Short road trip: Manchester/Northumberland/Lakes/Manchester
Discussion
Wife and I planning just a couple of nights away (from the kids!) at Feb half terms, taking the old XKR. Hood down whatever the weather.
We're in Grtr Manchester and were planning, generally speaking, to go to Northumberland-ish (never been there) for a night, then across to the Lakes for a night, then home.
I want to avoid motorways as far as possible and take the spectacular scenic routes - you know those sort of roads you see on Top Gear?
Can anyone recommend a route? Or at least some roads that we must drive? Or even recommend places to stop overnight?
We're in Grtr Manchester and were planning, generally speaking, to go to Northumberland-ish (never been there) for a night, then across to the Lakes for a night, then home.
I want to avoid motorways as far as possible and take the spectacular scenic routes - you know those sort of roads you see on Top Gear?
Can anyone recommend a route? Or at least some roads that we must drive? Or even recommend places to stop overnight?
If you can get a room the Star at Harome is pretty sweet all round
I imagined the recent Coogan/Brydon prog would have featured it as it had lots of other Oop North Inns eg Whitewell
http://www.thestaratharome.co.uk/
Or the Drunken Duck, but I havent been for aeons
Its been discovered by he Sunday papers so may be a bit more fashionable than it used to be
In my memory it has good beer, great food and nice rooms at a decent price
With all the publicity its had it might not be such a bargain now
http://www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk/
I did this route a few years back: http://www.bing.com/maps/#JmNwPTU1LjM5MzA1NTMxODIw...
To get to Northumberland, head up to Settle and pick up the road to Ribblehead Viaduct and then onto Hawes. Then the Buttertubs Pass and up through Brough, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Stanhope. A68 to Corbridge and then deserted B-roads all the way to Alnwick, which is well worth a visit. Then onto Bamburgh, again a great coastal town, before heading to Holy Island (you will need to time it right with the tide because if it's in, the road is flooded).
To get to the Lakes, the route winds its way back to Corbridge and then you take he A686 all the way down to Penrith. Then into the Lakes and onto the Kirkstone Pass. This takes you to Windermere and then to Ambleside, both are great towns and worth a visit. Next, its onto the tricky and unforgiving Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, these are not to be missed. From here, you could head to Kendal and then a motorway run back to Greater Manchester.
It is a lot of driving, but if you get nice weather it is fantastic. IMO, the roads in Northumberland are understated - if you discount the A1, they are largely deserted.
To get to Northumberland, head up to Settle and pick up the road to Ribblehead Viaduct and then onto Hawes. Then the Buttertubs Pass and up through Brough, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Stanhope. A68 to Corbridge and then deserted B-roads all the way to Alnwick, which is well worth a visit. Then onto Bamburgh, again a great coastal town, before heading to Holy Island (you will need to time it right with the tide because if it's in, the road is flooded).
To get to the Lakes, the route winds its way back to Corbridge and then you take he A686 all the way down to Penrith. Then into the Lakes and onto the Kirkstone Pass. This takes you to Windermere and then to Ambleside, both are great towns and worth a visit. Next, its onto the tricky and unforgiving Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, these are not to be missed. From here, you could head to Kendal and then a motorway run back to Greater Manchester.
It is a lot of driving, but if you get nice weather it is fantastic. IMO, the roads in Northumberland are understated - if you discount the A1, they are largely deserted.
Thanks both. I really, really appreciate that.
As it happens, it was watching The Trip which inspired me! (I could never afford those prices though! Fortunately I'm more a real ale and pie man anyway...)
The trip suggested is exactly the kind of thing I was after.
Not unrelated, whilst my missus is OK at reading maps, is there anyway of uploading that route into a Tomtom?
As it happens, it was watching The Trip which inspired me! (I could never afford those prices though! Fortunately I'm more a real ale and pie man anyway...)
The trip suggested is exactly the kind of thing I was after.
Not unrelated, whilst my missus is OK at reading maps, is there anyway of uploading that route into a Tomtom?
chriscoates, been looking again at your proposed trip and it looks ideal. We're going to be staying away for 3 nights. Can you suggest what locations are good for overnight stops? The final one will be in the lakes of course. (And if there's any accommodation you can recommend I'd be grateful too!)
keiron99 said:
chriscoates, been looking again at your proposed trip and it looks ideal. We're going to be staying away for 3 nights. Can you suggest what locations are good for overnight stops? The final one will be in the lakes of course. (And if there's any accommodation you can recommend I'd be grateful too!)
Well, unless a static caravan is your thing, I cannot help you with accommodation! However, if I were you, I would split the trip up into:Day 1: Drive up to Northumberland
Day 2: Northumberland sightseeing, begin drive to Lakes
Day 3: Finish drive to Lakes, bit of sightseeing
Day 4: Lakes sightseeing, drive home
With this in mind, I would imagine that the best place to stay in Northumberland would be Alnwick, as it is a town of a reasonable size and there would be plenty of B&Bs around there. For the second night, I would look at staying around Hexham and Haydon Bridge. Not only is this splitting up the journey nicely, but it means that you can get a good morning run on the Hartside Pass. For the third night, I would look at Windermere/Ambleside area. It may not be cheap, but it is definitely the best location. The for the fourth day, you can do the Wrynose/Hardknott Passes and a bit of sightseeing, before heading home.
B&Bs in Alnwick: http://www.visitalnwick.org.uk/accommodation/a_bb_...
B&Bs in Hexham/Haydon Bridge: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGL...
B&Bs in Windermere/Ambleside: http://www.lakedistrict-bedandbreakfasts.com/Winde...
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