roads I drive on. Best to go slowly and look a quarter of a mile ahead to see anyone coming in the opposite direction so you can slip into a passing place long before they arrive. Also, width-wise, dry stone walls are best avoided. And try to avoid driving over the steeply apexed bridge at Ivelet if you have a long wheelbase.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Good advice!👍

[@derbyphoter]

I'm a 67yr old brit who is a lifelong driver. Worst place oil have driven was on a wet friday even ony40 ont going back to the airport. Made our M25 look and feel childish

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@derbyphoter 😬wow!

[@johnadey9464]

Next time you are in Shropshire try driving "the Burway" that runs along the side of the "Carding mill valley"near Church Stretton, it drops off about 600 feet in places almost straight down, with no walls or rails on the edge, they don't call the area "little Switzerland for nothing.

[@ians3586]

We'll have to try that out. Looks like there are some lovely views. We've been to Ludlow several times but haven't explored that area to the north.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I thought North Devon around Lynton/Lynmouth was "Little Switzerland"! That area sounds lovely... but terrifying for me! I don't like the 600 ft drop!

[@simonchilli2088]

That hump back bridge was for built for people walking or horse and cart traffic. It must've been hard work for horses to get up and over the bridge with a loaded cart behind them.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I think packhorse bridges are beautiful. But I've never thought about the fact that it would've been really hard work for those horses! 😳

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

Oh I've had a lot of nervous drives on small country roads in the UK! The passing is the worst, I seem to instinctively breath in as though that will make the car smaller!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I always tell everyone to inhale when we go on one of those squeezy one lane bridges with stone walls!

[@gillyUK]

(5.48 mins) I'm sure that's the bridge on which Gandalf said, " You. Shall. Not. Pass!) 🤭 I love your videos! So sorry I haven't commented before. xx

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gillyUK yes, I think that's what Ian was thinking when he saw that bridge! Lol Thanks so much for commenting. It's lovely to hear from you! XX Dara

[@richardjames3022]

I have to admit that the roads don't worry me as I learnt to drive in Ashdown Forest and area, where the roads can be narrow. Now living in Devon, it's like home from home with the narrow roads up on Dartmoor. But fun

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Devon is heaven! And Ian thinks driving Dartmoor is hell... LOL!

[@chrisginger3475]

A couple of years ago a friend and I spent a week at a cottage near Settle. She had never been to Yorkshire. Towards the end of the stay I drove a lovely circular route which took us over Buttertubs Pass! Neither of us enjoy heights, she's worse and being the passenger was nearest the large drops so luckily there was hardly any other traffic and I was able to hog the centre white line. What made it worse for her was when we saw a military transport aircraft pass BELOW us! Wonderful scenery but I had to keep my eyes on the road.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrisginger3475 great story! Sounds like a very memorable journey!

[@cdkmonkey2699]

I drive a 26 ton fuel tanker on those roads , they anit seen a tight squeeze yet

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@cdkmonkey2699 but I'm sure you don't drive it over packhorse bridges! Lol

[@PostcardAndAPint]

The roads are like that where we live! Those roads look fun! Well not the drop off ones! It's so pretty there. We need to visit. Starling murmurations are stunning. Cheers 🍻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, Wales was the location of my first "driving in scary" video!! And I'm sure you get your share of sheep in the road, don't you? I highly recommend a Yorkshire Dales road trip for you two! XX

[@percyprune7548]

Scary roads - we go to Burnsall, Kettlewell area every year to an annual event with 50 seat bus/coaches that depart from there to go around the Dales on these roads. The roads can be 'interesting', have even seen a double decker German tourist bus on these roads.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@percyprune7548 yikes! Double decker would be a challenge!😱

[@thewealduk9802]

I love these roads they always lead to the best places. Dara please try Hard Knott Pass Cumbria, there is a Roman Fort at the top.

[@ians3586]

Absolutely. We did Honister Pass this trip. We'll have to hit Hard Knott on our next trip to the Lakes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I agree! We need to try visit that fort next time. We love Cumbria!

[@robertwilson738]

To give its full title: the Hard Knott and Wrynose Pass. My confused mother in law nearly caused me to crash the car when she came out with the "Hard Nose and Why Not Pass. She wasn't joking. She didn't realise what she had said.

