Lake district riding routes

eh up yawl,

I am likely to be heading to the lake district for a few days away in a few weeks (first ever proper even if small bike trip)


Any suggestions for 3 days worth of riding, I am going with anna who is on here and is fairly new to biking so nothing to serious, but something with a bit of a challenge.

we are staying at the bottom of windermere lake so cant get pretty much anywhere.

any ideas are much appreciated!

Thanks
Dave

we are staying at the bottom of windermere lake so cant get pretty much anywhere.

Remember your snorkel & flippers Sponge Bob!!

ok I really cant, speak or write english these days!

ok we are staying on the edge of windermere, so CAN get anywhere

MrNutt wrote:ok I really cant, speak or write english these days!

ok we are staying on the edge of windermere, so CAN get anywhere

Fnar Fnar . . . so maybe just a snorkel

M'sur Chris Chris Eddie might be a good port of call for some roads to ride.

Or of course if you want the Hexpert and Connysewer trip, . . . our resident ninja jedi (and depthcharger) Tez, (M'sur Terry Lees), may be the man for tips on the way to go

Ta Muchly oldcat, I will be pestering Mr Lees shortly

I know there are great roads there, but I last rode there in 1986 on my original RD350YPVS. Have fun, and I hope the camp sites are more biker friendly now; when I went quite a few sites would not take people on bikes. One of the reasons I have not been back. Granted it was yonks ago and I hope they have a better attitude now.

some campsites are still stuck in the dark ages up there, but the few places I have contacted for this trip have all been very welcoming, though I always make the effort to ask if they accept bikers when inquiring just to save any hassle of booking not mentioning it and then rocking up only to be turned away by some fascist pigs.

I have driven around up there a lot so know there are some stunning roads and scenery but had only really driven the touristy areas

I did three 'Outward-Bound'/Duke of Edingburgh type courses around Ullswater and Brotherswater (I think) back in 1982/3/4 as part of my apprenticeship with GKN. Stunning part of the world, even when doing PT at 6am in military combat gear....those were the days lol

LOL I did that too Tony, I did an outward bound course in 1984 (ish) excellent memories!!

I'm excited
Also Dave forgot to mention the yurt......

Ah the pleasures of youth when discomfort and cold aren't problems but half the excitement

Sounds great Dave & Anna but not sure about Yurts in January!, I echo Steves sentiments!

Have a great time both of you xx

random question time,

is motorcycle parking free in the lakes?

places like ambleside and the like

as a friend said that bike parking was charged these days

MrNutt wrote:
is motorcycle parking free in the lakes?

only as long as the bike sinks and a ticket can't be attached

Sorry don't know

doh!

I done well with this trip, first i was staying at the bottom of windermere now the bikes are staying there too by the looks of things

Grab yourself a map our kid.

I'm not saying this is the best route but it's one I used to do up there, it did/could involve a bit of motorway though but it could give you something to start from. I've not done it myself for since 2008 but am planning to do it this year.

Starting from Newby Bridge, which funilly enough is at the bottom of Lake Windermere.

Basically it just goes up the left side of Lake Windermere. So you will go over the little bridge and past the Swan Hotel and follow the road around to the right and carry on up that road and past the Aquarium and all the way up through Graythwaite and Hawkshead. This road is quite narrow and not the best surface but I really like it and I am presuming you'll be riding to the conditions ; )

At Hawkshead, make sure you go up the B5285 towards Ambleside (if you go the wrong way you'll end up at a ferry point that I have no idea if it's running).

So, at the top of the road, take a right and go towards Ambleside then on towards Windermere. Just before Windermere take a left to go North on the A592. This is Kirkstone Pass, GOOD ROAD, all the way up to Redhills and the M6 at Penrith (J40).

At this point you can either go across the motorway junction and then go south on the A6 or go south on the M6 for one junction and come off at J39 and join the A6 there and carry on south to get to Kendal. From what I remember this was a great bit of road that you can really get a bit of speed up on if you so wish.

Look at the map to see where how you want to get back from Kendal, either north west to Windermere and then down the right side of the lake, South to join the A590 to get back to the bottom of Lake Windermere or one of several A roads between kendal and the lake.

When I've done it, I start from and end up near Milnthorpe.

Anyway, there you go, hope it might help.

There are loads of pubs on the way to have a break at on the way, it's about 80 miles in all. I'd be tempted to go into Ambleside for a break on the way past. There is a nice pub on Kirkstone Pass but I don't like to stop there on the bike as I'd prefer not to stop and start halfway up a great road. I love the Kirkstone pass, it's a great but twisty bit of road that you want to keep your wits about you on.

thanks for the heads up on that route stretchie, having browsed a map, this route is definitely going to be used on one of the riding days!

I have heard that the A6 is a great road, especially from junc 39 to kenal

all booked up and ready to go

the yurt looks pretty awesome and should be might warm and toastie, certainly an improvement on the actual lake, I think I will leave staying in the lake till the summer might be out the minus figures by then

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this is the company who run these yurts, the owner is an ex biker and very friendly and helpful.

thanks to eddie990, stretchie, terry lees and anyone else who answered my calls for help with good roads and routes, got three days of awesome routes planned, so thanks to all who helped a biking numpty :o

got me some lovely new fresh Michelin pilot road 2's going on tomorrow afternoon, giving me a week and a bit to scrub them in very carefully, so even if the lakes do rain as its what they do best should still be fun on ride outs.
Hopefully anna will enjoy all of this to! first bike trip for both of us, shes been waiting about 3 months i've been waiting best part of 15 years!

Will hopefully do a write up and photos when were back, bring on the 24th!

Sounds good mate, let us know how the weekend goes

: )

Let me know if you go to South Wales, got a few routes there too

; )

I'm excited Yurts with a nice fire and a good book and a hot choc/ wine and of course the bikes
And haha....dave.....parking.....

me parking?

Have fun kiddies!!

Just praying for more moderate conditions next week, cold and wet is fine, just not icyness!!

Greasyness is the problem up here. I think they buy grit held together with diesel up here :(

only the best........