Topic: Lake District

[trophyrider]

Going on a little jolly with my brother to the Lakes...... Gonna base ourselves in Barrow and want a full days ride on the saturday. Anyone got any maps ...... Kirkstone Pass, Honister pass etc. I ride a strom but he rides a Pan so I am told that the Hardknott pass is a no no.

[Trisckie]

If you are going to do the Hardknott dont do it on a saturday when everyone and their mothers are out, you want it clear if you are doing it on a bike, the problem with it isnt just the riding up its if you have to stop to let something pass.
 
Just recently had a week up there, the A595 from Ulverston has some lovely parts and can get you upto Cockermouth, then pick up the B5292 and further down you get the choice of the Winlatter or Honister Pass.
 
The Kirkstone is a must too ................. Enjoy them all there arent any roads i dont like up there 

[trophyrider]

Thanks for the info.

[eezyrida]

Hardknott/Wrynose is incredible to do on a bike but it can be daunting, when you have extremely tight little hairpins double-backing at very steep gradients. If you do take a chance with those (and I can't see why a Pan Euro can't do it), be sure not to stall when you're taking the turn. Drop it there, and you and the bike will probably fall quite a long way! And it would be painful. Keep the revs up and you should be fine.

I strongly recommend a circuit taking in the Kirkstone Pass (A592), the A686 Penrith-Alston road, A689 Alston to Stanhope (with a visit to the "Killhope" Lead Mine, fascinating), B6278 Althorp to Middleton on Tees, B6276 to Brough,  then A685 then A683 to Sedbergh.

Also, if you are in the area, take the A595 Ravenglass to Barrow, that road is just built for bikes. As is the A161 that goes due south from Goole, East Yorkshire - should you choose to ride across the Pennines and take an eastern southbound route home, as we did.

[trophyrider]

Thanks

[Weaver]

There's also the A686 and a trip to the Hartside Cafe as a side trip or on your way home via a round about route.  Or the Penny summat cafe in Hawes and a ride past the Ribble Head viaduct - I think it's on the B6255  but check - this is actually Yorkshire now so probably a side trip on the way home - depends how much ground you want to cover.