[@richardgreenwood-tx2vq]

These roads like thousands in the UK are ancient horse and cart tracks that have been simply tarmaced over. Want to try some "Hidden Sumits" try the A68 up to Jedborough, you can get all four wheels in the air.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh my! I don't think I want to feel all four wheels in the air! LOL

[@zak3744]

Haha, there's a stretch I think between Corbridge and the border that I know in my mind as the "rollercoaster road"! Lovely road though: I used to drive sometimes between Durham and Edinburgh, and I'd always make sure to go the Corbridge-Jedburgh way, much nicer than the A1. I remember once I was going through at about 5am and there was a ground mist starting to clear and dew on the grass, the sun was just rising over the horizon and as I turned a corner up a hill at one point there was a deer and a handful of rabbits in the middle of the tarmac that quickly scarpered away. It was like something out of a bloody Disney movie! 😄

[@stevemorley5748]

Take the A64 towards Scarboro', exit at the Castle Howard sign and take the road through the estate towards Slingsby, you'll experience serious flying !!

[@richardgreenwood-tx2vq]

@@stevemorley5748 I lived in Slingsby in 1971/72 and often drove through Castle Howard in my Ford Prefect four door De Luxe, my first car (£65) I was 18. I drove through one night with seven of us in the car and bust the leaf springs. Happy days.

[@stevemorley5748]

@@richardgreenwood-tx2vq Sounds like a UK version of The Dukes of Hazard 🙂🙂

[@griswald7156]

I’m always avoiding pheasants in the lanes…..and pigeons ,they have no sense of danger….we went to Flatford mill….which was surprisingly nice in many ways…

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@griswald7156 we have noticed that too!

[@robertlee6479]

I bet that was an eye opener for you after driving the freeways stateside. but some terrific scenery yes. I know that area very well as used to cycle around there with few lads from the bike club, I also come from Yorkshire and lived there for many decades and loved it, but got too expensive now by far so moved abroad to find cheaper place to buy.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Interesting! Where did you move abroad? I'm always curious to hear about that. I totally agree that the scenery was well worth it! I am currently editing a video about driving through the Lake District which also had its own driving challenges and adventures! 😆 Hopefully you will catch that video this coming Friday! Thanks for your comment. Dara

[@dattrax]

I don t think you mentioned, but the speed limit on those types of road are normally 60mph to make things interesting

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I didn't mention, but WE certainly don't drive that fast! ... But maybe the white van man does ;-)

[@StephenandAndie]

Ian’s commentary - haha! But he’s not lying, that bridge looked gnarly!

[@antonycharnock2993]

When driving over a humpback bridge with little visibility its good practice to use your horn to warn people. I've driven many of the roads in the Yorkshire Dales. The odd sheep isn't an issue it's when you meet an entire flock when the farmers bring them down for shearing.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, an entire flock of Sheep are blocking the road, you've just gotta be patient! Good advice about the horn when approaching a packhorse bridge 👍

[@gregsmythe7705]

I couldn’t help but chuckle at your comment about British drivers probably not noticing the tight or narrow roads 😂. Actually we do but everyone gives way without too much fuss because it’s what the British excel at, politeness and manners 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Americans don't usually have roads which have parked cars in traffic lanes. Our friends ALWAYS notice and comment on that when they see it in England ;-)

[@robertlee6479]

Unless your name is Starmer. as he has none.

[@manymoms920]

If the weather is okay keep the window down, you can hear car, then just honk as you approach a bend. I live near devon

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is excellent advice! Ian's mother lives in a very rural part of England, and when we leave her home we have to turn into a blind intersection. We always roll the window down and listen carefully for traffic before pulling out...

[@oz25]

Love this. Have been visiting my Mum in Yorkshire this week. Travelling down South tomorrow. X💖🦦🧳

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

How fun! Give my regards to your mum!

[@KevinK-gk4wt]

The real fun comes when trying to get from A to B at times where the road is higher than the cloud base. You can’t see much of anything as you pilot through the gloom. Incidentally one feature which you seem to have missed on your travels is the snow poles. These used to tell the snow plough driver where the tarmac was! The white and red poles used to be along every road used by school busses. These days bus routes have become victims of government austerity and the poles seemingly aren’t getting much maintenance.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh yes, driving through clouds would make it even worse! We used to have those kind of snow poles where I grew up in Illinois as well.

