A new base at Leeming House on Ullswater which proved very popular last year, means we can have four days on different routes in different types of scenery without moving hotel. (One day will be exactly as 2011 as I felt that the day in the Pennines deserved repeating as while the roads were still enjoyable to drive this year, the scenery was almost completely obliterated by fog and low cloud.)

 

The other days will include some familiar territory but with new roads along the shores of the Solway Firth, the Duddon Valley and the North Pennines. Even if you have been before (and there are many ‘regulars’ who return each year), the scenery is always worth another look especially if viewed from a different angle.

 

(Wednesday night at Leeming House is an optional extra.)

The tour starts by going into the heart of the Lake District through some of the most spectacular scenery on equally spectacular roads. We leave the shores of Ullswater and head north into the quiet and lesser know Mungrisedale Valley with views of Helvellyn and Blencathra ahead. We head west towards the mountains along the A66 for a short while before turning south into the dramatic scenery of St John’s in the Vale. This leads us down to Thirlmere where we follow the quieter west shore on our way to Dunmail Raise. As we descend towards Grasmere we can see the unusual rock formation of ‘The Lion and the Lamb’ as we enter Wordsworth country. We follow the shores of Grasmere and Rydal Water into Ambleside before reaching the picture post card scenery of Tarn Hows. We then have a stop for coffee on the shores of Coniston Water.

 

This refreshment stop prepares us for the main challenge of the day (and the tour!) as we head into the narrow lanes of Little Langdale which bring us to the infamous Wrynose Pass. The pass climbs to over 1300ft a.s.l. passing the Three Counties Stone before descending into the remote valley at Cockley Beck. On this occasion we will turn left to avoid the ‘sister’ pass of Hardknott, and travel the full length of the Duddon Valley, something we rarely manage when using both the passes. The lunch stop will be in the pretty market town of Broughton in Furness.

 

‘Fed and watered’ it is back into the mountains with Coniston Old Man ahead, Black Combe to the left and the Duddon Estuary to the right. We then follow the shore of Coniston Water to some quiet little country lanes through the unspoilt South Lakes to Grizedale Forest. There will be chance to stop at the forestry visitor centre in the heart of Grizedale before continuing to Esthwaite Water and on to Windermere. We will cross the most famous lake by the ferry to have tea in the town of the same name. The final run of the day takes us over Kirkstone Pass and along the full length of Ullswater back to our hotel.

 

Today we go east into the Eden Valley passing the ruins of Lowther Castle before making a detour to our favourite photo location, Kings Meaburn ford, before heading across country to the market town of Kirkby Stephen and a stop for coffee at Brough Castle (and ice cream parlour!).

From here we turn north east to climb into the Pennines going over the high fells via Middleton in Teesdale to a lunch stop at the Weardale Visitor Centre in Stanhope. After lunch we continue to climb into remote fell country going further east on our way to the surprising views over the Derwent Reservoir. We do a complete circuit of the reservoir before heading even further north to the outskirts of Hexham before turning south again. From here we take some fabulous driving roads back across the fells to Weardale and a stop at the fascinating Killhope Lead Mining Centre.

Another wonderful driving road takes us homeward via Alston and the fantastic Hartside Pass with its numerous hairpin bends and stunning views over the Eden Valley to the Lakes Mountains and even Scotland (on a clear day). There is then just a short run through Penrith and down the lake back to the hotel for dinner.

 

Today we start with a new coastal route along the shores of the Solway Firth before heading into the heart of the North Lakes and some more superb passes and stunning scenery. First we head north to Caldbeck for a coffee stop before crossing the fell of the same name which affords views over the Solway Plain and Firth to Scotland. We cross the plain to join the coast at Bowness on Solway, the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. We then follow the coast south with fantastic views across the firth to the Scottish Hills with the Lakeland Mountains ever visible ahead. Approaching the Lakes Mountains from a different direction to normal we will head into Cockermouth for lunch.

 

After lunch it is back into the heart of the lakes and the spectacular mountain passes of Whinlatter, Newlands and Honister and the beautiful lake at Buttermere. The glorious scenery doesn’t end here however as we take the road along the flank of Cat Bell hill, high above Derwent Water with stunning views across the lake to Keswick with Skiddaw in the background. We bypass Keswick town and take some more quiet lanes to bring us back to Ullswater and the hotel.

 

A different direction to start the day and some different scenery as we make our way through the Eden Valley. After passing within sight of Haweswater we head south over the infamous Shap Fell on the old A6, once the main road north – south, now superseded by the M6 motorway. From the summit at over 1,000 feet you can see as far as Morecambe Bay, on a clear day. We will continue only as far as the outskirts of Kendal along this superb driving road before turning north again with Greyrigg Fell and the Howgills ahead. As we reach the Lune valley we make a spectacular little detour along the flanks of the Howgills with panoramic views of the river valley below. A stop for coffee at the enticing little Chocolate Factory in Orton might be welcome by now.

 

After coffee (and chocolate) we head into the open and tranquil moorland around Sunbiggin Tarn bird sanctuary before we enter the Eden Valley proper. We pass through the old county town of Westmorland, Appleby, and follow the River Eden north. For some time we also follow the famous Settle-Carlisle railway on our way through the valley to the remote village of Ainstable where we will stop for lunch.

 

The afternoon run takes us initially to the edge of the Pennines which we follow further north still to Brampton. Here we turn south again crossing the edge of the Pennines to give us superb views of the valley below and then we descend to the pretty Talkin Tarn. We then make our way back to the banks of the River Eden, crossing it at Armathwaite before another little detour right along the river bank. We cross the railway at the level crossing and head back down the western edge of the valley skirting Baron Wood on our way to Penrith. We bypass Penrith by taking the Beacon Edge road which gives us views over the town to the Lake District mountains. There is then only a short run from here back to Leeming House for our farewell dinner.