Discussion
Am planning on heading to the lakes for a few days and am thinking about rigging up a mount for my phone to catch some of the more dramatic parts. I've been up there before but just wandered randomly. Remember the roads being fantastic and grinning like a dog with two appendages most of the time but I don't remember where I went.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a few routes that I can have some fun on, and some that show off the scenery up there?
Does anyone have any suggestions for a few routes that I can have some fun on, and some that show off the scenery up there?
Thanks for the replies. I'd imagine that when I go up there (in a couple of weeks) they'll still be a fair bit of tourist traffic so if I have to put up with pootling and enjoying the views for most of the trip then spending the last day hitting the Pennines and Borders can be arranged.
Out of interest, I'll be staying on the southern coastal area - are there any coastal roads with checking out along there?
Out of interest, I'll be staying on the southern coastal area - are there any coastal roads with checking out along there?
Looking forward to getting up there. On the off chance anyone who posted googlemap links still has the route saved, any chance of sending me the URL? I can download the route to Google Nav then and I'll send me off in the right direction then.
(If not don't I'll go through it in a minute and plot the route in Google Maps myself, just trying to save myself a job.)
Cheers for the restaurant recommendation too, any others welcome.
(If not don't I'll go through it in a minute and plot the route in Google Maps myself, just trying to save myself a job.)
Cheers for the restaurant recommendation too, any others welcome.
Just got back and had a cracking time covering around 500 miles of the roads, most of which was just driving from A to B rather than driving for drivings sake. It seems that it's the end of the tourist season - still plenty of traffic but less than I'd expected. Heaviest for traffic seemed to be the A590 and the roads around Windermere - the former I couldn't avoid, the latter I drove down twice in 5 days. Not the most exciting car to take with me (diesel VW) but it was comfortable on the steep uphill stretches and I was generally able to make progress when traffic permitted.
Never did make it into the Pennines/Borders as we had a lot more planned than I expected but everything we were doing seemed to be at opposite ends of the Lakes, so I ended up covering almost all of the roads mentioned above (and a hell of a lot which deserve mention but which I can't remember.) The only ones I missed were the Hardknott Pass (which I've done before) and Wrynose Pass - truth be told I'd forgotten about it, which is a pity as I was down the road from there yesterday and could have done it on the way back.
A couple of worthy mentions:
Honister Pass. We went to do the Via Ferrata (climbing for dummies basically, really good fun) and got there early. It's on the Honister Pass so I decided to have a run to the bottom and back again and it was great fun. Had the road to myself at 2pm on a weekday surprisingly - most drivers tended to pull over to take in the views. Came in from Keswick direction and there were some nice fast roads up on the way in which was a bonus too with some stunning views to boot.
The A595 once past Hallthwaites turned into a really good road. Had a really satisfying overtake headed northbound after coming round a bend at the top of a hill to see a downhill S-bend with clear visibility (and a good view all across the road.) Don't think the second car I passed saw the overtake coming, woke him from his reverie I suspect. From then on there were some good opportunities and great views on both sides.
Kirkstone Pass - definately a must drive. Mentioned here and with good reason. First time I diverted down "The Struggle" (what red blooded male can resist a sign like that
) and on round two (ignoring The Struggle ) got a cheeky overtake in past a camper van, which surprised me - the roads in the Lakes tended to be tight and windy with no straights or long straights with no twisties from what I saw of them.
Thanks to everyone that posted, I had a great time and am looking forward to heading back up there. Not exactly a drivers paradise but being able to have some fun whilst getting from A to B in a beautiful part of the world was brilliant.
Never did make it into the Pennines/Borders as we had a lot more planned than I expected but everything we were doing seemed to be at opposite ends of the Lakes, so I ended up covering almost all of the roads mentioned above (and a hell of a lot which deserve mention but which I can't remember.) The only ones I missed were the Hardknott Pass (which I've done before) and Wrynose Pass - truth be told I'd forgotten about it, which is a pity as I was down the road from there yesterday and could have done it on the way back.
A couple of worthy mentions:
Honister Pass. We went to do the Via Ferrata (climbing for dummies basically, really good fun) and got there early. It's on the Honister Pass so I decided to have a run to the bottom and back again and it was great fun. Had the road to myself at 2pm on a weekday surprisingly - most drivers tended to pull over to take in the views. Came in from Keswick direction and there were some nice fast roads up on the way in which was a bonus too with some stunning views to boot.
The A595 once past Hallthwaites turned into a really good road. Had a really satisfying overtake headed northbound after coming round a bend at the top of a hill to see a downhill S-bend with clear visibility (and a good view all across the road.) Don't think the second car I passed saw the overtake coming, woke him from his reverie I suspect. From then on there were some good opportunities and great views on both sides.
Kirkstone Pass - definately a must drive. Mentioned here and with good reason. First time I diverted down "The Struggle" (what red blooded male can resist a sign like that
) and on round two (ignoring The Struggle ) got a cheeky overtake in past a camper van, which surprised me - the roads in the Lakes tended to be tight and windy with no straights or long straights with no twisties from what I saw of them.Thanks to everyone that posted, I had a great time and am looking forward to heading back up there. Not exactly a drivers paradise but being able to have some fun whilst getting from A to B in a beautiful part of the world was brilliant.
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