CUMBRIA-Ravenglass up Hard Knot Pass ?? (1 Viewer)

[davidallan]

ADVICE....Is it OK to try and negotiate this route from Ravenglass to Ambleside via the
"Hard Knot Pass"....some 30+ years since last up there [Shame on us]:Blush:...OR should we alter our plans to come FROM Ambleside down to Ravenglass .....?? [Engine braking comes to mind & slowly does it ]

PS We shall have the 'TOAD' behind us !

Thanks for all help...

 

[Forestboy]

Not a chance in a motorhome you'll end up being rescued.

I stayed in Ravenglass a couple of years back in the Rv and did this road on a motorbike and that was difficult, there were cars getting stuck and going back for a second run.
If you want to do it use the toad and leave the motorhome at the campsite. :thumb:

 

[wivvy's dad]

It's a while since I've been up there, but FROM Ambleside is surely something like a 1 in 4 incline, and tight bends. I'd say that would be extremely hard going even without towing something behind you. And if you have a front wheel drive m/h, forget it.

But someone who knows the area better will be along any time soon.............

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[icantremember]

:thumbdown:Think I would leave the m/h at the bottom & enjoy a return trip over the pass in the toad........you wouldn't be very popular if you got stuck on the hairpin bends

 

[Ian Barry]

Hardknott Pass

I am a local. In a word keep away with your MH the pass would be difficult enough but also bear in mind that the roads leading up to and away from the pass have not progressed much from the horse and cart days, narrow and winding ! I dont even go over in a car now.

 

[buttons]

ADVICE....Is it OK to try and negotiate this route from Ravenglass to Ambleside via the
"Hard Knot Pass"....some 30+ years since last up there [Shame on us]:Blush:...OR should we alter our plans to come FROM Ambleside down to Ravenglass .....?? [Engine braking comes to mind & slowly does it ]PS We shall have the 'TOAD' behind us !Thanks for all help...

Sorry to be a rebel but I take my van over Rhino and Hardknot every year both waysriving2: but it is slightly smaller than some on here.
I definitely wouldn't recommend attempting it anything bigger though especially if the road is wet. :rain:
Yes I should alter your plans......opp5 With a toad......

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[Pat4Neil]

I would say definately not with a toad.

We have struggled on a motorbike two up, not because of us but other road users that stop abruptly or those that think you can reverse down a hill and get going again.

Plus the potholes just where you want to do a tight turn, on a motorcycle is a no, no.

So if youre vehicle is long,even longer with a toad then you might even burn out your clutch.

I am no expert, but my husband has done this pass a few times in the past. We met two motorcyclist that had come off on the first bend.

Pat

 

[upmarkethippy]

Narrow and small

Lynne has just showed me the road that you are talking of on google maps.
Looking at it there is obvious why the other posters have said no way with motorhome, BUT
I am now wanting to go and do it myself, but will be in my landrover!!
Does look as if it would be a fantastic drive with wonderful scenery, although looking at the amount of people stopped on the side of the road being sick caught on camara is concerning.

Just found this....[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0NnZGK4LqE[/ame]

 

[BionicPixie]

no way, not on a good day, not on a bad day in fact not on any day with a 'Y' in it...... would it be considered in anything like a motorhome.

I have driven it in several vehicles and each time i vow it will be the last but end up taking someone else along!!!! Volvo estate .... too long! Opel Vectra... too fast! best version was the Nissan Micra! we have driven out cars for people who got so scared with one side they could not face the other! and seen so many people throwing up at the side of the road. ...
and now I have to go there again as Upmarkethippy has never been Oh deep joy! but at last a proper vehicle ... the Land Rover!!!!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ys1pgUUTog&feature=fvsr[/ame] this is one of the better images of the road .... it is tight and steep and should never be underestimated.

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[K9Brian]

Always enjoy the drive over Hardknott in the Landy.:thumb: Wouldn't consider it with the motorhome. Having 6 low ratio gears comes in handy for towing those that don't make it. Cheyne will be in his element and can probably raise a lot more for the air ambulance if he goes on a holiday weekend.

