Cumbria roads

[skiver.]

I will be visiting the Lake District in the next few weeks to drive some of the minor roads, including the one through the Wrynose and Hardnott passes.I did the route 4 years ago in our family car but this time I'll be doing it in my Chimaera, with 4-5" ground clearance, and would appreciate any info as to the current condition of the road surfaces on these smaller roads, as the ones around where I live are neglected and atrocious and I probably wouldn't tackle them in the TVR.
If they are not suitable for the TVR then I'll take the bike.
Any info from you local guys greatly appreciated.

Edited by skiver. on Friday 7th April 14:20

[Wacky Racer]

You should be OK with that clearance, but any less would be a bit dodgy. Everyone should do Hardknott / Wrynose once in their lifetime.

A valve spring snapped on my 3 litre Capri on the top back in '78 and the AA sent a tow truck. That was a hairy journey back to civilisation

[ChevronB19]

You should also do the road from Penrith to Alston - the A686. Named by several organisations as one of the best roads in Britain, and it's not so full of tourists and cyclists as the lakes passes are. The eastern route is tight and twisty going up, the western route fast and flowing.

Due to a shoulder problem I spent a lot of time on that road going from Penrith to Hexham - it's bloody great, and also a road where you don't 'need' to do extreme speeds to enjoy the performance of whatever you're driving. Make sure your brakes are good though if you're going east to west!