Lake District Hardknott Pass

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Should be no trouble. The mountain goat mini bus goes over it daily and that’s built on a long wheel base van.
 
I've driven mini buses over it several times, and cycled over it many times. The main issue you might come across is drivers descending towards you not giving way and forcing you to stop where you might not chooses to. Hill starts on the steep sections can be challenging.
 
glenn2926 said:
Should be no trouble. The mountain goat mini bus goes over it daily and that’s built on a long wheel base van.
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The driver knows the bends like the back of his hand, if you haven’t done it in a car then you are taking a big risk, especially if you have a towbar which may catch on some of the sharper hairpins.
I am sure you would be slagged off by other drivers if you cause any sort of holds ups
try it in a car first
 
I've been over once or twice in the car, but not in the van.

Have taken the van - fully loaded - over Austria's highest pass - Grossglockner High Alpine Road - 8250 feet above sea level. And it was fine

But I don't think I'd take it over Hard Knott.

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We used to live in the Lake District. It depends on how confident you are in driving your motorhome. Narrow roads, (very in places), drystone walls on both sides, steep sections where if you have to stop going uphill you can really practice your hill starts. The main problem is oncoming vehicles, especially people who do not know the road and it’s passing spaces.

In a PVC you have much better prospects than in a coachbuilt or A Class.

As said previously it really depends on your confidence driving your PVC but it is certainly “doable”!

However, if in doubt, don’t.
 
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There are quite a few videos on YouTube. Might help you decide
 
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I wouldn’t do it and I take far more chances than are good for me

I remember doing it in a triumph spitfire many years ago and Bev had to get out at the top as I couldn’t see if anything was coming

the inside of the corners are very steep, way above the 1:4 quoted for the road

you can get to either end and have a look before trying there is a more gentle escape option from the lakes side 👍
 
Thanks for replies, I have done it in a car a few years ago.
As the van is new and a little more precious than my old Toyota Rav I think I'll take the low road.
Dont want to start the holiday with a damaged van!

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Otter Spotter said:
The driver knows the bends like the back of his hand, if you haven’t done it in a car then you are taking a big risk, especially if you have a towbar which may catch on some of the sharper hairpins.
I am sure you would be slagged off by other drivers if you cause any sort of holds ups
try it in a car first
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I have been over this pass many, many times in cars, 4x4s, vans, self build pvc’s, motorbikes, mountain bikes and a twin wheel transit mini bus. All the 4x4’s had tow bars as did the vans and mini bus. I have been over in snow and ice in the 4x4’s.
Some people are just more risk averse I guess.
 
Late 80’s I’ve driven up HardKnott Pass in a Mk2 Escort 1.3L
There were a series of corners where my slow speed, the slope and bend angle meant I would lose traction. Iirc more confidence with speed helped.
But there could’ve been lots of modern roadworks & resurfacing since then
 
I wouldn’t did it in a car once there are some very tight places.
 
We went with our Nu-venture Nu surf and lost traction on some of the bends had to do a u turn and come down. A heavier van may work(y)

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We have taken our 6.36m PVC over it a few times without any issues. Some of the very narrow lanes leading to it are more of a problem with vans coming the other way and limited passing places.
 
Watched my mate drop his bike on the first hairpin coming from Boot as he panicked, We had an old Mazda back in 1982 and parked at the top of the pass for lunch on Honeymoon (all we could afford at the time) and were honked and saluted by a Police Driving school whose instructors were on a days drive. It is not as scary at all, just look ahead and let vehicles on the hairpins pass before you do 1 Ten has saId the problem is on the approach not the scaling and have done it in an A Class, a 7.5 tonne truck so PVC is not a problem , just observe before committing
 
rickwiggans said:
The main issue you might come across is drivers descending towards you not giving way and forcing you to stop where you might not chooses to. Hill starts on the steep sections can be challenging.
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That will be the main issue. Not all tourists know that common sense dictates that vehicles going downhill should always give way to those going up. You can also get stuck behind a timid driver going the same way as you. The secret to success is a low gear & plenty of revs whether going up or down. My usual tactic was to pull over at the cattle grid at the bottom & give anyone in front of me a good head start, usually waiting until someone else appeared before setting off in front of them. Then drive like you stole it on the steep bits & it's great fun & no problem. The trick is not to get caught up in someone else's problem.

Probably best to put any auto box in manual & certainly so if it's a Comfortmatic.

Keep off the brakes as much as possible going down - use engine braking as much as possible. Back in my yoof, I was running a bit late for a meeting in Ambleside one evening & got a bit over-enthusiastic on the downward run on the western side. Brake fade is something you only want to experience once! Lesson learned.
 
Beware if you decide to get out for a walk, I did and walked up the wet grass to chat with the sheep and have a wee. I was wearing trainers and when I turned to come down my feet disappeared from under me, I put my hand down to to cushion my landing. Landed on my hand. Said ouch looked at my hand and two of my fingers were facing my wrist. I bent them back but the joints had dislocated and slipped down the inside of my fingers so they were only half their length. It was a fare drive to Kendal hospital with my fingers wrapped up, it was a couple of years before my fingers were fully back to normal.:giggle: .
 
TheCaller said:
Keep off the brakes as much as possible going down - use engine braking as much as possible. Back in my yoof, I was running a bit late for a meeting in Ambleside one evening & got a bit over-enthusiastic on the downward run on the western side. Brake fade is something you only want to experience once! Lesson learned.
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Yes, in my youth, I had an Opel Ascona 1.8i. Went very quick for an 19 year old, but had terrible brakes (even though they were proper vented discs). Once I was going from the M3 to Reading at about 3am and given the several hundred roundabouts between the M3 and the A33 were all 70mph and no traffic lights in those days, I gunned it between each one, slowing right down each time.

When I got to the final roundabout, there was actually a car coming round, with right of way. Pressed the brakes. Absolutely nothing. Only choice was to press the accelerator and pull right in front of him. He was probably a little annoyed, but less annoyed than had I T-boned him.

Smoke had started pouring off the brakes at this point and I decided to carry on, as stopping would probably have torched the car. The brakes soon started working again!

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Done Hard Knott in a car many times many moons ago, once or twice in the dark. Beware sheep can lie on the road in the dark, it is warmer than the grass. All you see is two eyes - disconcerting!
 
maison said:
We used to live in the Lake District. It depends on how confident you are in driving your motorhome. Narrow roads, (very in places), drystone walls on both sides, steep sections where if you have to stop going uphill you can really practice your hill starts. The main problem is oncoming vehicles, especially people who do not know the road and it’s passing spaces.

In a PVC you have much better prospects than in a coachbuilt or A Class.

As said previously it really depends on your confidence driving your PVC but it is certainly “doable”!

However, if in doubt, don’t.
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And some of those wicked sharp stone kerbs.
 
Surprising how different people see things in different light.
Done it both ways lots of times on motor bikes and cars. No problems.
Don't remember seeing dry stone walls, or having to get out/off to see over the top.
Wouldn't hesitate to do it in a van.
On the bikes the first guy who put a foot down bought the first round when we met in the pub.
And don't forget to have a look at the old fort along the way.

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A wonderful, cheap, tourist trip is to be had by taking the public bus up the pass and back. The Lake District benefits from minimum use of the roads by tourist cars and holiday rigs. Of course you've got to get there to be there but I take suitable routes where I can. It is fun to drive the Pass but I leave it to those with no choice.
 
You are almost guaranteed to annoy all the other road users. I would find another route.
 
For others that have done it (I did it on motorbikes), how on earth would you get a MH round the Corner of Doom?
 
I have seen PVCs and big white van men on the pass so presumably they get around the Corner of Doom.??
 
Try the Stevilio pass North to South.

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