Cracking looking ride, one to do me thinks. Recently had a week in the Highlands, first time I'd ever been got totally blown away by the shear beauty couldn't believe I was in the UK. goes to show you just don't know what we've got on our own doorstep. Thanks for sharing and bring to my attention
Just like to make a few corrections for you, as a Cumbria resident. The town of Windermere isn’t on ‘Lake Windermere’ it’s actually a couple miles away... ‘Lake Windermere’ is actually called Windermere as it is a mere not a lake... The deepest ‘lake’ in the lakes is actually Wastwater (it’s 240-odd feet deep)... And the only lake in The Lake District is actually Bassenthwaite Lake. Windermere is however, the longest ‘lake’ in the Lake District. All the being said, I do enjoy your videos, keep it up!!
Very nice work, and nice to see my home county presented so well. One correction, the lake is simply called "Windermere", as "mere" means "lake" - it comes from old Norse, "windy lake". There is one body of water in the Lake District with the word "lake" in its name, and that is Bassenthwaite Lake, in the north-west. Everything else is a mere, water or tarn - the small lake at the northern end of the pass is Brotherswater.
I’m riding the Kirkstone Pass in a few weeks for the first time, so really enjoyed your video, thank you. Glad to see you took it at a nice, steady pace. No need for heroics, as you say, enjoy the scenery and let the sports bike riders with their balls of steel overtake if they want to!
Another great video, albeit an older one. I'm picking my way through the ones I fancy watching first before viewing the rest, and due to the current weather and time of year, I thought I'd watch this one to improve my mood and lessen the January blues!! Anyway, we spend New Year in a little village called Far Sawrey, near Hawkshead and we came home via the Kirkstone Pass on the 2nd January, and were disappointed to find the Inn looking very much closed, as in properly closed and not just for the day. Very sad if that's the case, and happening to far too many of these lovely authentic pubs.
Wow such an good, informative video. I lived in Coniston (about 7 miles from Kirkstone Pass ) for 25 years and seeing this just brings all the memories of this lovely area. During this time I had a Yamaha Fs1E (50cc) which struggled up the pass on many occasion !! I was 16 when I managed to get a pint and chicken and chips in the basket at the Inn................. Thank you for recording this, and then spending time with the editing. I see there is a Yorkshire Dales Video (where I have also lived for the last 30 years) On to that now.
Peter Taylor Thanks for your words of encouragement Peter - I'm glad you liked the video, good luck working your way through the others on my channel! ;0) All the best - TMF
Looking on from Bowness, Behind the main island, and between the little ones, rest the ashes of my parents in lake Windermere.. It was the best time of their life when they lived there (I was born in Ulverston, where my parents lived). WIndermere was also my mother's favorite lake. My father was one of the scuba crew in 1967 in search of remains of Campbell in Coniston water. I've done all the passes in the lakes, and Hardknott in particular, multiple times on my Honda Transalp. I NEVER need first gear other than pulling away, but the switchbacks on Hardknott are the only ones making me actually need first gear while riding. Love to belt up them, with the front wheel just skimming over the road :)
Fabulous. Ridden the area lots, but never actually that road. Now on the list. Great commentary (as to be expected from a pilot I guess 😀) and camera angles/edit. Thanks for ride. Ps. I do the Dales lots too. It's certainly not grim in parts 'up t'north' 😉
terryjackman Thanks Terry, the Kirkstone is a great (easy) ride, and lovely if you're lucky to get the weather like I did. Thanks for the kind words - appreciate it. See you on the road/in the air some time! - TMF
Now that's what I call a steady afternoon cruise, and the landscape it's breathtaking awesome better to be there than in a city centre where all the bad driver are. U enjoyed the drive mate.
Another nice ride - I enjoyed it! I had my new R1200GS out for a long tour: New York to Wyoming and Montana. Rode across the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming and the Chief Joseph Highway in Wyoming. The GS never missed a beat.
Fantastic run - We obviously ride very similar - just a suggestion if your up in Scotland. The A84 up past Lochearnhead onwards to the turn off to Killin on the A827. The smiddy on the corner is a great lunch. Follow A827 up to Kenmore and Aberfeldy then turning on the A826 to Milton onwards on the A822 through Newton and back down to the A85 near Crief. Great road, fantastic views. Did it on my Harley a few weeks ago and it was great.
