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Original poster

Hardknott Pass anyone?

91 replies

MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 21:20

Drove over here today what an amazing drive....remember doing it years ago but had forgotten those hairpin bends.

Dd reckons I'd make a fab rally driver

Dp kept giving me 'tips' Hmm

Am so intrigued by people who live in these areas who have to use these routes daily.

Any MN'etters up here

Don't worry I won't pop by for tea and cakes....

Unless I get an invite Grin

OP posts:
SchoolNightWine · 23/08/2018 21:57

I live fairly near too, but don't have to use it other than when we choose to on trips out, and always avoid it on bank holidays. I used to cycle over it quite oftenShock - couldn't manage that now!

chuntersalot · 23/08/2018 22:01

Just remembered we had an accident while driving over Honister a few years ago Shock DH was driving, me in the passenger seat and DC in the rear. We were heading up and a vehicle heading down didn’t make the bend and ploughed into the drivers side of our car. Nobody was being reckless it really was ‘just one of those things’ Other driver at fault insurance wise but all sorted very amicably. Left DD anxious around any of the mountain passes though.

Have some fabulous pictures of our damaged car and all the sheep who wandered over for a nosy Grin

lakeswimmer · 23/08/2018 22:02

I was there 2 weeks ago and have never been so scared! It was raining and on a steep hairpin bend we had to come to a sudden stop as we came face to face with a motorbike. After that the car refused to move, dh was revving the engine, the front wheels were spinning, smoke was coming off the tyres and there was a smell of burning rubber

My only tip for that type of steep road is don't stop when you're on your way up as you'll never get going again once you've lost momentum. You need to be assertive and hope the person coming down has got the sense to pull over for you Wink

If I'm driving uphill behind someone who's clearly nervous and isn't keeping their speed up I often drop back to put some distance between us so I can then pick up speed to keep my momentum going Grin

KnotsInMay · 23/08/2018 22:02

“We were behind a camper van on one of the steep hills when the back doors opened and suitcases came tumbling out!!!”

Shock
Elderflower14 · 23/08/2018 22:06

@KnotsinMay. They had to get to the top of the hill and pull in and then everyone piled out and were stuffing things in suitcases!!

DramaAlpaca · 23/08/2018 22:08

It's fun to drive out of holiday season when there's not so much traffic but not this time of year. Scary! DH fancies going over it on his bike. I've told him he's on his own with that one.

I'm Grin at Rhino's Pass but it does sound better than Wrynose

H00T3R · 23/08/2018 22:09

We drove over Wry Nose Pass on our 1st trip to the Lakes. The satnav took us that way. Basher, the really old automatic car with the in car waterfall that my then boyfriend drive at the time, did really well but died a week after that journey. It was scary but is a good memory!

Elderflower14 · 23/08/2018 22:15

Has anyone been over The Connor Pass in Southern Ireland??
DH drove us over it and kept raving about the views... Hmm I kept looking down at the sheer drop 3 feet from my passenger door and suggested he would be better disposed looking where he was going instead of around him!! 😂 😂

MrsRolly · 23/08/2018 22:16

We did it in our bongo a few weeks ago. Was amazing. We fell in love with the western lakes.

Hardknott Pass anyone?
DramaAlpaca · 23/08/2018 22:22

I've been over the Conor Pass in Kerry Elderflower, I live not too far from there & agree it's scary. (It's in Ireland btw, please don't call the country Southern Ireland).

Elderflower14 · 23/08/2018 22:22

@MrsRolly is that the CP? Its 26 years since we were there.

CalonGlas · 23/08/2018 22:22

I love driving over Hardknott and Wrynose (and Corney and Cold Fell!), but sections of it are used as a rat-run, amazingly enough - the Herdwicks graze freely over the fells, and there are very few walls between the road and the sheep, so farmers often lose stock to people driving far too fast for the conditions.

it's so beautiful, though. Probably my favourite place in the world. The thought of the Romans building a fort up there boggles the mind...

Elderflower14 · 23/08/2018 22:23

@DramaAlpaca. No offence meant. Apologies.... 😪 😪

JoyceDivision · 23/08/2018 22:24

Memories! Did Hardknock pass years ago when DH and I were dating, thought my Punto was going to explore! On way up these cyclists came hurtling down, first one passed us and shouted "Car" then rest whipped past us...DH, or DD at that time, lived it and asked me to film it... Afternoon Ch arguing and me looking ashen it turned out while holding camera and cowering in seat I never actually pressed record Blush

JoyceDivision · 23/08/2018 22:25

DFiance not Dd at time Grin

DramaAlpaca · 23/08/2018 22:25

Apology accepted Smile

Original poster
MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 22:26

AF

I'm saddened

Thought you'd have been at the wheel twirling Stig like donuts at every bend Grin

OP posts:
JoyceDivision · 23/08/2018 22:26

I wish that made more sense Grin

Original poster
MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 22:27

Connor Pass

Stunning and my favourite place in the world

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SealSong · 23/08/2018 22:28

Lol at Rhino's Pass! Grin It's Wrynose

I have done that drive once, and will never do it again after getting brake fade on the way down...terrifying

Original poster
MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 22:29

'I took my Smart Roadster (about 6in ground clearance) over it by accident. Nobody told me it was basically a footpath in places and so steep the road ahead was near my nose.'

We actually had the conversation

"Well, you wouldn't want to be up here in your Smart Car"Grin

OP posts:
Sharkwithknees · 23/08/2018 22:30

I live close by. I cycled it once, in my younger and braver days... couldn't look at a pic of it now without feeling out of breath mind Grin

Original poster
MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 22:30

MrsRolly

Loving the Bongo snap

OP posts:
KickAssAngel · 23/08/2018 22:33

30 years ago I did Hardknot in a borrowed ancient Saab, with a hole in the radiator. My two passengers got out to walk up as the car couldn't cope with 3 of us in it. Half way up I had to stop to let the radiator cool down, then my friends had to push to get it started as the engine just couldn't get going in 1st gear - we just sat there, not moving!

I thought I'd maybe exaggerated it in my distant memory, but these accounts make me think that it really was as dramatic as I remember.

Original poster
MarthasGinYard · 23/08/2018 22:34

'and a friend of mine used to commute to work over Wrynose and Hardknott -'

Imagine that every morning after your tea and toast.Shock

OP posts:
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