Lake District winter to-dos

[illmonkey]

Heading up to the lakes soon, after a few ideas. Obviously there are walks, day out to Keswick, day to the beach.

Also the passes, this being PH! Probably taking the Clio to enjoy them.

Will be staying near Ambleside.

I am tempted to stay on the way up too, travelling from Oxford, traffic can be mad. Any cheap and cheerful places north of the big cities?

Merci d’avance

ETA: more passes than I thought, what are the better ones? I’ve done kirkstone in icy conditions, that was fun

Edited by illmonkey on Friday 25th November 13:21

[zippy3x]

The lake district is crap for driving, largely narrow unsighted roads, infested with caravans and cyclists (probably much fewer this time of year, but the roads will be no wider)

If you're looking for driving roads then anything between the M6 and the M1 from Preston all the way up to Hadrians wall is driving nirvana.

From Oxford, I'd hop across to the M1, get up to Harrogate or Ripon and turn Left. Plan a very circuitous route though the dales. Infinitely better roads than the Lakes.

I regularly go up to Windermere and rent a Kayak for a couple of hours. Not sure they're open at this time of year, but i've been when wetsuits required, so they may be.

[Easternlight]

Walk the Coffin trail from Ambleside to Grasmere. Nice easy low level walk, good coffee shop at Rydal gardens and you can vary the route from there via Loughrigg terrace for some good views.
Don't underestimate the big hills if you do Helvellyn etc.

Driving around is usually busy and watch out for rocks out of the stone walls on the edge of the narrow roads
Grasmere lake and Rydal water Loughrigg on left.

[Bill]

It's only 4 hours from Oxford!

If you head over to Coniston the booze shop is great.

[TCX]

Haverigg by the coast,head further north caldbeck,uldale,can include in drive to Keswick gives you bit quieter less touristy taste of North lakes

[Composer62]

Easternlight said:

Driving around is usually busy and watch out for rocks out of the stone walls on the edge of the narrow roads

Absolutely this !!

I had an £800 tyre bill after I was forced into the side of the road by someone on the wrong side between Ambleside and Hawkshead.

[Steve Benson]

If you want an epic driving route that takes in all the iconic passes you won't go far wrong following the Fred Whitton Challenge route, either in one go or split up over a couple of days. https://fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/route/

For the best climbing, you're better going North from Ambleside, bigger mountains and far fewer people. Blencathra is a great mountain and you can go up the easy way via Halls Fell Ridge or one of the more challenging routes via Sharp Edge. There is a much simpler hike up Helm Cragg from the near-perfect village of Grasmere, which is close to Ambleside. https://www.komoot.com/tour/750976717

I'd avoid Windermere and Bowness if you don't like crowds. Good options for food but always busy, even in Winter. If you do go get the ferry from Ambleside, it's better than fighting for somewhere to park in Bowness.

Edited by Steve Benson on Saturday 26th November 16:34

[illmonkey]

Thanks all!

Coffin trail, a book I once had has a walk around the 2 lakes, which takes in some of the trail. Could walk out to Grasmere from Ambleside, stop for lunch and come back around the other side of the lakes.

Yes, it's only 4 hours away (I've done it in 3:30 before!) but I have the time off so why not split it up.

Haverigg, Caldbeck, Uldale noted. Just north of the drive below, so could integrate.

I have a route I pinched from an other side which is similar to the Fred Whitton Challenge route. Will see if I can combine the 2!

[CrutyRammers]

illmonkey said:

ETA: more passes than I thought, what are the better ones? I’ve done kirkstone in icy conditions, that was fun

Edited by illmonkey on Friday 25th November 13:21

Wrynose followed by Hardknott, if you want passes. Some nice walks from the top of wrynose as well which avoids loads of climbing.
Langdale is lovely for walking around.
Catbells near keswick a popular scenic hill walk that's moderately challenging, and very scenic. I'm assuming you're not after the really hardcore stuff; sharp edge in winter for example is fine if you're used to it, but has a rather bad accident/mountain rescue rate.

[Harpoon]

CrutyRammers said:

Wrynose followed by Hardknott, if you want passes. Some nice walks from the top of wrynose as well which avoids loads of climbing.
Langdale is lovely for walking around.
Catbells near keswick a popular scenic hill walk that's moderately challenging, and very scenic. I'm assuming you're not after the really hardcore stuff; sharp edge in winter for example is fine if you're used to it, but has a rather bad accident/mountain rescue rate.

Catbells would make a nice walk from Keswick (there's a traffic free footpath from Keswick to Portinscale across the fields by the rugby club). The Chalet tearooms in Portinscale does good breakfasts and cake.