Funny you mentioned Lake Tahoe, I plan on riding there this spring/summer, I live in Phoenix Arizona so I get to ride across the Mohave Desert going to visit friends in the Sacramento, California and go to Tahoe from there....Just "picked up" an R1200RT... I really enjoy your videos and I hope some day to visit the UK and do some riding there..
+Sam Rowland Hi Sam, wow you are a lucky man. I enjoyed a fantastic flying holiday around your neck of the woods a few years back, hired a Cessna out of North Las Vegas and toured California, Nevada and Arizona by air - gorgeous scenery around Phoenix, The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Palm Springs and so on....would love to do more riding out there...had a taste of the Mohave desert by Ducati Diavel this time last year - wonderful part of the world. Enjoy your trip on the RT, the best machine for big miles I reckon, will be gorgeous up at Tahoe (I had my honeymoon skiing there!!)....all the best - TMF
+TheMissendenFlyer On another note, I think I saw a comment of yours that you use a Go Pro camera, do you use a bluetooth mic system for the audio or a wired mic?
Enjoyed the video (as always!). Windermere Lake is simply called Windermere, the 'mere' part meaning lake/water. The only 'lake' in Lake District is Bassenthwaite Lake (a nice bit of info for the pub quiz), all the others are meres or waters. Stay safe.
lovely. I did it all about 35 years ago on a Honda 400 4 "super sport" haha. Up through there to the north of Scotland and a small town on the north west coast. Would like to go back and remind myself of what it was like. Nice clip. Cheers.
Well that was most enjoyable. Have my three week old Triumph tiger explorer sat in the garage, have had torrential rain most of today and a powercut, so I also missed the F1 from Spa, this has at least given me a bit of a biking fix and thoughts of trips to look forward too. Guessing you're still really enjoying the GS, any thoughts now your further into your relationship would be interesting. Ride safe and thanks for sharing the excellent video. cheers Tony
+antonoat Thanks Tony, glad I helped make a rainy day a little more bearable! I'm still loving the big BMW, nothing has come along yet to tempt me away....I fairly recently did a long term review, I'm planning to do a "2 year ownership" follow up around Christmas....stay tuned! Cheers for now, TMF.
I know you only briefly mentioned it, but I have been there when it was proper snowy. I'm talking 2-3 feet of snow. The field by the inn is really good for sledging so we took my dads Kia sorento and I can tell you that that was the first (and probably only) time he used all the fancy 4x4 gizmos.
notAngryandy I'm sure we must have queued at the sandwich van for lunch outside building 1 together!! I was on the Pheonix project.....oops probably shouldn't have said that!!!
We camped on Ullswarter in 1950, hardly any cars then, we were on a 1933 Sunbeam 500 with Swallow sidecar, Four people on it, went up Kirkstone easy. It took 3 days from London no motorways only A and B roads. Went back when I had a Triumph T110 Gerrrd chair, in 1961,chased a woman around Ullswater she was driving a Triumph TR?. You mentioned lake Tahoe I was there this past June. Did a 6000+ trip from Ohio.
Really enjoyed this one!, just a quick bit of trivia...the only lake is in fact Bassenthwaite lake...all others being "meres,waters,or tarns" including windermere!only letting you know as I found it rather strange myself. Hope you pay a few more visits this way!
zambam3 Hi Zambam3 - yes, I love Canada, can't beat The Rockies for scenery, that said we do have some nice spots here too - just nowhere near as much of it! Thanks for watching, all the best from Blighty - TMF
Lake Windermere is just called Windermere, it's a common mistake. There are only a few lakes in the Lake District that have Lake in their name, more usually Water, Mere or Tarn. Bassenthwaite Lake is probably one of the only lakes in the Lake District to have lake in the name . Interestingly, or not, although Windermere is England's deepest lake the mere part in Windermere means a body of water that is wide but shallow for it's size. The name mere comes from the Old English meaning "sea lake", but Windermere is a fresh water lake. Figure that one out.
