Best roads in Yorkshire Dales/Lake District or inbetween?

[RipTrip1]

As per the title. Can anyone recommend some fun round trips and/or routes in the Yorkshire Dales/Lake District. I've been told the Hardknott Pass is not one to miss but that's about it. Camp site suggestions welcome too as I intend to make a mini holiday of it (motorcycling)
Any links to .gpx routes would be great then I can just download it straight to the nav.
Thanks

[S16KBW]

I have a folder I save links into for travel/road trip articles when they pop up on facebook and other places, I then use them to plan for future trips, I think these two might be a good starting point for what you're looking for?

https://leeds-list.com/culture/10-epic-road-trips-...

https://leeds-list.com/culture/outdoors/the-best-m...

[Tracy Island]

Hardknott and Wrynose passes are not for the fainthearted, you certainly need to take care if you're on a bike. Severe bends, extreme gradients, loose gravel and potholes.

Other good Lakeland roads include Newlands pass and Honister pass, Birker fell, Corny fell, Grasmere to Keswick via Dunmail Raise and Thirlmere, Calderbridge to Ennerdale via Cold fell, Broughton to Coniston via Torver, Windermere to Pooley Bridge via Kirkstone pass. Kendal to Shap on the A6

[r1monkey]

buy "Bikers' Britain " by Simon Weir for biking routes.

[RipTrip1]

r1monkey said:

buy "Bikers' Britain " by Simon Weir for biking routes.

Ordered

[captain.scarlet]

RipTrip1 said:

As per the title. Can anyone recommend some fun round trips and/or routes in the Yorkshire Dales/Lake District. I've been told the Hardknott Pass is not one to miss but that's about it. Camp site suggestions welcome too as I intend to make a mini holiday of it (motorcycling)
Any links to .gpx routes would be great then I can just download it straight to the nav.
Thanks

Buttertubs Pass is another cracking stretch, and the area around Reeth/Askrigg/Leyburn/Hawes and Sedbergh.

It all depends where you're starting from though. There are so many routes and lanes to explore in those parts, and you've got the Lakes, the North Pennines AONB and the Dales all in close proximity of one another.

The more you try it, the easier it will become to navigate and keep a sense of direction/ bearings, which is always a plus.

Depending on the weather and day of the week, you'll notice a lot of cruisers bezzing it around alone and enjoying the open roads and weather (and their sound systems), so I try and get into the other country lanes. Call me a typical Sunday driver (!) but you'll get a better feel of the nature, scenery and even lesser known random bits of history you wouldn't otherwise knew existed...but that's only if you've got the patience and you're happy to stop now and then, take it all in and read about it. It certainly adds another dimension and benefit to your road trip.

I live in Leeds and if I need an engaging country spin in the summer then I usually drive up through Otley, then over the Lindley Wood Reservoir, past the Hunters Stones Tower and RAF Menwith Hill, or out of Otley to Blubberhouses. Then it's down into Pateley Bridge. That's a good fun 'warm up' with great scenery. Afterwards the scenery never fails to impress and it's a matter of what you're looking for. You'll always discover a new route.

I also recommend catching summer twilight and the night sky / a bit of astronomy if you're up on the hills. Time and date is a good website for guidance on that.

If it's camping, then maybe the Lake District would be a good bet as you'll have the added benefit of being able to do in the water. The coast isn't far away (North York Moors is the Yorkshire alternative), but Braithwaite near Keswick is a good camping village I've been to and you've got two massive lakes at Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite.

Edited by captain.scarlet on Tuesday 22 June 22:24

[Equus]

Tracy Island said:

Hardknott and Wrynose passes are not for the fainthearted, you certainly need to take care if you're on a bike. Severe bends, extreme gradients, loose gravel and potholes.

They're scenic, but I'd call them challenging rather than fun.

[rcspeirs]

Hardknott pass (especially on the Eskdale side) has some very steep / sharp hairpins with poor sightlines. Meet a car unexpectedly taking up all the available road space there (and cars will need to swing across the whole of the available road width simply to be able to get round the tightness of corner) and you can be in trouble on a bike - the camber is so severe that you may not be able get your feet down without tipping over so much you'll go over. It's not my idea of a fun ride. Though the views are great and the Roman Fort is worth a look around.

[coppice]

I' d forget Hardknott - absurdly tight and has novelty value only. Places like the Buttertubs are fine as long as you are an early riser . Both Dales and Lakes are overrated as driving locations - lovely scenery and all that but often busy and frustrating . I live a spit away from the Dales but for driving pleasure I head out to some of the empty roads in the Wolds and , best of all , the wonderful drives in the North Pennines , starting with upper Teesdale and going all the way to the Borders .

Edited by coppice on Wednesday 23 June 12:23

[nutsyH]

Reg Local has a video on his youtube feed of him biking over Hardknott and Wrynose. Worth a watch if you intend doing it.

[captain.scarlet]

coppice said:

I' d forget Hardknott - absurdly tight and has novelty value . Places like the Buttertubs are fine as long as you are an early riser . Both Dales and Lakes are overrated as driving locations - lovely scenery and all that but often busy and frustrating . I live a spit away from the Dales but for driving pleasure I head out to some of the empty roads in the Wolds and , best of all , the wonderful drives in the North Pennines , starting with upper Teesdale and going all the way to the Borders .

