A Local’s Guide To Lake District Motorcycling
Posted in Industry Blogs
A Local’s Guide To Lake District Motorcycling.
Aside of talk about bikes and shiny new accessories like aftermarket motorcycle exhausts, we reckon the two biggest topics of conversation among bikers are the best roads, and the best cafes.
So we asked our resident blogger and local motorcycle rider for an insight into his own particular favourites, and here’s what he had to say:
I love rapid twisties.
Nothing makes me grin quite like a road where you can stay up around the national speed limit, listening to the growl of the motorcycle exhaust while weaving through an endless succession of exhilarating curves, with our incredible Lake District scenery all around as you carve your own groove through the countryside.
Take the A592 from Windermere to Pooley Bridge for instance. Sure, it’s a bit clunky till you get out of the 30 and 40 limits beyond Troutbeck, but then it’s ‘Wow, what a road!’ Non-stop bends up and over Kirkstone Pass with stunning mountain scenery all around. Then much faster yet still twisty past Brothers Water into Glenridding, and the quick twisties continue all the way along the shore of Ullswater till you arrive in Pooley Bridge and stop to admire the amazing new bridge at the head of the lake.
The holy grail of course is the incredible ride from Penrith up to Hartside Summit, almost 2,000 feet above sea level. Just get on the A686 at Penrith, set the bike in frisky mode, and point it northwest. If you like bends, the kind that demand total concentration and cause a rush of adrenalin, then you’re going to be in a state of pure nirvana by the time you pull into the car park at the top to admire the awesome views.
I’m quite partial to a slow twisty too.
They’re much slower of course, but there’s something special about many of the single-track roads which snake their way across the lower fells around the Lake District.
Have you ridden the Corney Fell Road over in West Cumbria? It’s only about 8 miles, running from Corney to Duddon Bridge, but what a ride! Sweeping bends and a couple of switchbacks across remote open moorland, constantly rising and falling, before dropping down into beautiful ancient woodlands, still twisting and curving all the way.
Or how about the B5289? It’s got just about everything! You’ve got white lines down the middle as you weave your way along the shores of Derwentwater from Keswick to Borrowdale, then single track as you suddenly head for the sky, pumping a beautiful deep roar from your motorcycle’s exhaust as you climb up and over Honister Pass and down the valley to wind your way along the beautiful shores of Buttermere and Crummock Water.
Then there’s the passes.
I’ve already mentioned Kirkstone and Honister, but if you fancy something a bit more adventurous then Newlands pass is narrow, steep in places, stunningly beautiful, but not too technical. And if you’re after something really gnarly, then get yourself over Wrynose and Hardknott. They’re both so steep that the tarmac starts to slide downhill in hot weather, and some of the bends are seriously technical. You’ll certainly feel you’ve achieved something when you’ve ridden these two!
And I like a brew!
There’s no shortage of cafes in the Lake District of course, but I’ve got three personal favourites when it comes to motorcycle friendly brew stops and meeting points.
The Nook, on the A689 just north of Alston, has great food, plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, and a huge car park. This is where all the bikers moved to after the Hartside Top café burned down.
In Keswick, The Bridge Café is well worth checking out. Free parking, great grub, and it’s run by biker friendly folk with a very warm welcome – they even hold their own bike nights too.
And last but not least, there’s the fantastic Devil’s Bridge burger van at Kirkby Lonsdale. It’s simply the place for motorcycle enthusiasts to hang out!
Image credits - Midlands Motorbikers - from a recent trip to the Lake District - August 2022