Went on a short break around the lakes this weekend, weather was pretty drab much of the time.
We managed to take in all the passes, hardknot in both directions was a doddle, thye second time we were following a Black TD4 XS, driven by a young couple, it was good to see them putting the Freely to the test, using HDC etc and attempting (and succeeding) hill starts on a 1 in 3 incline, top marks to the young lady driving
Poor show from the teenagers in a Skoda Octavia reversing down "we can't carry on its too steep" they had done the steepest bit and got to the tipping point and bottled it, deciding to reverse 100yds back in the mist

The Freely performed impeccably on all routes, returned 33mpg overall which isnt bad considering the climbs etc, pity the weather was misty, little Taz didn't get to appreciate the views to be had.

Here are a few pictures taken during the weekend.

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great photos, in the great Lake District weather

Very nice trip! Do we assume the penultimate photo is your girlfriend?  John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

I knew that pic would be a bad idea

That is a Herdwick sheep, a very hardy animal native to the Cumbrian fells. It made a change from pictures with Freelanders, CG will be most pleased

I often wondered why they keep sheep on the fells

I think its for the wool, but guess they are not kept for meat, but would it not be easier to have a field

saves mowing the fells with the tractor lawnmower too

The biggest problem on the fells, not 4x4's, not mountain bikes, not ramblers.....but Sheep

Apparently the eat all the new growth and very little gets a chnace to grow, erosion then sets in as the flora and fauna have been eaten away!! There are areas now being fenced off to keep the sheep out and allow the plants to regenerate.

We also went round Whinlatter forest, a haven for mountain bikes, pretty disgusted at the litter and mess that had been left behind, the whole area was terrible, drinks bottles strewn around along with banana skins everywere.

Some beutiful properties though, came across one house that seemed not to have any corners, only curves, built from lakeland slate and wood, a ford crossed the driveway, idyllic spot too.

What amazed me about the lakes is that there is a pay and display in pretty much all laybys or places to park for more than 7 cars!! I t should be free to enjoy the country side

Get away from the tourist hotspots and it is much better. There are a good number of routes were you can freely explore and see little traffic.
Kendal is a nightmare, there are regular news stories about people being fined for having their wheel on or over the white lines in car parks, one of their attendants must be a right little officious Tw
Windermere and Ambleside, although pretty are tourist hot spots, full of "all the gear and no idea types" buying the latest gore-tex panty liners. A few years ago we had a severely cold winter, ice axes were being sold in there dozens, then up on the fells, there they would be risking life and limb with the axe securely fastened to the back pack looking pretty not that they had any idea how to use the darn thing anyway.

A lancastrian to the core, taking and owning sheep photographs, and when questioned "oh yes I took those pics for the Yorkshire man" At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Nice pics Taz, and don't worry you didn't pick a bad weekend the weather is mostly bad round here!!

Great photos and we're looking forward to being back there again in April It's one of our favourite places.

We love doing the Hardknott and Wrynose passes and have done them in:

Montego estate 1.6! Boy oh boy, did it struggle?!!

BMW Mini Cooper R50. The best!

BMW MINI Cooper S R53. Surprisingly scary; too little suspension travel and would go around the hair pins on 3 wheels!!

Freelander 2. Nice and easy, second only to the Cooper.

Missed out doing it in the Focus RS 18 months ago as the weather was too bad when we went. Suspect it would have been even worse than the Cooper S....

Enjoy Tigger, I am down your way next week, Exeter, collecting some tyres.

Lakes are wonderful, enjoy

I followed a VW Beetle back over the pass last time I was there, very very slowly though

Good pics Taz in a beautiful part of England.

Was that winking at you? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Pegleg wrote:

Good pics Taz in a beautiful part of England.

Was that winking at you?

Only because Taz was winking back