Starting with a full tank of fuel, this route will take you over 6 of the best passes and travel by 7 of the great lakes within the Lake District National Park.
Thirlmere is the first lake and this route takes you across the dam and along a lesser used road. Thirlmere, at 3.5 miles long, 1.2 mile wide and 158 feet deep, was originally two smaller lakes, which were purchased by Manchester City Corporation Waterworks in 1889. The area was dammed with a dam whose greatest height is 104 feet, and the area became one vast reservoir. In the process, the settlements of Armboth and Wythburn were submerged, the only remaining building being the little church at Wythburn.
Travelling through the pretty villages of Grasmere, Elterwater and Little Langdale will lead you to the first 2 passes, Wrynose and Hardknott.
The Wrynose Pass is a mountain pass between Little Langdale and the Duddon Valley. This is a single-track motor road over the pass, which is one of the steepest roads in England, with gradients up to 1 in 3. At the top of the Wrynose Pass is the Three Shire Stone RP 13, marking the meeting point of the historic counties of Cumberland, Lancashire and Westmorland.
This leads onto the Hardknott Pass.
The Hardknott Pass is known as one of Britain's most challenging roads. it’s a heart-stopping series of sharp and narrow hairpin bends. It’s said to be the steepest road in England with a gradient of 1 in 3 (about 33%). The bitumen surface can be challenging in itself but this is one of those mythical motorcycle roads that has to be bagged!
Towards the end of the pass are the remains on a second century Roman fort. Hard Knott Fort, known to the Romans as Mediobogdum. The fort, one of the loneliest outposts of the Roman Empire was built between AD120 and AD138 and can be seen from RP 17.
RP 20 at Eskdale has a pub and cafe that will both serve coffee and snacks.
Skirting around the western edge of the park, you will see the Blakeley Raise Stone Circle at RP 25. This relatively small circle is on a patch of level ground just off the side of the moor road. It was reconstructed in 1925, now having 11 stones in a circle, but there may have been more in the original design.
The third pass is Whinlatter Pass at RP 30, it is a far less severe route than many of its counterparts such as Newlands, Honister, Wrynose and Hardknot. A viewpoint at the end offers good views towards Bassenthwaite Lake.
Next is pass number 4 Newlands Pass, this is a three-mile-long road running along a ledge above the Newlands Valley. The highest point is Newlands Hause, 333 metres (1093 feet), where there is a car park, and a short walk to the Moss Force Waterfalls RP 34.
Then you'll be at the Honister Pass.
Pass number 5, The Honister Pass, rises to 1167 feet at the summit, it is one of Cumbria’s highest passes, with a gradient of 1 in 4. It is also home to Honister Slate Mine at RP 38, England's last working slate mine. Slate has been mined at Honister Slate Mine for centuries…from occupying Romans to ancient Monks and Victorian pioneers. Working 11 miles of underground tunnels to extract the slate, the company now offers contemporary products alongside the originals. Worth stopping for a look around.
Back into Keswick now for some lunch. RP 42 marks some secure motorcycle parking and tables and chairs from the Oddfellows Arms. I can recommend their food from our visit in 2015 and looking at some reviews, things haven't changed.
After lunch you will ride past Ullswater.
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District at 7.5 miles long. It is on average 3/4 mile wide and has a maximum depth of 205 feet at Howtown. Pass through Glenridding and onto the last of the passes, pass 6 The Kirkstone Pass.
The Kirkstone Pass with an altitude of 1,489 feet is the Lake District’s highest pass that is open to motor traffic. The Kirkstone Pass Inn stands close to the summit of the pass. Formerly an important coaching inn, it now caters primarily for tourists. It is the third highest public house in England and a great place for photo's. Opposite the Inn is a aptly named road called The Struggle; It is very apt for the hundreds of cyclists that climb it's steep twisty route. No struggle when you have an engine ;)
This will lead you to Ambleside and the banks of Windermere Lake for a coffee or icecream.
Windermere lake, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England, and is fed by numerous rivers. Strictly speaking, Windermere lake is just called Windermere, with “mere” meaning a lake that is broad in relation to its depth. However here, to avoid confusion with Windermere Village, we refer to it as Windermere lake. The route follows the lake for a short while before heading towards Kendal and The Gateway Inn.
The Gateway Inn is an idyllic country inn set in a great location for easy access to the Lake District and Dales and just a short trip to the town of Kendal. This recently refurbished Inn has 8 guest bedrooms, all beautifully decorated to a high standard. The Bar is warm and welcoming with a cozy open fire to see in the cold winter nights and for the summer nights there is a large beer garden and terrace with additional seating.