One day in the Yorkshire Moors and Lake District
Discussion
To be honest there aren't so many great driving roads in the Lakes.- the topography is just a bit too bumpy for any roads to have a nice flow to them. The roads are also busy with tourists and a lot of them are in pretty bad condition after last winter!
Don't be put off though, if you're happy to go at a slightly slower place there are plenty of spectacular roads including the Wrynose and Hardknott passes - however if you only have one day these might be too far away to get to.
Half way between the Lakes and the Moors you have the Yorkshire Dales and my favourite road is here - the B6255 between Ingleton and Hawes. Try that if you get the chance.
Try searching for B6255 and you'll find plenty of discussion about it! Here is a thread with a few pics to start with: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...
Don't be put off though, if you're happy to go at a slightly slower place there are plenty of spectacular roads including the Wrynose and Hardknott passes - however if you only have one day these might be too far away to get to.
Half way between the Lakes and the Moors you have the Yorkshire Dales and my favourite road is here - the B6255 between Ingleton and Hawes. Try that if you get the chance.
Try searching for B6255 and you'll find plenty of discussion about it! Here is a thread with a few pics to start with: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...
Edited by ad551 on Sunday 6th March 16:15
Looks like a good route, although that is a long drive out to Wrynose and Hardknott - the scenery is spectacular but the road is very slow - depends on what you're looking for from the drive! Have a look on Streetview and see what you think - if you want to go faster it might be worth heading north up the Pennines towards Alston and trying the A686 and B6277 - I would guess it is about the same distance away from Hawes as the top of Hardknott...
I can second the B6255, but beware it is known by the local constabulary. That said, with the visibility you get up there on a good day there's no real excuse for getting caught. 
I covered parts of this area in my old blog, so you might find some inspiration in here: http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/northern-...
If you're doing a circular route into the Lakes, maybe consider doing what I did and take the B6270 one way? It's not really a hooning road - very narrow and somewhat dubiously surfaced - but it's a far more scenic route than the A684 and quieter. It also happens to the one that Evo used in the Coast to Coast article a while back. The A684 is a much better driver's road in places, but it's quite ordinary in other sections, the views aren't the same and there's more traffic to contend with.
I covered parts of this area in my old blog, so you might find some inspiration in here: http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/northern-...
If you're doing a circular route into the Lakes, maybe consider doing what I did and take the B6270 one way? It's not really a hooning road - very narrow and somewhat dubiously surfaced - but it's a far more scenic route than the A684 and quieter. It also happens to the one that Evo used in the Coast to Coast article a while back. The A684 is a much better driver's road in places, but it's quite ordinary in other sections, the views aren't the same and there's more traffic to contend with.
On second thoughts Hardknott pass does look a bit too far out of the way and a bit too narrow with no room to pass. Instead, taking on your great advice ive come up with this..
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8...
Edited by Allyc85 on Friday 11th March 20:46
Looks a good route to me! Hopefully the weather will be kind to you as it really is a spectacular part of the world. Shame about the potholes in the B6255 though, I haven't been up since before winter but it was always quite nicely surfaced in the past.
Good luck and don't forget to come back with pictures!
Good luck and don't forget to come back with pictures!
ad551 said:
Hopefully the weather will be kind to you as it really is a spectacular part of the world.
Good comedy.The Himalayas are spectacular, some bits of the
Alps are spectacular, but I can't think of any section
of that part of Yorkshire that I've seen in the last
40 years spectacular.
Oh, and pound gets a penny it'll be raining.
Suggest try the back road from Kirkby Stephen
to Sedbergh. Wafting along at licence-losing speeds
no problem.
dcb said:
ad551 said:
Hopefully the weather will be kind to you as it really is a spectacular part of the world.
Good comedy.The Himalayas are spectacular, some bits of the
Alps are spectacular, but I can't think of any section
of that part of Yorkshire that I've seen in the last
40 years spectacular.
Oh, and pound gets a penny it'll be raining.
ad551 said:
To be honest there aren't so many great driving roads in the Lakes.- the topography is just a bit too bumpy for any roads to have a nice flow to them. The roads are also busy with tourists and a lot of them are in pretty bad condition after last winter!
Don't be put off though, if you're happy to go at a slightly slower place there are plenty of spectacular roads including the Wrynose and Hardknott passes - however if you only have one day these might be too far away to get to.
Half way between the Lakes and the Moors you have the Yorkshire Dales and my favourite road is here - the B6255 between Ingleton and Hawes. Try that if you get the chance.
Try searching for B6255 and you'll find plenty of discussion about it! Here is a thread with a few pics to start with: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...
be careful of all impreza's up there.... i know a couple of friends been caught short by imprezas and focus RS respectively.Don't be put off though, if you're happy to go at a slightly slower place there are plenty of spectacular roads including the Wrynose and Hardknott passes - however if you only have one day these might be too far away to get to.
Half way between the Lakes and the Moors you have the Yorkshire Dales and my favourite road is here - the B6255 between Ingleton and Hawes. Try that if you get the chance.
Try searching for B6255 and you'll find plenty of discussion about it! Here is a thread with a few pics to start with: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...
Edited by ad551 on Sunday 6th March 16:15
Chris71 said:
dcb said:
ad551 said:
Hopefully the weather will be kind to you as it really is a spectacular part of the world.
Good comedy.The Himalayas are spectacular, some bits of the
Alps are spectacular, but I can't think of any section
of that part of Yorkshire that I've seen in the last
40 years spectacular.
Oh, and pound gets a penny it'll be raining.
TBH I couldnt give a toss about a bit of rain and it would probably make the roads a bit quieter
Best route north of Skipton is probably along the A65 to Settle, then up Ribblesdale on the B6479 (loved by bikers), then right at the end towards Hawes.
From Hawes, head north to Thwaite (via Buttertubs) and then continue north towards Kirkby Stephen.
Not sure the best route back from there - depends on the time you have (I know / live in the Dales, but don't get out much
). You could just swing down to Kirky Lonsdale and back along the A65.
If you decide to go right at Kirky Stephen and round via the roads to the north and east of the Dales National Park you'll struggle to find unbumpy narrow roads. they can be fun, and the scenery spectacular, but they will be slow.
BUT the main thing about all of the above is that the Police are quite active in the area, and there are a fair number of sheep / walkers about so best to keep the speed down for the most part and enjoy the scenery!
From Hawes, head north to Thwaite (via Buttertubs) and then continue north towards Kirkby Stephen.
Not sure the best route back from there - depends on the time you have (I know / live in the Dales, but don't get out much
). You could just swing down to Kirky Lonsdale and back along the A65.If you decide to go right at Kirky Stephen and round via the roads to the north and east of the Dales National Park you'll struggle to find unbumpy narrow roads. they can be fun, and the scenery spectacular, but they will be slow.
BUT the main thing about all of the above is that the Police are quite active in the area, and there are a fair number of sheep / walkers about so best to keep the speed down for the most part and enjoy the scenery!
Cheers for all the advice (or at least the helpful stuff!), ive got a route similar to the one I posted above installed on the prat nav, so should be good fun. Contatry to many peoples belief around here I dont actually drive that fast, I just like to be out in the car exploring and driving great roads, so hopefully I wont be attracting any attention at all from the plod. Will report back next week some time with some pics and video
t happens 
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff