1 day Ago By Jack Mortimer
With many parts of the UK experiencing a spell of pleasant weather , it is only natural that a significant number of Brits are planning to get behind the wheel for a scenic drive . However, when getting around the country, the vast majority of us rely on motorways and A-roads, even though there is an incredible amount of B-roads that are generally quieter and offer a better view of the countryside . Even if it takes a little longer to get to your destination, sometimes it's worth the road less travelled.
Currently, the longest B-road in the country is the B6318, better known as the Military Road, which spans a staggering 61.4 miles across a significant part of Northumberland . Covering the distance from Heddon-on-the-Wall to Greenhead, the B6318 is widely known by residents of Northumberland for being nearly arrow-straight.
The lack of twists and turns means that many motorists believe it was built by the Romans, who made a number of particularly straight roads in the UK such as the A5. However, the road's history is slightly more recent. Work on the B6318 began in 1751, shortly after the Jacobite uprising.
When Government forces from Newcastle attempted to intercept the rebels under Field Marshall George Wade, they soon found that current roads in the area were of poor quality, particularly in the icy winter weather. As a result, the Military Road was designed to provide armed forces with a quick and reliable way of accessing other parts of Northumberland and Scotland - largely running alongside Hadrian's Wall. While construction of the road, which took seven years to complete, was criticised for damaging the wall, the rocky Sewingshields area meant that the road was diverted away - keeping a significant stretch of Hadrian's Wall in tact.
Despite being a largely straight road, the rolling hills in the area means that the B6318 is a particularly enjoyable road for motorists to use, featuring impressive views of the Northumberland countryside. Drivers looking for a small slice of history whilst travelling along the road should keep a close eye out for the final remaining milestone, which was used to help visitors mark how far they have travelled. While milestones could once be found throughout the entire duration of the road, the final one is located in Heddon beside the wall of Town Farm.
Despite the B6318 being the longest of its kind in the UK, it is not necessarily the longest road in the country, with one beating it by a considerable margin. The A1 is Britain's longest road, spanning an incredible 410-mile distance between London and Edinburgh, with several sections being upgraded to a motorway to allow more traffic to flow. The popular road is significantly younger than the B6318, being designated by the Ministry of Transport in 1921 as a series of different pre-existing routes that initially helped motorists go from London to York.
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