 

[golly]

put Hardknott Pass, Eskdale, Cumbria into Google maps then go to street view. Looks great but follow the road on street view and see the state of it Scary

John

 

[pappajohn]

i think that bike video link says it all......NO !

once, in a moment of shear madness/stupidity, i attempted 'the struggle' (A592) from ambleside to the kirkstone inn.

i did make it to the top, just, in a......Carioca 10 on a fiat 2ltr JTD base.

why ? cos it was there, but i knew the road and i was stupid oh::Blush:....never again !

once you get on these pass's you have no chance to turn round even if the going gets too much....which it will on hardknot and wrynose and whinlatter pass's in particular.

thumbnails are top and bottom of 'the struggle'.

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[pappajohn]

Bloody hell David ! oh:

just re-read your post.....

PS We shall have the 'TOAD' behind us !

men in white coats are coming for you......you'll NEVER, EVER make it !!!!!!!! not even half way !

 

[sedge]

Been up the Kirkstone from Bowness end for coffee at the pub - on the pillion of a motorbike. Was a bit scared in case we met anything really because the drystone walls are a bit unforgiving on flesh and plastic!

 

[barryd]

Many of the passes in the lakes have a 6ft 6 restriction anyway so it would also be illegal.

Its the long way round im afraid!

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[hailman]

I have just returned from the Lakes, and as the wife comes from there she wanted to see a bit of it and relive some of her childhood. "I`d like to go to Buttermere" she said. Ok, says I and off we went. The roads from Workington over to Buttermere were a tad narrow and winding but manageable with mine and other drivers patience. When we decided to head south and needed to get across to Keswick, silly sod here thinks he might go via Honister Pass. We reached the bottom sign that said `Warning-Ice`, went up to the 6`6" sign and decided it was foolhardy to continue.
I did the Hard Knot and Wrynose as a passenger in a Mk 1 XR2 many years ago. The thought of attempting it in a motorhome, with a toad!, :shout::shout:

 

[moandick]

I don't think that the average motorhome should try it especially with a toad - but as for car drivers - can I ask please, what is covering the road surface?

To me, it looks like tarmac, tons and tons and tons of it.

So how did the tarmac get there - on the back of donkeys?

No, of course not, it was delivered by lorries and laid by heavy machinery and rolled flat by great (probably) steam rollers, looking at the age of it.

Come on, where is your sense of adventure - Volvo estate too long, indeed - do you honestly think they don't have roads similar or worse than this in Sweden or elsewhere in the World?

Dick

 

[dellwood33]

This may give a hint to it's suitability with a large Motorhome

Link Removed

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[scotjimland]

Come on, where is your sense of adventure - Volvo estate too long, indeed - do you honestly think they don't have roads similar or worse than this in Sweden or elsewhere in the World?

Dick

Indeed.. :thumb:

These are dangerous roads.. ! Link Removed

 

[John & Joan]

The last time I was over them I was part of a RAYNET (Radio Amateur Emergency Network) excercise.

There were 4 vintage cars tackling them. We were stationed at various point to warn other drivers that they may encounter these vehicles. Dodgy brakes!!!!

One was celibrating its 60 years since registration aniversary. The only vehicle that had a problem was one of our support vehicles an Astra van and it took 4 of us lying on its bonnet to get a grip on one of the summits, I can't remember which one.

John

 

[wivvy's dad]

These are dangerous roads.. ! Link Removed

Pfffffttttt

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[Ian Barry]

Hardknott

Its me the local again, I have read the posts with great interest and amusement, let me say that I have been over all the Cumbrian passes many many times they are fun to do ! the last time I did Hardknott was 2 years ago in an MX5 and found that it was too busy to enjoy the run or the views. The majority of cars will make it over no problem.
The general rule is to give way to those coming up the hill for obvious reasons !! The biggest problem is that no one wants to give way and there are no passing places and there is no where to hide.
TIP: If you really want to do it and really want to enjoy it then get up early in the morning skip breakfast go to Ravenglass have a trip up the Eskdale valley on "The Laal Ratty" a walk up to Stanley Falls a nice meal in one of those pubs at Boot and return at Dusk - luvverly.

