Lake District Roads?
Discussion
You'll get great views anywhere in the Lakes, but not many great roads. Most are too narrow and full of Volvo estates to have any fun on. Northwards from Grasmere to Keswick (A591) is OK, southwards from Keswick towards Stonethwaite/Seatoller is OK but windy, damp and devoid of overtaking opportunities. Kirkstone pass is worth a go, Wrynose/Hardknott too (for the experience) - but don't expect to be able to commit on any of them.
In short - drive slowly, look at the views - then go to Wales.
In short - drive slowly, look at the views - then go to Wales.
The A591 north of Keswick is, IMHO, one of the finest stretches of road in the county and is all too often overlooked. Great twisty sections linked with lots of good opportunities for overtaking the (very occasional) slow-poke. Head South towards Keswick from Bothel for the best views.
The A591 South of Keswick is also good fun (if slightly spoilt by the recent felling of trees alongside the route) but is best experienced outside of peak times: even if just going for the view you'll get ticked off by people crawling along at 25mph the whole way.
B5305 is also very good, but watch out for the occasional Talivan!
The A591 South of Keswick is also good fun (if slightly spoilt by the recent felling of trees alongside the route) but is best experienced outside of peak times: even if just going for the view you'll get ticked off by people crawling along at 25mph the whole way.
B5305 is also very good, but watch out for the occasional Talivan!
agreed, it's either great views or great roads.
travel north on the A6 from kendal to penrith (all the traffic's on the adjacent motorway)
from penrith take the A686 to alston, turn around and return to penrith (coffee/lunch at the hartside top cafe)
... then go on to the lakes and enjoy therain views.
d
travel north on the A6 from kendal to penrith (all the traffic's on the adjacent motorway)
from penrith take the A686 to alston, turn around and return to penrith (coffee/lunch at the hartside top cafe)
... then go on to the lakes and enjoy the
d^^^^ wot he said
There's some good info on this thread
Steve
There's some good info on this thread
Steve
Edited by millband on Wednesday 27th August 00:28
Little Dave said:
If you are in anything low avoid the Hardknott Pass, I was grinding the front and back when I was up there last year.
I met something halfway up that when I went last, I still don't know how my clutch survived the hill start I had to do. Even just going up it seemed to be a 1st gear affair some of the time.I've just returned from the Lakes and will add a thumbs up to Hardknott/Wrynose. Not sure about being in something low, even my diseasal Mundano was rubbing its chin on the floor occasionally and the clutch is definitely not right now, not helped by some wilf in a Grand Cherokee who was blissfully unaware of the problems that trickling up the hill in low range first was causing for those behind. On more than one occasion I had to roll back and take a run at some of the tighter bits. 
A nice circular route is the B5289, south towards Borrowdale from Keswick, over the Honister Pass (with slate mine to visit should you wish), back up to Lorton and then over the B5292 Winlatter pass back to Keswick. About 25 miles round.
A nice circular route is the B5289, south towards Borrowdale from Keswick, over the Honister Pass (with slate mine to visit should you wish), back up to Lorton and then over the B5292 Winlatter pass back to Keswick. About 25 miles round.
Sam.F said:
The A591 north of Keswick is, IMHO, one of the finest stretches of road in the county and is all too often overlooked. Great twisty sections linked with lots of good opportunities for overtaking the (very occasional) slow-poke. Head South towards Keswick from Bothel for the best views.
The A591 South of Keswick is also good fun (if slightly spoilt by the recent felling of trees alongside the route) but is best experienced outside of peak times: even if just going for the view you'll get ticked off by people crawling along at 25mph the whole way.
B5305 is also very good, but watch out for the occasional Talivan!
I love you.The A591 South of Keswick is also good fun (if slightly spoilt by the recent felling of trees alongside the route) but is best experienced outside of peak times: even if just going for the view you'll get ticked off by people crawling along at 25mph the whole way.
B5305 is also very good, but watch out for the occasional Talivan!
It was as though I'd written that myself! I often use said roads for road testing duties. A591 south of Keswick is definitely best left to dawn or even slightly pre-dawn at this time of year.Edited by MattjK on Wednesday 24th September 02:28
Is the A686 from Penrith to Alston technically *in* the Lake District...? If we're allowed to go slightly further afield I'll do my usual shout out for the "other" side of the A686 from Alston to Brampton which is IMO even better and (a) hasn't been spoilt by over-enforcement and (b) isn't populated by hordes of sunday afternoon drivers doing 25mph.
Staying in the LD I went out for a walk at Buttermere at the weekend and came back via Honister Pass and Borrowdale (B5289) which wasn't exactly a fast road but more than made up for this with views... I love living in this part of the world
Also, good to hear there are like-minded people out there, MattJK: hopefully you have something more interesting than a Skoda Superb to drive this week though!
Staying in the LD I went out for a walk at Buttermere at the weekend and came back via Honister Pass and Borrowdale (B5289) which wasn't exactly a fast road but more than made up for this with views... I love living in this part of the world
Also, good to hear there are like-minded people out there, MattJK: hopefully you have something more interesting than a Skoda Superb to drive this week though!
F308 MAN said:
agreed, it's either great views or great roads.
travel north on the A6 from kendal to penrith (all the traffic's on the adjacent motorway)
from penrith take the A686 to alston, turn around and return to penrith (coffee/lunch at the hartside top cafe)
... then go on to the lakes and enjoy therain views.
d
If you turn round at Alston, you miss three great hairpins on the other side. Carry on to the A69, then turn round and go back again.travel north on the A6 from kendal to penrith (all the traffic's on the adjacent motorway)
from penrith take the A686 to alston, turn around and return to penrith (coffee/lunch at the hartside top cafe)
... then go on to the lakes and enjoy the
dThere's a short, but oh so sweet stretch of dual carriageway alongside Bassenthwaite lake. It is nice and twisty and if you wait for the right moment, you get 2 lanes of dedicated road to use as you hit the racing lines.
You can always spot the locals on that stretch of road treating it like the local track! Its very satisfying!
You can always spot the locals on that stretch of road treating it like the local track! Its very satisfying!
Edited by Shay HTFC on Monday 26th January 20:54
martinmac said:
Cant see Honister pass mentioned here, it can be quite a challenge.
It's a couple of years since I've been on it and I don'tremember it, so it can't have been *that* interesting.
I tried out Kirkstone pass in the snow a few days ago and that
was trivial. Plenty of cars parked up at the pub and
plenty of kids sliding down the hills.
I still maintain the opinion that Hard Knott and Wrynose
passes are the hardest in the Lake District, but since
I've seen Volvos pulling boats on trailers over both,
yet again, not that much of a challenge.
The Bassenthwaite-Caldbeck-Penrith road was quite good
though.
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