Agree with you there.

It's always great to see other motorists going for a blast as well and wonder what their itinerary is, but when you get the day trippers etc you usually end up with a soulless commute rather than an actual relaxing drive.

This is why I get off the more frequented lanes and do a bit more exploring on roads and through areas where I know I'm not going to get stuck behind someone else and vice-versa. As I've said above, there's hidden history and stuff to learn along the way.

Admittedly Scotland has more to offer IMO in terms of scenery, wildlife, midnight Sun etc, but journey time for a day trip would be prohibitive. For convenience, Yorkshire and the North have a lot to offer in the first instance.

[RipTrip1]

r1monkey said:

buy "Bikers' Britain " by Simon Weir for biking routes.

Took delivery of this today and you weren't wrong, what a great little book

[sparkyhx]

captain.scarlet said:

coppice said:

I' d forget Hardknott - absurdly tight and has novelty value . Places like the Buttertubs are fine as long as you are an early riser . Both Dales and Lakes are overrated as driving locations - lovely scenery and all that but often busy and frustrating . I live a spit away from the Dales but for driving pleasure I head out to some of the empty roads in the Wolds and , best of all , the wonderful drives in the North Pennines , starting with upper Teesdale and going all the way to the Borders .

Agree with you there.

It's always great to see other motorists going for a blast as well and wonder what their itinerary is, but when you get the day trippers etc you usually end up with a soulless commute rather than an actual relaxing drive.

This is why I get off the more frequented lanes and do a bit more exploring on roads and through areas where I know I'm not going to get stuck behind someone else and vice-versa. As I've said above, there's hidden history and stuff to learn along the way.

Admittedly Scotland has more to offer IMO in terms of scenery, wildlife, midnight Sun etc, but journey time for a day trip would be prohibitive. For convenience, Yorkshire and the North have a lot to offer in the first instance.

At this time of year 5am starts are your friend, go for a blast and home before anyone else is on the roads

My Faves include Pickering to Whitby, and a circular route
Ingleton - B6479 to the famous Ribblehead Viaduct.
B6255 to Hawes - maybe have a stop off
Buttertubs to Thwaite
Thwait top Keld and then onto Tan Hill Inn - stop for a pint at britains highest pub
Tan Hill Inn to Reeth
Reeth another stop off potential
Reeth to Leyburn - another stop off potential
then either Leyburn towards Hawes B684 and onto Kettlewell B6160
or Leyburn to Middleham (another potential stop off, onto Kettlewell
Kettlewell to Grassington (another great stopoff) and either grassington and eiether streaigfht towards Skipton (another great stop off|) or to skiptopn via Bolton Abbey.

This area is full of great routes and passing Ingleboroughn, Wernside and Pen Y Ghent 'moutains' , its justy fab. Hardraw Force, |Aysgarth Falls (Costner Robin Hood) , Castles - Bolton, Skipton, Middleham. Lovely villages Reeth, Hawes, Middleham, Grassington etc, Ruined Abbeys - Riveaux, Fountains, Bolton. Caves - white scar, Ingleborough, stump cross

great place for a weekend

Edited by sparkyhx on Saturday 26th June 10:05

[Adrien2207]

Just back from a road trip in the Pennines / Dales / Scottish Borders... and IMHO:
- Lake District = Best views, especially Kirkstone Pass... but be ready for traffic and tourists ridiculously parked by the single track roads...
- Pennines = absolutely epic from a driving viewpoint... great roads and very little traffic. A few favorites: B6277 Grassington; B6276 Brough; B6278 Stanhope
- Scottish Borders = if time allows, a trip up to Moffat A708 and the Dalveen and Mennock passes is worth it!

And if you fancy a break - try the quad trek with these guys in the Lake District - did it in June, and the views from the top are priceless!
https://www.lakedistrictquadbiking.com/

[RipTrip1]

Adrien2207 said:

Just back from a road trip in the Pennines / Dales / Scottish Borders... and IMHO:
- Lake District = Best views, especially Kirkstone Pass... but be ready for traffic and tourists ridiculously parked by the single track roads...
- Pennines = absolutely epic from a driving viewpoint... great roads and very little traffic. A few favorites: B6277 Grassington; B6276 Brough; B6278 Stanhope
- Scottish Borders = if time allows, a trip up to Moffat A708 and the Dalveen and Mennock passes is worth it!

And if you fancy a break - try the quad trek with these guys in the Lake District - did it in June, and the views from the top are priceless!
https://www.lakedistrictquadbiking.com/

Last time I rode a quad was in Thailand and I struggled immensely. Took me ages to unlearn countersteering, it was like having the gas pedal on the left and the brake on the right in a car.

[magpies]

I organised a group of TVR's to this tour in June. Starting near Clitheroe to Penrith via Hawes. Then a day in the lakes including the Lakeland Motor Museum. Next Penrith to Duns (Jim Clark Museum) to Livingston. Came back via Kielder / A68 / Blanchland and Muggleswick hairpins /Piercebridge to Scotch Corner.
https://goo.gl/maps/gGYoRW6ma2RhBkQs7
https://goo.gl/maps/d4GRPMvgLMtcdndP8 and https://goo.gl/maps/TmDugcWmWTPftM8e6
https://goo.gl/maps/zGATqN9xStNSxVFC6