Lake District Passes

[ben5575]

Can’t argue with any of those suggestions

I thought of this thread whilst running near the B6278 on Saturday, so grabbed a photo for context

[Steve_H80]

Kenty in Weardale said:

Enjoy, but please slow down in the villages and remember that North Pennines Sheep are past masters at going over walls just for the fun of it

Ah yes, the sheep. They get everywhere and are always looking for new ways to kill themselves. You really, really, really don't want to hit a sheep.

Other rare, but equally disconcerting hazards are; deer (gerally dawn and dusk near trees), cattle (like sheep but bigger), police doing a training session (don't try to race them) and getting buzzed by a military helicopter gunship (spectacular but it just about it scared the crap out of me).

[soad]

Yes, look out for these:

[ben5575]

Name that sheep bridge in one:

Redmire?

[Riley Blue]

We stayed a week near Kielder at the end of last month. It rained every day, was cloudy every night (no star gazing) and we tore a chuck out of a tyre in a pothole so pissed off doesn't begin to describe our feelings about the place.

We did, however, explore some of the roads mentioned above and have booked another week next April. Hopefully less rain, clear skies and no more punctures!

[soad]

ben5575 said:

Name that sheep bridge in one:

Redmire?

Just off A169, near Goathland.

[P675]

I went around the Lakes on my motorbike in October last year, during the week. It was actually pretty good for traffic and although chilly it didn't rain which was nice. Spent a most of a day there and the roads were not particularly fast even with nobody else around, lots of pedestrians in weird places and visibility around corners was poor.

Honister Pass is nice, Hardknott was fun for the challenge but probably wouldn't be in the car. Wrynose and The Struggle after that are nice roads but if you have any traffic it's going to ruin it.

A few times on the tight lanes there were a few cars coming each way and people just can't manage to sort it out, luckily for me on the bike I can just go around it all. As has been said there's better roads in the North Pennines. Hartside Pass up to Alston, A689 to Stanhope then B6278 south was a fun route when I went there this year. Fast and nice views.

[ben5575]

soad said:

Just off A169, near Goathland.

Gaddamnit!

P675 said:

As has been said there's better roads in the North Pennines. Hartside Pass up to Alston, A689 to Stanhope then B6278 south was a fun route when I went there this year. Fast and nice views.

You can also bolt on a Swaledale/Wensleydale loop (as mentioned previously) to the south of the A66.

From the B6278 south to Eggleston, B6282 to Middleton, then B6276 to Brough, A685 to Kirkby Stephen, B6270 east to Keld then follow the road south to Thwaite, over the Buttertubbs Pass to Hardraw, east to Askrigg, Newbiggin, Bolton Castle, Redmire (with the identical sheep bridge!) to Wensley.

Or take the parallel A684 from Hawes to Wensley if you prefer long and sweppy to tight and twisty. After that it's Leyburn then the A1.

Or, because you've come this far, Leyburn to Masham and the Theakstons brewery tour and a well earned dinner, night and spa at the Swinton Estate.

Then down to Ripon, across the A1 to Helmsley, then the Helmsley Road towards Guisborough, then to Whitby past another nice bridge for fish and chips etc etc etc.

None of which has anything to do with the OP's question about routes in the Lakes . But this PH after all.

[Colinv6]

P675 said:

I went around the Lakes on my motorbike in October last year, during the week. It was actually pretty good for traffic and although chilly it didn't rain which was nice. Spent a most of a day there and the roads were not particularly fast even with nobody else around, lots of pedestrians in weird places and visibility around corners was poor.

Honister Pass is nice, Hardknott was fun for the challenge but probably wouldn't be in the car. Wrynose and The Struggle after that are nice roads but if you have any traffic it's going to ruin it.

A few times on the tight lanes there were a few cars coming each way and people just can't manage to sort it out, luckily for me on the bike I can just go around it all. As has been said there's better roads in the North Pennines. Hartside Pass up to Alston, A689 to Stanhope then B6278 south was a fun route when I went there this year. Fast and nice views.

Hartside is always worth a run. Got to be one of if not the best road in this area. Keep an eye out for the camera vans but I went up yesterday (Boxing Day) and it was fantastic. The road was deserted

[Lotobear]

+1 for Hartside - it's been my personal test track for 25 years.

...and since we are doing yellow cars at it's summit

[Red Devil]

Kenty in Weardale said:

[
I live in Weardale and suggest the following:-

Penrith to Alston via Hartside (but do it at a low traffic time for the best experience)

Alston to Brampton A689

Alston to Haydon Bridge A686

Middleton in Teesdale to Alston B6277

Middleton to Stanhope via Eggleston B6277/B6278

Middleton to Brough B6276

Weardale itself has had a recent and ongoing outbreak of roadside scaffolding and road repairs leading to lots of Temp Traffic Lights.

Enjoy, but please slow down in the villages and remember that North Pennines Sheep are past masters at going over walls just for the fun of it

I would add this loop. Stanhope->Blanchland->Edmundbyers->Stanhope.

[RandomCarChat]

Planning on making a trip up that way later this year, did a fair bit of googling which led me to this thread and also this article - https://www.rushmagazine.co.uk/post/the-best-drivi...

B6276 is one i've driven before and i'm long overdue another visit.

[Josemartinez]

RandomCarChat said:

Planning on making a trip up that way later this year, did a fair bit of googling which led me to this thread and also this article - https://www.rushmagazine.co.uk/post/the-best-drivi...

B6276 is one i've driven before and i'm long overdue another visit.

Love the username, perfect for this site.

Cheers for the recommendations and the link, that's really useful especially as it has links to other parts of the country as well.

My wife is away early Feb, so that Saturday will be a drive out just need to decide where as there's so many good recommendations on this thread. Thanks all.

Edited by Josemartinez on Tuesday 13th January 11:14

[Landlubber]

Caravans and camper vans. Spawn of the devil, and killers of driving fun. Normal habitat, anywhere with nice views and narrow roads.

[brisel]

RandomCarChat said:

Planning on making a trip up that way later this year, did a fair bit of googling which led me to this thread and also this article - https://www.rushmagazine.co.uk/post/the-best-drivi...

B6276 is one i've driven before and i'm long overdue another visit.

That is a superb route - the best that area has to offer apart from the bits closest to the Shell garages but you have to start and end somewhere.