You can drop down from the Catbells ridge to Derwentwater and then jump on one of the ferries back to Keswick. If you drop down from the ridge to Manesty, you can then go up the lane, turn off into Manesty Park and pickup the lake path round to Lodore (ferry stage by Mary Mount Hotel). Once back in Keswick, a quick detour off the high street gets you to the Keswick Brewery tap for a couple of well earned pints (for those not on driving duty).

[Steve Benson]

illmonkey said:

Thanks all!

Coffin trail, a book I once had has a walk around the 2 lakes, which takes in some of the trail. Could walk out to Grasmere from Ambleside, stop for lunch and come back around the other side of the lakes.

Yes, it's only 4 hours away (I've done it in 3:30 before!) but I have the time off so why not split it up.

Haverigg, Caldbeck, Uldale noted. Just north of the drive below, so could integrate.

I have a route I pinched from an other side which is similar to the Fred Whitton Challenge route. Will see if I can combine the 2!

I wouldn't be bothering to travel through Cleator Moor or Egremont if I was you, they are a bit ropey and you're moving away from the mountains. Keep further inland to the East as per the FW Challenge route. https://www.komoot.com/tour/724642477?ref=wtd

[i4got]

illmonkey said:

Thanks all!

Coffin trail, a book I once had has a walk around the 2 lakes, which takes in some of the trail. Could walk out to Grasmere from Ambleside, stop for lunch and come back around the other side of the lakes.

Yes, it's only 4 hours away (I've done it in 3:30 before!) but I have the time off so why not split it up.

Haverigg, Caldbeck, Uldale noted. Just north of the drive below, so could integrate.

I have a route I pinched from an other side which is similar to the Fred Whitton Challenge route. Will see if I can combine the 2!

Check for road closures around Glenridding and west side of Ullswater. Was shut when I was there recently and it looked longish term.

[blank]

You're also spending a long time on the A595 which may look fun on a map, but really isn't.

It would be more interesting to come in land a bit and go over Birker Fell.

[Lotobear]

As others have said, for driving, forget about the Lakes and head to Penrith and up over Hartside (or on to Brough then Middleton, Alston and back over) - gateway to a network of the finest driving roads in the whole of England.

I'm fortunate enough to live close to Hartside, and the Lakes, but would never choose to drive into the Lakes for anything other than fell walking or eating. The North Pennines is where it's at when it comes to driving for pleasure.

[CrutyRammers]

Lotobear said:

As others have said, for driving, forget about the Lakes and head to Penrith and up over Hartside (or on to Brough then Middleton, Alston and back over) - gateway to a network of the finest driving roads in the whole of England.

I'm fortunate enough to live close to Hartside, and the Lakes, but would never choose to drive into the Lakes for anything other than fell walking or eating. The North Pennines is where it's at when it comes to driving for pleasure.

100% the truth. ^^^
But keep it quiet, eh?

[illmonkey]

Thanks for all the tips.

Currently sat having a pint in Harrogate, so can hit some good roads across to The lakes tomorrow.

Hope the motor makes the most of them! Reckon I’ll get the top down?

Plan is to get to Grassington first, then north to Hawes to get onto the Buttertubs pass, then head west.

Loaded up ready to go

[CrutyRammers]

illmonkey said:

Thanks for all the tips.

Currently sat having a pint in Harrogate, so can hit some good roads across to The lakes tomorrow.

Hope the motor makes the most of them! Reckon I’ll get the top down?

Plan is to get to Grassington first, then north to Hawes to get onto the Buttertubs pass, then head west.

Loaded up ready to go

Grassington is nice for a visit, but if you're after good driving roads, go a bit further across to Settle (just as nice for a visit IMO), up to Horton in Ribblesdale and up to Hawes via the Ribblehead viaduct.
If you're still feeling perky after buttertubs, rather than just blasting across to the M6, go north from Kirkby Stephen/Brough to middleton-in-teesdale, then to Alston, and finally Penrith over Hartside.

Enjoy wherever you go

[bigmowley]

illmonkey said:

Thanks for all the tips.

Currently sat having a pint in Harrogate, so can hit some good roads across to The lakes tomorrow.

Hope the motor makes the most of them! Reckon I’ll get the top down?

Plan is to get to Grassington first, then north to Hawes to get onto the Buttertubs pass, then head west.

Loaded up ready to go

At least when you get to the lakes you will be able to get a proper pint, not that poncy looking thing

[illmonkey]

bigmowley said:

illmonkey said:

Thanks for all the tips.

Currently sat having a pint in Harrogate, so can hit some good roads across to The lakes tomorrow.

Hope the motor makes the most of them! Reckon I’ll get the top down?

Plan is to get to Grassington first, then north to Hawes to get onto the Buttertubs pass, then head west.

Loaded up ready to go

At least when you get to the lakes you will be able to get a proper pint, not that poncy looking thing

Aye! But camera failed me, honest, first one! Nice Cumbria way