The Pennines/Lakes, ideas wanted.

[pepperami]

So Old Peppers has decided to blight the Pennines and the Lake District next year as his min-tour.
I`m thinking of going late June .
One idea was to base myself at Polley Bridge just outside Penrith for a few days and use that as a spring-board for visiting other places.

Who has been there and where do the mighty BCF recommend in and around the Lakes and the Pennines?

Thanks
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[chickenstrip]

Penrith sounds a good area to base yourself, as you have the Lakes on the west side, Yorkshire Dales and Moors on the east. A little further north and you'll be within range of the Southern Uplands too.

Better scenery in the Lakes, better roads in Yorkshire.

This might be of some help:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=293134
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[map]

[pepperami]

[Irn-Bru]

Roads around the Lakes are always busy, it gets absolutely packed during peak times, the Chinese love it there also. Usually you spent the day overtaking everything, still fun though. Don't forget Hartside Pass, Penrith is right next to it. Best biking roads in the country
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[chickenstrip]

[Irn-Bru]

The Dales are mint but I'm baised towards Cumbria because I actually know where I'm going, I need a tour guide for the Dales I did have one but he got his missus up the duff then sold all his bikes
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Northern Monkey]

Penrith is a right dump. It's only redeeming features are that it is near the lake district, and not as bad as Kendal.
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[pepperami]

[Copycat73]

[Copycat73]

[Irn-Bru]

Both of them are properly loaded so there was no excuse (other than the fact he rides like a madman but still), he sold his bike for a stupidly low price as well, then the kid who bought it made 1.5k profit the next week, must be nice, I'm not bitter or anything
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[stinkwheel]

Lakes are rubbish on a motorbike. Too many people. I live 20 minutes from Keswick and the only reason I go into the lakes is if I want to do some canoeing or buy some outdoors gear.

If you've got as far as the lakes, you can go to Northumbria, the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway and have a great time.

The only piece of road in the Lakes I ever have any fun on my motorbike on is the short bit of dual carriageway heading south on the A591 between Keswick and Grassmere where they left the ld road for the Southbound bit and built a new bit of dual for the Northbound. It's twisty as hell and feels all kinds of wrong honking round blind corners in the right hand lane.

The other thing would be to go out really, really early.

Volume of traffic and high incidence of elderly ditherers, tourists and buses makes riding in the Lakes frustrating even on my Enfield.

EDIT: Suggestion. Hexam is pretty scenic and would put you in striking distance of some cracking roads.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[doggone]

[Copycat73]

lakes.. over there regular .. 2 hours ish to Keswick.. only bank holidays are to be avoided.. otherwise not had a problem, lots of roads to ride... ...Hexham is a tourist town gone rampant wit the chav. drinkers to watch for ...expensive too..

Northumbria, the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway , would require a holiday in each to do them justice.
____________________
Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[chickenstrip]

Did my trip this year in the midst of the school holidays and the only proper traffic jam I got stuck in was on the way down to Windermere from Ambleside. Windermere is to be avoided if possible - designed to attract tourists like jam is to wasps anyway.

Got slowed by a couple of cars on the high passes, but you won't want to be hacking it along those roads anyway - just take in the scenery (whilst being careful not to ride off the edge!). But wasn't at all busy.

Had some great evening rides, especially in the Dales, but Lakes too.

Don't be put off by the nay-sayers, you'll love it. They don't know what traffic is up there!
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[nerald]

Stinkwheel is right. Lakes are rubbish on a bike. But can be enjoyable on a slower bike. Look up the Fred Whitton cycle challenge for a nice scenic route. Best done on a slower bike. Perfect for a C90.
____________________
V-Twins - 60 or 90?

[Copycat73]

The Roads and 6 Passes of Cumbria and the Lake District
https://www.visitcumbria.com/roads/
this site is more focused on usin motorised transport

I`ve got some sat-nav files if any interest.
____________________
Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[chickenstrip]

[Copycat73]

[spnorm]

I live in the South Pennines, so the Dales, Lakes and North Pennines are my weekend playground.

The roads which many sports bike riders think are rubbish or too bumpy can be brilliant fun on the right bike - my R1200GS LC is brilliant on the tiny goat tracks and also fun on the faster roads.

I love the Kirkstone Pass (subject to traffic) and the Hardknott, Wrynose and Honister passes are simply stunning

The main roads around Windermere and Conistone should be avoided like the plague though.

The best riding route is Penrith - Hartside - Hexham - Middleton-in-Teesdale - Brough - Kirkby Stephen - Sedburgh - Hawes - Ribblehead Viaduct - Settle

My favourite base would be Reeth - plenty of pubs and B&B's and in absolutely stunning countryside

[Copycat73]

[chickenstrip]

Well, the Settle to Hawes bit I can definitely vouch for, brilliant bit of road, but look out for the jump shortly before Hawes; I hit it totally unsuspecting. Bike left the ground at speed; Fuuuuuu....! Neat landing fortunately, and left me with a manic grin on my face. That was fun! Got to Hawes and got chatting to a fella there and he said, yeah, watch out for the jump on that road mate.....er, ok, cheers
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[thx1138]

I like riding around in the Lake district.
Here's a video of me slowly bumbling over Hardknott Pass this October

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbDL15je3Vc

[spnorm]