Alternative to M6 between J37 (Kendal) and J39 (Shap)

[RichardJS]

If you're heading up the M6 through Cumbria and are getting bored, here's an alternative that I used yesterday in my Lotus (which is no fun on motorways!)

At J37 take A684 towards Sedbergh but after about just 300 metres (just before the first bend) turn left. This is a great road, well surfaced and with open sweeping bends and very little traffic. Oddly, there are a couple of short single track parts, including at the end of the road where it meets the B6257. Turn left at the B6257 and then right at the A685 (another very nice road) to Tebay village and then straight on at the roundabout next to J38. Take the B6260 to Orton and then left on to the B6261. This is another very nice road, partly across open rough pasture (watch out for the sheep) and is the road that you can see from the M6 where the two carriageways diverge. Turn right at the end to rejoin the M6 or left to join the A6 (which I did as I was heading to Haweswater for a walk in the hills).

I'd come from the north side of Manchester so had come up the A65 and A683. The latter is also a nice road and could be used for a longer detour off the M6, leaving at J34 (Lancaster north) or J35 (Carnforth).