Great video buddy.. should definitely arrange a ride.. I'm in Washington UK and the lakes is my local playground! I rode the North Coast 500 last month and was spectacular! As mentioned by others Hard knott and Wrynose passes are more challenging and better views!
I drove that pass (in a car)about a month ago after all the rain. It was like a river and pretty heavily damaged. There was large gravel and what I assume was aggregate from building the road that had been washed onto the road surface. Also, isn't it Lake Bassenthwaite that's a lake and Windermere is a mere?
+TheMissendenFlyer Yeah, Ullswater area was pretty badly hit. I was in Glenridding the day after the first flood and it was a full on relief effort there with the Army in full force as well as JCBs etc. The river burst it's banks and flooded the village for a second time later that day.
why don't I remember it being so sunny this day? lol... bloody cracking roads, just hope the weather holds up until I pick up my new bike, think il be taking a mosey on up myself! had a look at a gs while I was at the showroom today and my god I didn't realise how big they were!! being a short ass 5,8 I couldn't see me even getting my leg over the blooming seat! lol are they a heavy bike to ride?
therealmrcheese Yeah you have to pick your day! The big GS is a monster but once moving all the weight falls away and she is as light as you like. All the weight is low down, the clutch is super light, the big handlebars help - nope, doesn't feel heavy once you're riding her.....there is a lowered suspension model available too if you're worried about height....
Great video’s as usual but just a small detail Windermere is a mere, the only “lake is Bassenthwaite lake but thanks, I went over the kirkstone pass yesterday it was a beautiful day.
stayed at a campsite on the road last night, had a good drive around, didn't realise it was the same spot on this video till was riding about. Also went down the 'struggle' into windermere. That was an experience haha.
+TheMissendenFlyer very much so, haha. Was just popping to windermere for petrol and the gps took me down it and I was little prepared for the road, and the wandering sheep.
a bit late to the game, only just come across your channel, carrying onto hartside then to Barnard castle is a great ride from Penrith, hardknot pass is brilliant and a bit scary, been all over the UK and there are great roads everywhere but Scotland's West coast is the tops,
Yes Scotland is very much on the radar...and the Hard knot pass when I next get up there...cheers for watching and for stopping by...all the best - TMF
This is basically my 'route' for taking the bike out for a spin. A66 Keswick, 591 to Windermere and 592 Kirkstone for back home. About 60-ish miles - all good :o)
I don't know if anyone else has already corrected you, but the only lake in the Lake District is actually Bassenthwaite Lake. Windermere is a mere - hence the name. They are mostly meres and waters up there, only 1 actual 'lake', but I think it has the highest proportion of inland water compared to land - but I'll have to check that after work :)
Yes sorry Wayne, many people beat you to that one...I think I even mentioned it myself in one of my Lake District videos! Thanks for watching anyway - glad to see the old back catalogue getting an airing....
I'd like to do the Hardknott Pass at some point. My entire family had a brown pants moment there when our clio 1.2 ran out of legs! It's the steepest road in the country and we had a small french family hatchback! haha. I'd to revisit it on a vehicle that has some balls
Trooper125 Yes the Hardknott is a gnarly one compared to Kirkstone - which is just a really nice ride/drive! Cheers for watching/commenting - all the best - TMF
terryjackman Great idea! I'm hoping to get some Northern Green Laning in over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! ....oh, and buy yourself that CRF, great fun machine....
+TheMissendenFlyer Thanks. I'm still deliberating, but everyone says just buy one. Did have a test ride and it's a proper hoot. Would get the Yoshimura full system though and the EJK. Running a '98 Fazer 400 atm, although it's a bit poorly, hence the need for fun wheels, aka CRF 😀
Mark Nichols I'm afraid to admit I'm a hotels man - this time around it was a Holiday Inn and a Mercure.....I have ambitions to camp, just can't quite bring myself to do it yet ;0)
I live about 20 minutes ride from kirkstone pass brilliant road for a Saturday/Sunday ride around the Lake District. Did you carry on to Penrith and up over hartside side? Also loving the videos on the Ducati 899 hoping to get one my self in the coming months
+Kevin Routledge Hi Kevin, thanks for the kind words - and yes I did make it to Penrith, fabulous riding around there. Good luck finding an 899, I think they are quite hard to find second hand at reasonable prices....brilliant little bike though so worth persevering....
