Reader's Rides: Cumbria
According to reader Jeremy Storey these are the best motorcycle roads around Cumbria
Look! Here's Jeremy Storey and his VFR. Join him for a tour of Cumbria.
"From Carlisle head for Dalston then follow the signs for Caldbeck along the B5299. The view is impressive: the fells, the Solway Firth and Scotland.
In Caldbeck follow the signs for Keswick - this leads to Hesket Newmarket. Through Hesket, bear right onto Pasture Lane, signed to Mungrisdale. Don't turn left as the next sign suggests, instead after a mile and a half, on a right hand bend, go straight on -it's a much nicer road. At the next junction turn right, and follow the road along the side of Carrock Fell.
Straight through Mungrisdale and carry on until you meet the A66 - and just check those views.
Turn left onto the A66 then right onto the A5091 signed to Ullswater.This road has some great corners and brilliant views. Follow the road all the way down to the shores of Lake Ullswater and join the A592, then turn right for Glenridding and Patterdale.
Through Patterdale and up to Kirkstone Pass. Turn right at the Kirkstone Inn down the Struggle and into Ambleside. Go straight through and follow the signs for Coniston. At Skelwith Bridge turn right onto the B5343 for Elterwater and Langdales. The road takes a sudden left, and becomes an unmarked road.
Follow this twisting road until, after a sharp descending left, take a right onto the road for Wrynose Pass. Descend into Wrynose Bottom by Cockley Beck then take a right over a bridge following the signs to Hardknot Pass. Here you can head down into Eskdale. There's a dead-end road up along the shores of Wast Water with a pub and cafŽ at the top and a campsite if you want to stay over.
Alternatively, turn back and go over Hardknot Pass the other way, back down to the bridge and here follow the signs to Seathwaite via Duddon Valley. Turn left at Ulpha Bridge and follow the road as it hugs the valley side. Gorgeous, with fells on your left and the River Duddon on your right. At Bank End turn left, briefly onto the A595 to High Cross, and then left onto A593 for nearly a mile and bear left at a right-hand bend towards Broughton Mills. Follow signs to Torver and then out to join the A593 signed Coniston and back to Ambleside. Follow the road to Keswick via the A591 skirting Rydal Water and Grasmere.
Out of Keswick, follow the A591 to a roundabout and take second left to Carlisle. It's a wonderful part of the world with too many variations on the route to mention."
