"The three passes" Lake district Cumbria

[jim-cr 250]

Hi, Bit of a long shot, kind of a local thing but I was just wondering of anyone here has every gone on a ride out over the 3 passes (meant to be a really good famous ride out round here), never been and im not certain of there names, think they are wrynose pass, hardnott and maybe kirkstone pass? Just wondering if anyone off here has been and what it was like, also what route did you take to link the 3 together, how long did it take and was there many fuel stations along the way?

Hoping to go maybe next week after the bike is run in. Carnt get google maps to show fuel stations and my tank only holds about 8 litres, premix and no fuel gauge, so want to plan ahead.

Thanks
Jim

[----]

[jim-cr 250]

Yep, That looks like them, ive googled them aswell and the roads look amazing, hartside pass is also one of the best roads around here aswell, ive been before and it is brilliant. I think it might be hartside pass instead of kirkstone pass, they must all link together some how to make one big rideout. I know its meant to be one of the best day rides out round here, and the pictures look like it, I am well up for going for a ride to them all soon.

Yeah nice one, let me know what you come up with.
Thanks
Jim

[suggs]

came through the Lakes a few days back on way home for Scotland, was stunning riding through the mountain roads, only garages i found were around Windermere...

[Biker101]

Ive done them, all of them on my 125 2 years ago.

Don't know which way as i was following but it was amazing, and i've meant to do it again ever since.

I remember riding up towards the first one thinking that it was a footpath only to find my uncle in front turning onto it.

To be honest there was nothing that challenging, but that might have been due to my bike being ideal for it.
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[doggone]

Hardknot and Wrynose are very narrow with tight hairpin bends.

While fun to ride, best avoided in bad weather or busy weekends because a lot of car drivers have problems - you are in real danger of someone rolling back into you for example.

The eastern approach is hemmed in with stone walls and tight bends so again be wary of cars doing silly things to pass each other - like suddenly reversing towards you.

[extreme3d]

Done all three and they are great fun. As above, with hardknott in particular, they are tourist hunny pots with a lot of cars getting into difficulty and hikers getting in your way.

Make sure you are confident doing u-turns as most of the bends are pretty much of that caliber only with a very steep incline/descent. Also make sure you use the engine to brake wherever possible as its possible to boil your brake fluid.

Oh and if you stop on the hill make sure you put the bike in gear before leaving it on the side stand or it will roll off the stand. Witnessed this happen to someone and it wasn't pretty.

definitely an experience everyone should do however

[jim-cr 250]

[carlperkins00...]

i'll be moving up to cumbria in september.. so if you want to go for a ride out... i'll come...

I'm moving to penrith. I think that is right near hartside isnt it?

[jim-cr 250]

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I'm at hartside cafe quite often as my mate lives in alston.Let me know when your planning on doing the above routes and i'll join you (if you want company with you that is
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DRZ-400sm

[jim-cr 250]

Yep, I will do mate, more the better, be a couple of weeks till my bike is fully run in, so hopefully the weather will stay half decent.

Thanks
Jim

[kitty kat]

these are the well known passes in Cumbria.

Honister & Whinlatter are easily done together, there is a quarry with a cafe at the top of Honister. Wrynose & Hardknott follow on from each other and there is also a good twisty road, Blea Tarn which is prior to Wrynose, accessed from Ambleside end of the passes.
All the passes are good twisty roads, with Kirkstone being the straightest and easiest to ride.

I have done all of them many times and thoroughly enjoyed riding them
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[theopj]

I've done them all - I went and stayed in a B&B in Keswick for a few days and just went on ride out's from there....don't think I did them all on one day but its possible - I did them all both ways but not on the same day, but Wynnrose and Hardknott are on the same road and only a few miles apart. Plenty of petrol stations on the main roads/towns - just not on top of the passes or by lakes.

Also look at doing the Buttermere road from Keswick - Honister pass I think - takes you to Cockermouth - great name!
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[kitty kat]

Honister/Whinlatter a-b Honister, b-c whinlatter route I have taken

Brea tarn/Wrynose/Hardknott/Birker fell this route takes you to broughton in Furness where there is a good little cafe in the square
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[jim-cr 250]

[Skudd]

All the passes are good play grounds no matter what the weather. I have done them in thick fog and sun so hot it melts the road. Like all roads like these it is best to use a little respect as the air ambulance can't always land close by.
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