Best driving roads to the Lake district (from Leeds)
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm going on a road trip to the Lake District next week for a few days. Setting off from Leeds and Google maps comes up with 3 routes.
M62/M6 (I guess the quickest but a very boring drive)
Up the A1 then across the A66
Or through Bradford & Keighley then up the A65 (shortest distance but takes the most time)
Any recommendations for the best roads (to enjoy the drive).
Going in a McLaren so don't want narrow tracks or huge potholes 😊
Thanks!
Michael
I'm going on a road trip to the Lake District next week for a few days. Setting off from Leeds and Google maps comes up with 3 routes.
M62/M6 (I guess the quickest but a very boring drive)
Up the A1 then across the A66
Or through Bradford & Keighley then up the A65 (shortest distance but takes the most time)
Any recommendations for the best roads (to enjoy the drive).
Going in a McLaren so don't want narrow tracks or huge potholes 😊
Thanks!
Michael
I usualy go A1, A66 then turn off at Kirkby Stephen and head for the M6 South if heading for the South Lakes, or carry on to Penrith for the North Lakes.
The A1/A66 route is often slow but never in my experience really bad. When going on the M62/M6 we've been caught in some horrendous tail backs and road closures so always avoid it now.
If going on the A65 through the Dales watch out for the mobile speed camera vans, I saw three last time I went that way.
Alternatively if you want a drive through the Dales you could come off the A1at Masham or at Leeming Bar, then go across to Leyburn then Hawes, and then from Hawes to Kirkby Stephen or Sedbergh.
There are some nice routes which avoid the A66 if you come off the A1 at Scotch Corner, the tank roads and around Tan Hill but these are probably not great in a low wide sport car, some of these were resurfaced for the Tour de France back in 2014 so may have crumbled since.
You can also go north of the A66 and across to Alston on some of the B roads and then drop down to Penrith.
The A1/A66 route is often slow but never in my experience really bad. When going on the M62/M6 we've been caught in some horrendous tail backs and road closures so always avoid it now.
If going on the A65 through the Dales watch out for the mobile speed camera vans, I saw three last time I went that way.
Alternatively if you want a drive through the Dales you could come off the A1at Masham or at Leeming Bar, then go across to Leyburn then Hawes, and then from Hawes to Kirkby Stephen or Sedbergh.
There are some nice routes which avoid the A66 if you come off the A1 at Scotch Corner, the tank roads and around Tan Hill but these are probably not great in a low wide sport car, some of these were resurfaced for the Tour de France back in 2014 so may have crumbled since.
You can also go north of the A66 and across to Alston on some of the B roads and then drop down to Penrith.
Edited by PH5121 on Monday 6th September 07:24
I would go A65, expect it to be slowish and you may get lucky and have a good run. We’ve just had a break near Ulverston and everywhere was generally busy with people not holidaying abroad so much.
We live on the York outskirts. For several years I worked in Windermere one day a month.I found loads of backroads to miss Wetherby and Harrogate but never really found a quick way to miss the A65 bit. A1/A66 is a long way round imo.
We live on the York outskirts. For several years I worked in Windermere one day a month.I found loads of backroads to miss Wetherby and Harrogate but never really found a quick way to miss the A65 bit. A1/A66 is a long way round imo.
supersport said:
Up to Hawes, given where you're coming from I would probably go to Settle and then on to Hawes via Ribblehead and then on to Sedburgh (A684) and then on from there.
Enjoy
I would second this. Very rarely have I had an enjoyable drive up the A65, there's usually too much traffic and even if it flows it's often going a little bit too slow. Passing places are both few and far between, and any decent straights between Settle and Kirkby Lonsdale have camera vans on them.Enjoy
I lived in Skipton and Long Preston for years and used the A65 several times a day, what was once a fairly nice road with some safe overtaking opportunities was soon turned into a procession of dullness and potential risk by whoever decided to add more solid white lines. Couple this with the seasonal traffic and it's no fun at all most of the time. It is the best easy / nice drive balance though IMO.
That said for the route you need to take it may well be the best option other than going for the potentially terrifying single track options with limited visibility and lined with limestone walls
As others have said heading up the A65 and then coming off near Settle to take in the driving roads towards Hawes etc might be one way to break it up,
Another alternative would be to head out up the A658 past the airport and then take the road at the back of Otley Chevin down into Otley before heading back out of town over the A59 at Blubberhouses.
From there you can take a right followed by a left and onto the road that takes you to Stump Cross Caverns, then B6265 to Threshfield, B6160 towards Aysgarth then the A684 right over to the M6 east of Kendal - a longer route but a bit more fun / scenic if you have the time.
