I will be taking my new GS on its longest single journey yet, up to the Lake District on Sunday for a couple of days.
Will be my first time up there - staying near Penrith.

Unfortunately I have damaged my foot so walking more than a short distance (1/4 mile tops) is out of the question. Just looking for some nice scenic drives, places to stop and admire the sights/attractions/lakes/scenery, good places to eat etc.

Ay advice/recommendations gratefully received. (Coming) 2016 RR Evoque td4 180 HSE Dynamc
(Going) 2013 TD4 GS Auto - Santorini Black with black leather. Cold Climate, UK Lighting & Armrest Packs. Privacy Glass. LR Rubber Mats. Full size spare.
60 000 miles averaging 35mpg

(Gone) 2010 TD4 Manual GS - Stornoway Grey. Sold at 3yrs old & 64k miles. Final average consumption 39.2mpg.

for non walkers ullswater steamers, are pretty good. (they are boats not a form of pollution )

As for the drive its going to have to be the hard knot, wrynoses passes, quite spectacular.
when there try the eskdale railway for a trip out, seeing as you cant walk, decent cafe there for lunch.

food nr Penrith http://www.yanwathgate.com/ had dinner here very good ( small and popular book ahead)
http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/innonthelake/index.php had lunch here again very good

this is a fun place with excellent food too http://www.rheged.com/

go for a pint at the kirkstone inn and just enjoy the views At work
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Last edited by chicken george on 6th Jul 2013 8:39 am. Edited 1 time in total

Pretty much all of the lakes is scenic as drives go, the passes are the best, Hardnott, Wrynose which lead into each other, Whinlatter and Honister are good. Around Buttermere or the Langdales are very picturesque but do get very busy. Wastwater is well worth a look too.
As an alternative, if your in Penrith is head over the A686 to Alston, this on an evening gets you magnificent views of the whole lake district with the sun setting behind, whereever you get too, enjoy, it is a beautiful part of the world

As both said thats pretty much the lakes..... although Hard Knott is a cracking drive as is the drive from Ambleside to Gressingham where you can get on one of the steamers.

You may want to look at Coninston ( apart from having a LR dealership he he ) they have a nice cafe right by the lake and the Gondala sails from there.

Further down you have Lake side at the end of Windermere you have both steam cruises and steam trains.

T Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

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The little put-put boats are ok to hire on Windermere, slow but you get to be captain for a hour or so

But as the other have said, the passes are great drives

Though be warned the Eskdale ratty railway is a good ride but there is feck all at the other end without a bit of a walk from the station at ravensglass then your only chance is a scone and tea if their open Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

agreed ravansglass is dullsvill, your only there for an hour or so. but it seems sooooo long At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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If you do fancy hiring a motorboat or a rowing boat then I'd recommend Derwentwater. Good (if pricey) parking right by the lake in Keswick, fabulous views when you're on the lake and you could follow it up with a drive through Borrowdale, over Honister, past Buttermere, Crummock and Lowes Water, down via Wastwater into Eskdale and back over Hard Knott, Wrynose, Blea Tarn, Great Langdale, Red Bank and Grasmere. A great day out Gromit! Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
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Get yourself on Lake Windermere round trip and a journey on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway, plenty of good roads in the south.

I regularly go up to visit my son who lives near Penrith (boring journey M5+M6). Last year drove over to Appleby and got the train to Settle. Fantastic trip via the Ribblehead viaduct. 11 GS Bali Blue
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Ambleside to Ullswater along the kirkstone pass is lovely, pop into Mirehouse after for the very interesting tour, then feed the birds by hand in the garden. Nothing better than having a Chaffinch land on your hand and sit there eating!
As already said, the round trip on Windermere is lovely along with the steam railway from lakeside and the Settle to Carlisle train shouldn't be missed.

take the turn marked 'the struggle' just near the kirkstone inn, a shorter and more dramatic way to Ambleside. At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Great info! Thanks all  (Coming) 2016 RR Evoque td4 180 HSE Dynamc
(Going) 2013 TD4 GS Auto - Santorini Black with black leather. Cold Climate, UK Lighting & Armrest Packs. Privacy Glass. LR Rubber Mats. Full size spare.
60 000 miles averaging 35mpg

(Gone) 2010 TD4 Manual GS - Stornoway Grey. Sold at 3yrs old & 64k miles. Final average consumption 39.2mpg.

Last time I was in the lakes weather was terrible, so went to the pencil museum, was an interesting few hours. The weather brightened up in the afternoon, so visited a local stone circle, lovely views and only a mins walk from the car park.

Make sure you know there your mirror folding button is, the lanes are very narrow last time I was there felt like all the other drivers expected me to reverse / drive very close to stone walls as I had the bigger car...

Jon Freelander 2, 2014 Dynamic SD4 Santorini Black

"the lanes are very narrow"

Cumbrian lanes are like a-roads compared to some round here  Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne