Afternoon all

Tomorrow I will commence a long weekend in the South West of Scotland.

Unfortunately I live in Cheltenham so its likley to be a good 6 hour schelp up the M5/M6 :thumbdwn: To balance this out I plan to take in some scenic/spirited driving while i'm Oop North.

However having never been north of Stoke under my own steam (my username'll give you a clue to where my roots are) I coudl do with some advice.

The faithful search button has brought up a couple of useful threads and i have formulated a plan:

On the journey north:

get off the M6 toward Kendal and head West into the lakes to see Windemere and then head over the Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater then to Penrith and continue North to bonnie Och-Aye-shire - don't worry talk like that shall stop to avoid being beaten to death with a haggis or tin of tartan shortbread!

Headig South on Tuesday I think i'll get off the M6 again at Penrith and head East to Helbeck down to Kirkby Stephen, to Twaite down the Buttertubs to Hawes then down the Ribblehead to the viaduct before heading back towards Lancaster to rejoin the M6 and head home

Having bee mightily impressed by the Lakes and Dales when whizzing past on a train to Glasgow I'm expecting it to be epic on 4 wheels but any further advice or has the accumlated knowledge of Brisky once again helped me formulate a fool-proof plan

Stop off in Warrington on the way back mate

you could get off the m6 on ya way back at kirby longsdale then take a left and just follow the signs for lancaster and m6. it just takes ya back onto the m6 further down but is a nice fast drive. i always go that way back from the lakes instead of the diving on the m6 at kirby.

One word of warning: there's lots of roadworks on the M6- it seemed between here and the A75 at Gretna when we went up last Saturday, it was all roadworks, and took much longer than normal, so getting off the M6 for a bit might be a good move.

Thanks Chris

We'll be following in the tyre tracks of friends who have headed up today so hopefully they will feel inclined to warn us if this are that bad!

I live in the lakes, If you fancy my "special rally stage" down newlands valley, let me know

Looks a good plan. I might suggest however that on your way up when you are thinking of rejoining the M6 at Penrith instead head straight over that roundabout and carry on the A66 till the next rounabout, take the second exit sign posted Alston. (Will take you past the rugby club) This road will take you to the Hartside Cafe and on to Alston. Just as you reach Alston take the first left turn towards Brampton. At the end of this road turn left onto the A69 for Carlisle and this will take you back to the M6 at either Jct 43 or 44 depending whether you go straight on at the next roundabout or turn left.

A sample of the road..one of mine and now sharkrider's favourites.

Looks a good plan. I might suggest however that on your way up when you are thinking of rejoining the M6 at Penrith instead head straight over that roundabout and carry on the A66 till the next rounabout, take the second exit sign posted Alston. (Will take you past the rugby club) This road will take you to the Hartside Cafe and on to Alston. Just as you reach Alston take the first left turn towards Brampton. At the end of this road turn left onto the A69 for Carlisle and this will take you back to the M6 at either Jct 43 or 44 depending whether you go straight on at the next roundabout or turn left.

A sample of the road..one of mine and now sharkrider's favourites.

indeed Hartside pass is fantastic, i think its the combination of tight hairpins on the way up (watch for the bikers comming down!) and the scary fast section on the way down.... great road