We saw this tour advertised in the Morgan’s book and decided to go. It was a fantastic weekend very well planned and the company was a good mix of Classic and more modern cars: A Ferrari, MGB GT, Datsun, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Ford Focus RS, 3 Falcons, Triumph Stag, Ford Escort and our Volvo P1800S. The cost of £299 per car included hotel accommodation with breakfast Sunday, morning coffee both days, lunch Saturday, Cream Tea both days and evening meal both days the hotel was really nice clean and comfortable.

Day One
After a run up the picturesque Lyth Valley to the shores of Lake Windermere, we headed north to tackle the first pass of the weekend, Kirkstone. We had  coffee at the summit at the highest Inn in the Lake District and one of the oldest, before descending via ‘The Struggle’ to Ambleside. From here we skirt Rydal Water, Grasmere Lake and Thirlmere Reservoir on the way to Keswick. Then we travel into the Borrowdale valley, passing the shores of Derwent Water high on the flanks of Cat Bell hill.

We now had to tackle the spectacular Honister Pass on the way to Whinlatter Pass unfortunately the Ferrari which was of course out in front of us caught fire and burnt out.

not a good start and we all felt so sorry for the owner, so only 2 cars actually managed the Whinlatter pass. After some changes we went  for lunch at the Borrowdale Hotel near the shores of Derwent Water.

Setting off once more on some narrow and steep roads (some very narrow and steep 1 in 3, 1 in 5 etc) we went on the Cat Bells road overlooking Derwent Water fantastic views up there. Joining the A66 for just a few miles this was a good run down valleys going through farm yards etc. When we got to the Haweswater Hotel for tea we could have gone on about 2 miles further to the bottom end of the lake where the submerged village of Mardale is which you can see in dry conditions but not at this time of year and its also the area where the Golden Eagles nest.

The final run back to the Heaves takes us over the infamous Shap Fell on the old A6 road now superseded by the M6.

This was to be (although we did not know it) the narrowest and tightest roads we have ever been on.
We left the hotel on a duel carriageway and turned off about 2 miles down the road with notes in the road book saying very bumpy, subsidence and neglect you can imagine what we were in for. The views once again fantastic looking over Kent Estuary and Morecambe bay from the lay-by. Carrying on up Gummers How with views over Windermere far below on our way to Wrynose and Hardknott Passes. We stopped for morning coffee on the shores of Coniston water preparing us for the nerve racking route ahead.

Day Two
About 2 miles after setting off the Rolls Royce broke down we stopped to help him and actually got him going but he decided to retire back to the hotel very wise of him as the route would have been a real struggle for the car.

A relatively gentle drive the length of Langdale took us abruptly to the steep climb to Blea Tarn. The next obstacle is an almost ‘impossible’ hairpin turn right onto the Wrynose Pass road which ultimately leads us to the twin passes, Hardknott and Wrynose.

Some of the bends were very tight and on these very narrow and steep roads we met a Bike Race stopping for the bikes when going forward slowly when you got to the top the road seemed to go straight down (very hairy) but after stopping and starting we made it after calling for petrol we got to Muncaster Castle with its famous Owl sanctuary. where we all parked in pride of place in the front of the castle. We had lunch in the Stables the only meal we had to pay for all weekend.

After lunch we had pleasant run home via Corney Fell, from where the Isle of Man can be seen on a clear day and a stop at Jumping Jenny’s for tea on the opposite shore of Coniston Water to the morning coffee stop the drive there was again brilliant fantastic views for me anyway Geoff was busy watching the sides of the road with pothole and flood warnings in the road book it was best.

We set off for Ambleside travelling on towards Kendal & Windermere turning right into Troutbeck to see the view of the full length of Windermere and then onto the hotel for a final meal before leaving for home.

It was about 500 miles from leaving home to getting back

This was a brilliant weekend and we could not recommend it highly enough it was organised by Mike Kirk of CCTMK and the website if anyone is interested is the website is www.cctmk.co.uk

Geoff & Gillian Naylor