 

[fugglestick]

Love all these passes. Fabulous. Done them on motorbikes fand in all sorts of cars for years. Hardknot can be difficult, especially with new front wheel drive vans simply because the gradient is too steep and the front wheels scrabble especially in the wet. Not too bad with small rear wheel drive vans, but make sure you have a good clutch and brakes ....lol..Also problem with Rrynose and Kirkstone are the tight corners on the approach especially from Troutbeck way. You couldn't get a largish MH around them. [Hobby 750] and passing between the dry stone walls are NOT for the faint hearted. You will get stuck.

Dont forget Whinlatter Pass, which is a mountain pass on the B5292. It passes through Thornthwaite Forest and as it sits approximately 1,043 feet above sea level it has spectacular views over Bassenthwaite Lake Beautiful pass in the summer.

Remember if you are stuck for traction with a front wheel drive is to reverse, that then put the weight on the driving wheel.

and the golden rule --- always give way to vehicles coming up the pass. Its easier for you to start off going down that them to do a steep hill start.

 

[Dodgey]

Talking about these passes got me thinking (again) that it's a shame you can't overnight at the Kirkstone Inn, each time we pass it just stricks me what a wonderful place to spend an evening and the views when you wake up?

I'd be pretty happy, though I suspect they'll be a limit somewhere that Winne would go up/down from the north side, wouldn't fancy the run down to Windermere though

Mind you I did see recently that there is a site on or near Brothers Water which seems to be private and affiliated to CC, passing previously I thought it was CC only so, could be an interesting walk

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[chrisboyo]

I had a front tyre blow out on a car when comming down hardnott pass

Not something I would wish to have again !!!oh:

 

[barryd]

Talking about these passes got me thinking (again) that it's a shame you can't overnight at the Kirkstone Inn, each time we pass it just stricks me what a wonderful place to spend an evening and the views when you wake up?

I'd be pretty happy, though I suspect they'll be a limit somewhere that Winne would go up/down from the north side, wouldn't fancy the run down to Windermere though

Mind you I did see recently that there is a site on or near Brothers Water which seems to be private and affiliated to CC, passing previously I thought it was CC only so, could be an interesting walk

Why cant you overnight at the Kirkstone inn? There is a massive car park over the road. Please dont tell me there is a no overnighting sign there?

 

[pappajohn]

Why cant you overnight at the Kirkstone inn? There is a massive car park over the road. Please dont tell me there is a no overnighting sign there?

Oh yes there is....right on the carpark entrance and dotted around the boundry wall, and park wardens do visit...as we found out after struggling up the 'struggle' (see earlier post)

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[pappajohn]

I don't think that the average motorhome should try it especially with a toad - but as for car drivers - can I ask please, what is covering the road surface?

To me, it looks like tarmac, tons and tons and tons of it.

So how did the tarmac get there - on the back of donkeys?

No, of course not, it was delivered by lorries and laid by heavy machinery and rolled flat by great (probably) steam rollers, looking at the age of it.

Come on, where is your sense of adventure - Volvo estate too long, indeed - do you honestly think they don't have roads similar or worse than this in Sweden or elsewhere in the World?

Dick

Transit pickup, gang of 'black-toppers' with shovels and a vibrating pedestrian roller or two.

you wouldnt get anything larger round the hairpins.

 

[barryd]

Oh yes there is....right on the carpark entrance and dotted around the boundary wall, and park wardens do visit...as we found out after struggling up the 'struggle' (see earlier post)

So an Inn that no doubt struggles for trade of an evening, a car park the size of a small town, in the middle of nowhere at !500ft above sea level where they would love your trade and you cant overnight!

This makes my blood boil! They take the money spending boats off Windermere with a 10mph ban and ban overnighting in just about every car park and they wonder why they have the worst economy in England. Pathetic.

Does any part of the Kirkstone car park belong to the pub? surely they can decide who parks there. ARGGGH!

 

[pappajohn]

So an Inn that no doubt struggles for trade of an evening, a car park the size of a small town, in the middle of nowhere at !500ft above sea level where they would love your trade and you cant overnight!

This makes my blood boil! They take the money spending boats off Windermere with a 10mph ban and ban overnighting in just about every car park and they wonder why they have the worst economy in England. Pathetic.

Does any part of the Kirkstone car park belong to the pub? surely they can decide who parks there. ARGGGH!

its been a while now since i was there, but just to add insult to injury....i seem to remember its 'no overnight camping' and a pay and display too ! :Angry:

i'm sure its wholly owned by the national parks.

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