I know what you mean about being careful on these roads. And the uppy n downy continuum. Big lake, Lake Tahoe! Remember being on there in a powerboat and after an hour of whizzing around, struggling to find the place where I'd hired it from at the lakeside. Doesn't sound possible but it was. Of course, no radar, ILS, ADF or GPS to help. Stayed in Tahoe City. A nice, if a little spooky, kinda place. :-) As you say parts of it looks very similar.
***** ...may have been stretching it a bit with the Tahoe comparison but a lake is a lake eh? I went to the Reno air races a couple of years back and drove back to San Francisco via Tahoe, lovely sunny day, gorgeous....just like Ullswater!! :0) (I also had my honeymoon at Lake Tahoe for the skiing!)
Cracking views, really enjoyed the lake district when I was there years back (although in the car...) What camera setup/mount do you use for the shots on the right fairing?
Grumpy Bike Wizard Cheers Grumpy - I just use another GoPro HD Hero 2 mounted on a handlebar mount (EBay special) that's mounted on my crash bar...quite like that angle! Cheers for watching and commenting....all the best - TMF
Another great video and what glorious scenery and weather! Did you learn anything about the GS on this trip that you didn't know or appreciate before? Thanks for posting.
HeadhunterUK007 Thanks HeadhunterUK007, great question! I did as it happens, I learned that the bike is fabulous on long rides - much better than I thought. One day I did 12 hours in the saddle and covered 700 miles over the weekend - not an ache in my aging body!! I thought the GS was good but I've come back loving it even more...a long termer for sure. Cheers for watching and commenting - TMF
+JLO Staff Well I struggle but my eyesight isn't very good, you can get round it by using the GPS as an instrument binnacle (part of the reason I love the NAV V) - certainly not a significant enough issue to be a deal breaker in my view. Best to try one and see how you get on??
Incorrect on both points...Windermere is not a lake , its a mere. The only lake in the lake district is Lake Bassenthwaite. Also the deepest piece of water is Wast water is Wasdale...
+fivefootsixtriumph Aha! Sorry - yes of course, I'm a huge fan.....I have done some South Coast touring but not for a while, so probably another to get in the ol' diary....so many places, so little time eh?? Cheers for now...and sorry for the slowness....
The lake is not Britains largest or deepest, suggest you look to loch morar as the deepest, lomand has a bigger surface area. Loch Ness holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It is England's largest though. Try the bike roads up in Scotland, though I'm not sure they are better than this.
TheMissendenFlyer Thanks TMF, a great video and its a ride I enjoyed two years ago as part of a 4 day trip. Next Monday I'm off on some of that trip you did a while ago along the S. Coast. I think that was on your Tiger Sport. I'm doing on my new (one trip to Wales last month) Triumph Tiger 800 xcx. Keep making the vidoes!
John P Cheers John - Have a great trip along the South Coast, I hope the weather is as good for you as it was for me! Miss my old Tiger, great bike......
Driving around in France bikers wave at each other, then again being on the opposite side of the road means we don't have to let go of the throttle to do so ;)
My Brother and I took that road in 2008 when we did John O'Groat - Lands End. We were looking for a campsite, found several but was refused admission because they only wanted families - anti bikers more like. anyway nice vid and lovely views.. !
Yes we had to find a hotel, ended up in Killington lake services where they have a premier Inn. The Scenery in your vid was a bit better than when we were there as the weather was a bit iffy. Oh and thanks for giving the Brecon Beacons a shout out ! I live in South Wales so I'm often around the Brecon area. Cheers :-)
Doug Lumsden Yeah Brecon is gorgeous - looking forward to getting back there in the not too distant future...(if you've not seen them I have some rides from there on my channel)...
Gorgeous scenery! I’ve been to England a few times but never to the Lake District. Looks like a must-do!
Defo!
Cracking looking ride, one to do me thinks.
Recently had a week in the Highlands, first time I'd ever been got totally blown away by the shear beauty couldn't believe I was in the UK. goes to show you just don't know what we've got on our own doorstep. Thanks for sharing and bring to my attention
Peter Andrews Yep it is gorgeous up there - well worth exploring what's on the doorstep as you say....ride safe, TMF.