You could even add Buttertubs in that mix and go a bit further north from Hawes over to Kirby Stephen before heading back towards the lakes on the A685 to catch your breath a little
That said for the route you need to take it may well be the best option other than going for the potentially terrifying single track options with limited visibility and lined with limestone walls
As others have said heading up the A65 and then coming off near Settle to take in the driving roads towards Hawes etc might be one way to break it up,
Another alternative would be to head out up the A658 past the airport and then take the road at the back of Otley Chevin down into Otley before heading back out of town over the A59 at Blubberhouses.
From there you can take a right followed by a left and onto the road that takes you to Stump Cross Caverns, then B6265 to Threshfield, B6160 towards Aysgarth then the A684 right over to the M6 east of Kendal - a longer route but a bit more fun / scenic if you have the time.
You could even add Buttertubs in that mix and go a bit further north from Hawes over to Kirby Stephen before heading back towards the lakes on the A685 to catch your breath a little
Edited by thetapeworm on Tuesday 7th September 12:17
thetapeworm said:
I lived in Skipton and Long Preston for years and used the A65 several times a day, what was once a fairly nice road with some safe overtaking opportunities was soon turned into a procession of dullness and potential risk by whoever decided to add more solid white lines. Couple this with the seasonal traffic and it's no fun at all most of the time. It is the best easy / nice drive balance though IMO.
That said for the route you need to take it may well be the best option other than going for the potentially terrifying single track options with limited visibility and lined with limestone walls
As others have said heading up the A65 and then coming off near Settle to take in the driving roads towards Hawes etc might be one way to break it up,
Another alternative would be to head out up the A658 past the airport and then take the road at the back of Otley Chevin down into Otley before heading back out of town over the A59 at Blubberhouses.
From there you can take a right followed by a left and onto the road that takes you to Stump Cross Caverns, then B6265 to Threshfield, B6160 towards Aysgarth then the A684 right over to the M6 east of Kendal - a longer route but a bit more fun / scenic if you have the time.
You could even add Buttertubs in that mix and go a bit further north from Hawes over to Kirby Stephen before heading back towards the lakes on the A685 to catch your breath a little
That is also a very nice route, done many times, The bit past kettlewell until you come back out onto the Hawes road is a little narrow in places although fun the other side of BuckdenThat said for the route you need to take it may well be the best option other than going for the potentially terrifying single track options with limited visibility and lined with limestone walls
As others have said heading up the A65 and then coming off near Settle to take in the driving roads towards Hawes etc might be one way to break it up,
Another alternative would be to head out up the A658 past the airport and then take the road at the back of Otley Chevin down into Otley before heading back out of town over the A59 at Blubberhouses.
From there you can take a right followed by a left and onto the road that takes you to Stump Cross Caverns, then B6265 to Threshfield, B6160 towards Aysgarth then the A684 right over to the M6 east of Kendal - a longer route but a bit more fun / scenic if you have the time.
You could even add Buttertubs in that mix and go a bit further north from Hawes over to Kirby Stephen before heading back towards the lakes on the A685 to catch your breath a little
Edited by thetapeworm on Tuesday 7th September 12:17
Why is nobody at all saying M62/M6? I used to live in Halifax and would ignore that option all the time. Yes its shorter(ish) but even taking into account getting through Halifax, then through K-Town and its inhabitants lenient interpretation of the highway code, the A65 is actually a lovely road even if you are stuck in a stead procession of traffic. Plenty of places to stop for some grub etc too.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Why is nobody at all saying M62/M6? I used to live in Halifax and would ignore that option all the time. Yes its shorter(ish) but even taking into account getting through Halifax, then through K-Town and its inhabitants lenient interpretation of the highway code, the A65 is actually a lovely road even if you are stuck in a stead procession of traffic. Plenty of places to stop for some grub etc too.
I’ve occasionally used the M62/M6 route when I’ve wanted to call at clients north of Manchester en route to the Lakes. It always felt like a long way round.I think the A65 has had some harsh comments, I’ve used it a lot over many years and never had major delays. The road surface is also a lot smoother than some of the more northerly routes mentioned, unless they’ve been improved recently.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Why is nobody at all saying M62/M6?
The OP surmised that this would be quick but boring. Actually, the M62 can be very pleasant when it's quiet enough to relax and enjoy the scenery. The stretch of the M6 that goes via Tebay is spectacular. Leeds to Lakes though, I'd go with the A65 too. I went two years ago in late September, Monday to Friday in Bowness on Windermere. The A65 was very quiet.Nyloc20 said:
I think the A65 has had some harsh comments, I’ve used it a lot over many years and never had major delays. The road surface is also a lot smoother than some of the more northerly routes mentioned, unless they’ve been improved recently.
I don't think there's any issue with the smoothness of the road, or any severe delays. It's just that it isn't often fun, especially as the OP is after something special.I've driven it countless times through work and leisure, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've been able to enjoy it.
The best time to do so I find is travelling at dusk - not much traffic but still get scenery and chance to see the road ahead. Settle to Ilkley in less than 30 minutes is one that sticks.
Gassing Station | Yorkshire | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff