Nice scenic spot in Carlisle?

I'm traveling up the M6 next Saturday and need a nice scenic spot in Carlisle area to stop, have a drink and stretch me legs for half an hour. Any suggestions?

Is there any?

That what I was afraid of. Anything further down the M6 maybe?

[TEC]

Southwaite Services a few miles south or Gretna a few miles north on A74. If you want somewhere really scenic you'll need to get off the M6

Originally Posted by zunkus

Anything further down the M6 maybe?

I believe they call it the Lake District

Yes you're right TEC, I'm staying off the motorways.

My route, avoiding motorways, so far is like so...

0900 Leave Lennox Lea Hotel, Manchester
1100 Arrive @ Devil's Bridge, Kirksby Lensdale
1230 Arrive @ Pooley Bridge, CA102NP
1500 Arrive @ Sweetheart Abbey, DG28BY
2000 Arrive @ Fernbank Cottage, PA384BF

I plan of spending about half an hour at each stop. I might divide the last part in two, but haven't decided where yet. Any ideas?

[JamesMio]

Sweetheart Abbey, in New Abbey is a really nice wee part of the world, but it's not exactly on-route to anywhere - you'd have to come down the A75, past Dumfries and it's a good 15-25 mins out of town from there.

Having lived there for a couple of years, the most scenic part of Carlisle was the road North going back out of it again!!

The Lake District before Carlisle is lovely, Kendal, Penrith etc are all nice.

That's a hell of a big chunk of time you've got between New Abbey and Fernbank Cottage - and a fair old distance too!!

Are you on the Bike? I could give you a few roads/routes between Carlisle and Glasgow to do on the way up, and I'm sure someone else can advise better once you're North of Glasgow.

Originally Posted by JamesMio

...That's a hell of a big chunk of time you've got between New Abbey and Fernbank Cottage - and a fair old distance too!!
Are you on the Bike?

Yes more than 4hrs worth of road I'm afraid and I'll be steering a car not a bike sadly this time so that makes things uffy. Was wondering where to organise a stop in between but haven't found anything interesting yet. Maybe someone could point out somewhere? I'd like to organise a place though so that maybe a forum member would have an idea when I'll be were and meet up. My brother and should be travelling in two rented Ford Focus if they don't give us some thing else. I'll tie a red ribbon to the aerials so you guys might have an indication it's us ok.

[JamesMio]

Hmmm, if you're keen to avoid Motorways as much as possible then there's a nice twisty road that runs between Dumfries and Abington (Services on the M74) called the Dalvene Pass, which is much fun even in a car (especially something that handles like a Focus). If you're in or around the Dumfries by-pass (A75) you head North towards Kilmarnock (A76) and turn right once you arrive at Carronbridge, I think it's signposted for Edinburgh/Elvanfoot/Dalvene Pass if I remember correctly.

It's a nice taster of the kind of scenery that you'll find further up north.

That will leave you with about 45 - 60 mins until you reach Glasgow. To be honest, pretty much EVERYTHING North of Glasgow is beautiful (possible even more so when viewed after seeing Glasgow..... ) so you'll be spoiled for choice after that for places to stop and see.

Thanks mate. Notes taken into my daughter's little notebook (which was conveniently lying about so I took it, I'm sure she wouldn't notice as she buys them by the bucketloads).