Just like to make a few corrections for you, as a Cumbria resident.
The town of Windermere isn’t on ‘Lake Windermere’ it’s actually a couple miles away...
‘Lake Windermere’ is actually called Windermere as it is a mere not a lake...
The deepest ‘lake’ in the lakes is actually Wastwater (it’s 240-odd feet deep)...
And the only lake in The Lake District is actually Bassenthwaite Lake.
Windermere is however, the longest ‘lake’ in the Lake District.
All the being said, I do enjoy your videos, keep it up!!
Very nice work, and nice to see my home county presented so well. One correction, the lake is simply called "Windermere", as "mere" means "lake" - it comes from old Norse, "windy lake". There is one body of water in the Lake District with the word "lake" in its name, and that is Bassenthwaite Lake, in the north-west. Everything else is a mere, water or tarn - the small lake at the northern end of the pass is Brotherswater.
+Darren Robinson Thanks for the inside information Darren, good to know...and glad you liked the video. Thanks for popping by, all the best - TMF.
done many tours of the lakes over the years they never fail to impress great video
Thanks Tony, glad you enjoyed - all the best, TMF
I’m riding the Kirkstone Pass in a few weeks for the first time, so really enjoyed your video, thank you. Glad to see you took it at a nice, steady pace. No need for heroics, as you say, enjoy the scenery and let the sports bike riders with their balls of steel overtake if they want to!
Another great video, albeit an older one. I'm picking my way through the ones I fancy watching first before viewing the rest, and due to the current weather and time of year, I thought I'd watch this one to improve my mood and lessen the January blues!! Anyway, we spend New Year in a little village called Far Sawrey, near Hawkshead and we came home via the Kirkstone Pass on the 2nd January, and were disappointed to find the Inn looking very much closed, as in properly closed and not just for the day. Very sad if that's the case, and happening to far too many of these lovely authentic pubs.
Oh dear!
Wow such an good, informative video. I lived in Coniston (about 7 miles from Kirkstone Pass ) for 25 years and seeing this just brings all the memories of this lovely area. During this time I had a Yamaha Fs1E (50cc) which struggled up the pass on many occasion !! I was 16 when I managed to get a pint and chicken and chips in the basket at the Inn.................
Thank you for recording this, and then spending time with the editing.
I see there is a Yorkshire Dales Video (where I have also lived for the last 30 years)
On to that now.
Peter Taylor Thanks for your words of encouragement Peter - I'm glad you liked the video, good luck working your way through the others on my channel! ;0) All the best - TMF
I'm so jealous, i really should get out more, glorious weather too. Thanks for the inspiration. Top job.
Headscratcher123 Thanks Headscratcher - just takes a bit of planning and a smile from the weather Gods.....
Looking on from Bowness, Behind the main island, and between the little ones, rest the ashes of my parents in lake Windermere.. It was the best time of their life when they lived there (I was born in Ulverston, where my parents lived). WIndermere was also my mother's favorite lake. My father was one of the scuba crew in 1967 in search of remains of Campbell in Coniston water.
I've done all the passes in the lakes, and Hardknott in particular, multiple times on my Honda Transalp. I NEVER need first gear other than pulling away, but the switchbacks on Hardknott are the only ones making me actually need first gear while riding. Love to belt up them, with the front wheel just skimming over the road :)
Beautiful road trip there my friend, just awesome! Enjoyed the GS as well!
Shawn Kuse Thanks Shawn - glad you approve.....
Nice riding, steady and safe. Just enjoying the views, is what it's all about.
Always!
Fabulous. Ridden the area lots, but never actually that road. Now on the list. Great commentary (as to be expected from a pilot I guess 😀) and camera angles/edit. Thanks for ride. Ps. I do the Dales lots too. It's certainly not grim in parts 'up t'north' 😉
terryjackman Thanks Terry, the Kirkstone is a great (easy) ride, and lovely if you're lucky to get the weather like I did. Thanks for the kind words - appreciate it. See you on the road/in the air some time! - TMF
A dream of an area for bikers, absolutely beautiful
Sure is!
