[Whisper09]

I made this topic specifically to find some interesting roads to drive on in London and area. Because London is so boring and I don't really want to start a riot. I love to go for drives, especially in the country.

I know about a couple of roads that are fun to drive on.

Old River Road between Oxford and Vanneck is a good. It has some nice houses along the river and there's a windy uphill/downhill part.
42.967462,-81.389297


If you go onto Vanneck from Old River Road then to Gainsborough and make a right. Go all the way to Frank Lane. It's a dirt road leading under a CP rail I believe then up to a nice wooden bridge that, at first is pretty sketchy for how steep and narrow it is. But makes a great spot for watching trains. Once you get past that bridge, it's Private Property.
42.981293,-81.372088


Going down Gainsborough a bit you will hit another small gravel road (Denfield Road) that leads to another old wooden bridge. An even better spot for train spotting as all VIA, CP, and CN rails run underneath. The bridge is pretty low farther down so you can get pretty close to the top of the train when it passes underneath you.
42.990028,-81.358171


Ok now going over to Delaware. If you take Wharncliffe through Lambeth, it will turn into Longwoods Road. Follow that all the way to Delaware. You will find a sign before you go downhill that reads:
<-- Springer
--->Victoria
Take Springer and follow it all the way around (it will turn into Heatly Drive, follow it until the next stop sign which is where you came from on Springer, make a left and head back to Delaware). This is another windy uphill/downhill road that has a very narrow concrete bridge.
42.880084,-81.405008

The last road I know of I just found out yesturday when I went to Port Stanley. I find it as a more scenic way (but slower) if you took the back roads instead of Highway 4 to Port Stanley. Go to the link below to get the route.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=216570015122487714870.0004bc0263eae094f8755



I know of other roads in Port Stanely like Brayside Street, William Street, Front Street, and George Street.


Care to share any other roads that are great? Mainly those twisty, uphill/downhill unique, Non-Ontarion-Flat-Straight-Roads?

[go_leafs_go02]

There are some surprise roads between Port Stanley and Port Franks along Lake Erie that are pretty cool. End up on some cool 1920s era trestle bridges...

Niagara region is great for roads, check out around Effingham (yes, true place) for some really fun roads to cruise on...

[Whisper09]

between Port Stanley and Port Franks along Lake Erie that are pretty cool. End up on some cool 1920s era trestle bridges..

Isn't Port Franks way up North near Grand Bend?

[MolsonExport]

Good thread topic. London is quite boring, and we often go for drives in quest of some excitement. I am familiar with all these stated. All good ones!

[Snark]

Isn't Port Franks way up North near Grand Bend?

1) It's on Lake Huron, not Lake Erie
2) Waaayyy up north - 30 kilometers
3) One of the finest beaches in Canada - and hardly used
4) A wonderful little community, unspoiled by commercialism, but of course without many amenities either - unless you own a place there

A nice day trip:

- Gainsborough/Narin westerly to Egremont Rd. Turn left at Lobo

- Turn right at the Komoka Rd at Poplar Hill and then right again to drive through Coldstream. There is a beautiful conservation area there with reservoir.

-Get Back on Egremont and head west. Turn right north of Strathroy onto county road 81 and then jump off at county road 12 'till you get to Arkona. Visit the Rock Glen conservation area, and bring your camera.

- Head north through Thedford. If you continue west to Ravenswood, you will find Ipperwash. Just before Ravenswood are enormous wind turbines.

-Ipperwash beach is.... well, it's somewhere short of paradise in late June at 9pm on a clear day

- If you get back on Hwy 21 and head to Port Franks, turn left at Outer Drive. That is the "back way" into town. The road passes through very rare Carolinian wetlands. Most of the area around Port Franks is ESPA or protected otherwise. The beach is totally undeveloped, hard to find, and one of the finest in Canada.

- if you get back on Hwy 21, and head toward Grand Bend, there is of course the Pinery and lots of seasonal tourist stuff, and then Grand Bend itself. A Saturday afternoon on a summer long weekend is an event, as the population of the village will swell to 30,000. The B&B's and restaurants along the beach are nice for a longer stay. Once again, the sunsets on a clear evening in the summer are.... well let's just say that one doesn't have to travel anywhere else in the world for better.

- Leaving Grand Bend, head for Parkhill. Beautiful little town that has "this is how Ontario used to be like" written all over it. There is a beautiful conservation area with an enormous reservoir that is very nice when the leaves change in the Fall.

- leaving Parkhill, get on county road 7, and head back to Elginfield, turning right at Highway 4, soon you are back in the City, and may wonder why you ever returned.

[go_leafs_go02]

Isn't Port Franks way up North near Grand Bend?

Ah shoot, what am I getting confused with..... It's right at the end of Highway 73 south of Alymer.

Ah, Port Bruce.. That's my bad.

A few roads crossing the creek that ends up in Lake Erie at Port Bruce are pretty slick. Some old old bridges there.

[K85]

I recommend heading up to port elgin and driving around there.

[Wharn]

My idea of an interesting road in London would have been Springbank Drive :shrug:

Either that or Riverside, just because the two of them aren't just the same-old-same-old combo of tower blocks, sprawl and fugliness.

[Simpseatles]

My idea of an interesting road in London would have been Springbank Drive :shrug:

Either that or Riverside, just because the two of them aren't just the same-old-same-old combo of tower blocks, sprawl and fugliness.

I agree!:yes:
Springbank drive is so lovely, you forget that you're in the city sometimes. You'd better enjoy it while it lasts though, because the tower blocks are coming.

http://london.ca/Planning_and_Development/PDFs/LIC/SP1_011305_ELEVATIONS.pdf

:(