[@top40researcher31]

In Australia it would read as steep ascent or steep decent depending which direction you are going

[@grahamstubbs4962]

Best advice is probably to sound the horn before going into a blind turn. That certainly used to be in the highway code. I haven't read it for a bit, to be fair.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is excellent advice!!

[@andyrjs]

Beautiful makes me wish I could live there. Oh, hang on I do😊 Nice vid - at that last bridge I'd have tooted my horn as a warning to anybody coming the other way that there was another vehicle. One of the few legitimate uses of your car horn. I was driving around an American, Canadian & Londer this summer and they were amazed at the wandering sheep in the road on the North Yorkshire Moors. A year or two back I was down in Cornwall & did a lot of reversing. What shocked me was the lack of acknowledgement from most of the people in the other cars. You would not be able to broadcast the language inside my car when I met one of those drivers Dara!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, loved your comment, Andy! You are very lucky to live in this area. And yes, our American friends were amazed by all the wandering cows and sheep in the moors as well! We plan to go to Cornwall this coming summer... I'll have to see if people are good about giving a little wave of thanks when we reverse. I wonder if some of the reason for that is that there are SO many tourists from big ciites in Cornwall, and they probably are not steeped in the proper manners for country driving!

[@iankelly5387]

Love it, the best SHORT video of the week😂 I'm so used to these narrow roads, actually I know why they're like this. These roads were mostly constructed 100/200+ years ago when it was horse and cart, not cars/SUV's etc. Hopefully you're enjoying your time back home again and all is good. Can you please throw in the odd Dallas (or wherever you live) vlog once in a while? Have a nice weekend. The other Ian

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, the roads that started as sheep tracks or horse trails are NOT straight! I guess that is part of the countryside experience, eh? Sorry, don't expect many Texas vlogs. Nobody watches them. And I have SO many UK vlogs I still need to edit and publish! Not to mention Europe... and even a wonderful one from Hawaii in January 2023 that I still haven't found time to work on! Ugh!

[@ians3586]

Dara should do one on roads here in the Dallas area. There's quite a contrast but if you saw the size of the vehicles here, you'd know why. Besides width the roads here are all made out of concrete, asphalt wouldn't hold up to the heat.

[@iankelly5387]

@@MagentaOtterTravels It would just be nice if you throw in the very occasional Dallas video, and as hubby says, one of your roads, maybe go and visit a 10 gallon hat shop too, that would be fun

[@mikejennings6887]

If you take every bend, blind summit, or animal at a slower-enough speed, you may be surprised at their reaction, but should be capable to react unless you are travelling too fast to react to the unexpected in in the first place! Welcome to the UK, even if they are so-called motorways!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Always an adventure!

[@PhilH919]

I was born and raised in Yorkshire, but now live in Kent in the South East. There are narrow roads in Kent, just as in Yorkshire. I guess it's part of our heritage.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, for sure! Those sheep tracks turned into horse trails and then turned into roads eventually. That's why they are windy and not very wide! I love Kent as well. Have you seen the collection of vlogs I did about Kent last year?

[@mikeos1]

Made me giddy just watching it. Try lanes in Surrey for similar experiences.

[@curlew-3592]

Surrey, similar to Yorkshire Dales! 😂😂😂😂🤣

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh yes, we find "lovely" little lanes all over the UK! They always lead to wonderful places... though a bit of anxiety is induce along the way LOL ;-) Thanks for watching!!

[@jamesbeeching6138]

Great video Dara!! That bridge was pretty awesome!! Having learned to drive in rural Somerset I am used to high hedges and tiny roads!! These in Yorkshire are actually quite wide!!!😊😊😊😊😊 You know it's a narrow road when there is grass growing in the middle!!! Did Ian get to splash through any ford's?????

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No fords this summer, but I think we went through one in Upper Slaughter last year. We did encounter one puddle that seemed like a ford though ;-) And YES, when we turn onto a country road with grass growing between the tracks the tyres run on... we are WORRIED!

[@ians3586]

That's my thinking exactly. If there's grass growing in the middle, as I've frequently seen in Exmoor and Dartmoor, driver beware! I don't think we encountered any fords on this particular trip but we certainly did in other places in the UK this summer.