Ulysses

That's good news!

Bored.

Research trip out then. Ulysses is in good health following the ECU settings change and I had a spare day. Time for some research on lanes. Both ones that I hadn't been down before and ones that may be newly unearthed.

First off the cuff was one I had been down before, to get things started. A tarmac lane to the old farm, then a small ford and a gravel track thereafter:

 

GOPR3256 Gill farm


A bit more backroads and a fuel stop I was onto the next odd lane. A disused and disintegrating tarmac road. Not that exciting and I encountered a car coming the other way at one point:

GOPR3257 Arkleby


Then more backroads lead to lanes at Bothel:
GOPR3258 Bothel


Onto main roads heading south and towards my next lane at Dubwath. I had been working at the house bordering the lane recently so had chance to walk it and see whats to be expected. It was certainly T&S in a few places and a hump to get over that wouldn't be possible with a bigger car.

 

GOPR3259 The Gragg nr Dubwath


Then after a short drive down the side of Bassenthwaite lake it was a long walk up and down a lane to check if it was passable. Some serious drops to look out for, but firm underfoot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So next was a loop around to come at the lane under research from the top. Scenery everywhere and made it down the tight bits with no issue...

 

 

 

 

 

GOPR3260 Wythop hall to Beck Wythop 1


GOPR3261 Whythop hall to Beck Wythop 2


Then it was onto another lane named 'Green Lonning' on OS maps, but appearing as a Byway on council mapping. A drive it was then to see what its like, and agreeable too. Some excellent views to be had. Can even see across the Solway to Scotland at some points.

 

 

 

 

GOPR3262 Green Lonning nr Wythop Mill



Into Cockermouth for some lunch then onto the next one. A ford thats hard to find this time. Hidden and only low water today, but one to keep an eye on.
GOPR3263 Bridgefoot ford


Continued...
 

Next on the cards was a favourite. Loweswater. Its a track that isnt difficult but has really good views over the lake and fells surrounding. 

 

 

GOPR3265 Loweswater 1


GP013265 Loweswater 2


Then a fair bit of tarmac driving. I chose to go south from Loweswater to Buttermere. mistake. Sooo many tourists and all parking in really stupid places. Nevermind, at least the scenery was superb...

 

 

 

 

Then it was onto the steep pass that goes from Buttermere towards Keswick area for some more spectacular scenery. So much good stuff in such a compact place, its no wonder its full of the tourists!

 

 

  4

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was heading North from Keswick homewards. Some pretty autumn colours on the way and a call into Bassenthwaite to check out a UCR and a ford...

 

 

 

 

 

GOPR3266 Bassenthwaite ORPA dots


GOPR3267 Bassenthwaite ford


Then the penultimate lane on the way back. A nice gentle lane to finish the day.

 

GOPR3268 Baggrow


Thanks for watching  

Nice. They look a bit wider and more open than what we typically get around here in Devon. It's not unusual for even a Jimny to be like a cork in a bottle here.

Thanks Les, Devon is something we have thought about having a group trip down to before now, but its such a long way from here. It does look to contain some fantastic lanes. Just not sure I can face the 9hr drive and horrendous fuel bill to get there and back. Maybe I need to buy a trailer to tow it behind my work van?

Sunday was a nice run out on my own so I wasn't tackling any of the snotty ones and was having a walk up and down the ones I didn't know before driving them. Playing it safe and getting some exercise in

There are some pretty good lanes around here. One of the reasons why I got the Jimny is that there is room to sleep in it if I remove the passenger's seat. A friend and I have plans to take a few week-long tours of green lanes further afield.My trials car will beat a relatively standard Jimny in most lanes but it's not practical for long distances.

Currently we're trying to do pretty much all of the driveable lanes in Devon.