Lake District - best roads and campsites

We are thinking of having a weekend away at the start of September and I've been to the lakes a couple of times but never on the bike so fancy a run around the area.

The plan will be to come up Friday evening and either camp in the Lake District or stay with my sister in Darlington, ride the Lake District on the Saturday then stop over and meander back 'daarn saarf' on Sunday.

So can you please recommend the 'must ride' roads, good stops for food and if possible a campsite or two (with nice loos and showers ).

Thanks a lot, KJ xx

[SIII]

Can I suggest you keep going north and turn left into Dumfries and Galloway! Scenery is just as good and the main bonus is the total lack of traffic. Any roads that is not the A75 are brilliant and empty, I see Scottish contingent rideout came all the way down from Glasgow to ride St John of Dalry to Moniave road. Road from Newton Stewart up to Girvan and road alongside Loch Ken recently listed as some of best in Britain or follow GTR (Galloway tourist Route around coast). Castle Douglas and Kircudbright are nice - Dumfries and Annan can give a miss.

There no speed camera's in D&G and one camera van but watch out for unmarked silver volvo. but these hardly ever go off the A75!

Camping - Park of Brandedleys at Crocketford is good, fantastic resteraunt on site and Mossyard, Gatehouse of fleet for the site are probably the best sites. Teapot Cafe in the layby past Gatehouse is an excellent stop (Viennese Whirls are worth the run out)

I know its not what you asked for but after visiting the lakes I couldn't see the attraction!

[Bri w]

PM Richie. He's from over that way.

I lived in the Lakes for a few years. Fantastic roads OUT of the school holidays. September is the best month - parents are less likely to take kids out of school in the first few weeks of the first term.

D&G is fab, and without the crowds but is another couple of hours travel.

[timwilky]

Richie would probably say Sykeside

We used it for one of the NorthSouth weekends. Excellent for both bunkhouse and camping, although they do like you to be quiet once the bars close. Food in the pub is not bad either.

He would probably say Amarko5 is the man for the routes as he also likes to guide people over the best ones personally. I do like the Kirkstone pass, and shap for the thrill even if it is at the very edge. Must rides but not in poor weather are the passes, Hardknott & Wrynose and Honister.

Bri - thanks, and yes I had thought it was a good time as the kids would be returning to school. I think D&G will be slightly too far for just a couple of days but we are looking to spend a week further north next year so will keep it in mind.

TW - Skyeside looks ideal if we decide to camp, thanks

[dizzyblonde]

Perhaps ask Armarko. He knows the Lakes inside out.

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by kellyjo

I think D&G will be slightly too far for just a couple of days but we are looking to spend a week further north next year so will keep it in mind.

If you are thinking of doing it next year why not tie it in with the GM. That way you split the journey up for GM and get to do D&G.

Im just off to bed but I'll post up some suggestions tomorrow, I live in the South Lakes but love riding all over the county.

Gaz

sod it im still wide awake lol,

Campsites, theres hundreds so it all depends where you want to stay! My fav is the Great Langdale National Trust site. Its set in stunning scenery, facilites are basic but clean and adequate. There are also three pubs within staggering distance. I love staying there.

Roads, quite a few. My favs are the A595, I generally start from Greenodd near Ulverston and travel all the way up the west coast its an awesome road. I also like the A591 mainly from Ambleside up to Keswick. Amazing scernery over Dunmail Raise passing Thirlmere. The A592 over Kirkstone pass is another of my regular routes. This takes you over Kirkstone, through Patterdale and Glenridding past Ullswater to Penrith. which can lead nicely onto the A686 to Hartside Cafe. Hartside is a very popular biker meeting spot and is also part of the coast to coast cycle route.

Theres also Devils Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale which is another popular biker meeting spot. From there you can go out to Ingleton and over to Hawes which is out of Cumbria but a great ride and again Hawes is another busy biker meeting spot.

Great Langdale is pretty central for all of this routes.

I hope this helps, If you want to have a crack about this then give me a shout!

I nearly forgot, Irksy is organising The Blind Doe run in North Lancs at roughly that time so you could also include that in your plans if the dates tally up

Gaz