Hardknott Pass

[Ninjachica]

I survived it

Will get the laptop out later and write it up. Meanwhile, you can admire the views

[Ninjachica]

A few more!

[Ninjachica]

Had planned to do the Lakes on the Sunday, but then I saw the weather forecast! Ah. Compounded by the fact that the bike was booked in at Doncaster for new brake pads at 10am on Saturday. The plan was unravelling.

Go for it!

Get to Doncaster on time, drop the keys with mr Grumpy at the service desk, then go and buy an all in one waterproof suit! - the weather isn't going to beat me.

30 minutes later - I'm told that there's plenty left on the pads and they don't need doing. Ha. Wasted time - could have been in the Lakes by now. Never mind, set off on some vauge north-west direction. A1M, M62, some other a-road... Well, you know me by now... Turned off the M62 at j26, as I was meant to, then took a wrong un at a roundabout and spent 30 minutes skirting Bradford! Finally found the road I wanted but it was restricted to 50 most of the way. Had a flash of inspiration at one point and turned off, only to find myself going down tiny lanes, through hamlets and then back the way I'd come! Asked a lady how to get to the main road, and eventually picked up the right one (A685?). Good job, because I needed fuel!

Got to Kendal easily enough, then followed the south Lakes peninusla, eventually spotting the turn I needed towards Eskdale. First 2 corners, and I'm thinking 'oh, my god' as the road turned very sharp left, with a 10ft climb, then right! And this isn't even the pass. Thankfully, it was normal for a while, and then I found my way to the George IV pub for a well earned hot chocolate after a 4 hour ride.

What a pub! Right at the start of the Pass, and a propper little rabbit warren. Good food, excellent service and nice cake.

[Ninjachica]

All rested and refreshed, set off for the pass. Lovely ride through the pretty valley, and then you get to a funny junction that says 'Beware, all ye who enter here'. It doesn't really, but it should.

First few yards are through a tunnel of trees, with gravel in the middle of the narrow lane. Not very bike friendly, but not a problem at all. Couple of bends, another cattle grid (they are everywhere - along with sheep) and the whole thing opens up. Ah, this is nice. Up a little hill, round the right (still climbing) and... wtf? Small car in middle of road - oncoming car reversing. Stench of burning clutch. Car coming down hill is trying (but failing) to reverse into a passing place on the wrong side of the road, small car going up the hill is obviously being driven by a total clueless idiot. I figure that we might be able to do this, when another car appears coming down the hill, skuppering (?) it all!! Finally, it gets figured out, and off we go again. Up, turn, up, another turn, blimey - steep ups and sharp turns - perfectly do-able, if you haven't got an idiot in front of you. Finally, he has the sense to pull over, and I pop past him. This is brilliant. Flat bendy bits, and little rises and turns. Awesome. 'What is that 4x4 doing up there?' Oh, sh!t, 180 degree bend with a massive elevation! And then another one going the other way!

This really is brillant.

It's easy on a bike. I recon any bike could do it. You have the massive advantage of being able to use the whole road. Right hand bend? Use the very left part of the road. Left hand bend, use the very right edge. It's MUCH harder for cars, as they have to negotiate the fall in camber as they go along.

The 4x4 pulls off and I pop past again. There are LOADS of passing places and also loads of stopping/parking areas, for people that actually want to walk the fells. (Not sure what that is about.) No real issues, and I get to the top. Pull over for a bit, a few photos, etc and admire the view. No chance of doing that en-route. I have zero intention of walking up to Hard Knott Fort, so set off again.

Much of the same, but down hill. Some flatish bits, some steep bits, lots of little beds, a few 180 bends. Then, I caught up with someone that didn't like it! The last part is very steep, downhill and tight zig-zags. His car must have been the slowest on the pass! No chance of passing him, so just chill, and follow him down. I can see a car waiting to come up, but he has the sense to stay at the bottom. We slowly crawl down, a big queue of us all following. Then I notice that the car at the bottom is filming on his camera phone. I look in my mirror. He's got the money shot. Brilliant. It's like that road in San Fransisco!

Not sure where I passed mr slow, but it all opens up to a beautiful valley, a small juction, then on to Wyndnose Pass (or something). This is much easier. Bends are much more gentle, slopes are all longer. Beautiful.

Sadly, not having got here until 4pm, I've run out of time, otherwise I woud have gone straight back, and done it the other way. And again.

Brilliant.
I'll be back.
(Plans are already afoot)

[bobsnicholson]

Great. You have not put me off and i am now more eager to do it than ever. Hope i don't get any nobs in front of me i wont be a happy red faced biker.
Well done Brig, proud of you, one of the lad's

[Beelady]

I'm so impressed! I've watched it so many times and without stopping I could do it, but me on tiptoes with zero strength in any limbs at all nowadays would not be a happy combination if I had to stop. Even backing the bike down my super smooth path to the shed is a bit of a challenge recently. It's getting to the point where I need my minders unless I can park on a flat bit of ground. So frustrating!

Those are really good pictures and I enjoyed your write up on the adventure. Where to next?

[Piglet]

For a real challenge, do the ride again, except hire a H-D Electra Glide (all 75-stone of it).

[bobsnicholson]

Did it this morning. Report and pics to follow (i hope)