Grand Tour
The Lake District Weekend
Two days over the great passes of the Lake District, out by Coniston and Hardknott, home by Buttermere and Dunmail Raise.
The Lake District squeezes more good driving into thirty miles than anywhere else in England, and this weekend gathers the best of it into one unhurried loop from Ambleside. Day one heads south and west over the roads that made the national park's reputation, Hardknott and Wrynose above all, then crosses Kirkstone to Ullswater. Day two is the Buttermere loop and the long run home beneath Helvellyn.
Be honest with yourself about the narrow stuff: Hardknott, Wrynose, Honister and Newlands are single track with passing places, and on a fine summer Saturday you will queue behind walkers' cars and meet camper vans on the hairpins. Go in May, June or September and start early, and the fells are yours.
The southern passes
Overnight: KeswickSouth out of Ambleside on the A593 to Coniston first, then double back to Little Langdale for the main event: Wrynose and Hardknott crossed out to Eskdale and back, fourteen miles of single track with thirty per cent ramps. Round it off over Kirkstone from Windermere to Patterdale, then follow Ullswater out and take the A66 west into Keswick for the night.
Buttermere and the road home
Overnight: AmblesideRun the B5289 south from Keswick through Borrowdale and over Honister's slate workings to Buttermere, then climb straight out of the village over Newlands Hause and drop back to the Keswick side. The A591 takes you home: past Thirlmere, over Dunmail Raise and down through Grasmere to Ambleside, where you began.