Another good 'un. Cheers! Really enjoying these Biker Britain rides from you TMF
Thank you Richard - stay tuned for more imminently!
Beautiful scenery! I must ride that road. Thx for the vid buddy!
The Crumble Hey Crumble, good to hear from you Sir - I'm surprised you haven't??? More CRF fun to come soon....
Now that's what I call a steady afternoon cruise, and the landscape it's breathtaking awesome better to be there than in a city centre where all the bad driver are. U enjoyed the drive mate.
+barrie mcdermid Cheers Barrie, I sure did - thanks for stopping buy and commenting - all the best - TMF
Another nice ride - I enjoyed it! I had my new R1200GS out for a long tour: New York to Wyoming and Montana. Rode across the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming and the Chief Joseph Highway in Wyoming. The GS never missed a beat.
+Harold Clark Cheers Harold - yeah they are great machines aren't they...love mine more every time I ride it....
Fantastic run - We obviously ride very similar - just a suggestion if your up in Scotland. The A84 up past Lochearnhead onwards to the turn off to Killin on the A827. The smiddy on the corner is a great lunch. Follow A827 up to Kenmore and Aberfeldy then turning on the A826 to Milton onwards on the A822 through Newton and back down to the A85 near Crief. Great road, fantastic views. Did it on my Harley a few weeks ago and it was great.
+Alan Mathews Hi Alan, thanks for the recommendation, Scotland is very much on the radar! ....but not on the GS just yet ;0)
You would like the LLanberis pass in North Wales. Your right about Wrynose and Hardknott pass, a clutch burner I think.
John Woodruff ....all on the list John, stay tuned! ;0)
I wouldn't attempt Wrynose & Hardknott when it's busy because you will get bogged down with cars.
John Woodruff Yeah, not good with a heavy/panniered up GS....would be fun on the little Honda though....
Llanberis and Kirkstone are an absolute joy to ride. I'm a bit nervous about trying Bealach na ba this June tho
Nice ride, nice weather, nice video - thanks.
Glad you liked it :0)
Fantastic really enjoyed the ride thank you.
You're welcome, thanks for watching....
The pleasure was all mine.
Well that was nice. Perfect weather too.
Decided to Ride Thanks, it sure was!
Funny you mentioned Lake Tahoe, I plan on riding there this spring/summer, I live in Phoenix Arizona so I get to ride across the Mohave Desert going to visit friends in the Sacramento, California and go to Tahoe from there....Just "picked up" an R1200RT... I really enjoy your videos and I hope some day to visit the UK and do some riding there..
+Sam Rowland Hi Sam, wow you are a lucky man. I enjoyed a fantastic flying holiday around your neck of the woods a few years back, hired a Cessna out of North Las Vegas and toured California, Nevada and Arizona by air - gorgeous scenery around Phoenix, The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Palm Springs and so on....would love to do more riding out there...had a taste of the Mohave desert by Ducati Diavel this time last year - wonderful part of the world. Enjoy your trip on the RT, the best machine for big miles I reckon, will be gorgeous up at Tahoe (I had my honeymoon skiing there!!)....all the best - TMF
+TheMissendenFlyer On another note, I think I saw a comment of yours that you use a Go Pro camera, do you use a bluetooth mic system for the audio or a wired mic?
+Sam Rowland ...it's a wired mic from eBay :0)
Great video very enjoyabld , good quality 👍
You got some great shots dude. Really good views.
birdoneword Thanks man - appreciate it.....
Enjoyed the video (as always!). Windermere Lake is simply called Windermere, the 'mere' part meaning lake/water. The only 'lake' in Lake District is Bassenthwaite Lake (a nice bit of info for the pub quiz), all the others are meres or waters.
Stay safe.
docsquee Hi docsquee - thanks for the kind words and for the clarification on the lake/mere/water front - Bassenthwaite, of course!!
lovely. I did it all about 35 years ago on a Honda 400 4 "super sport" haha. Up through there to the north of Scotland and a small town on the north west coast. Would like to go back and remind myself of what it was like. Nice clip. Cheers.
Wow, that was before I was born! :0)
TheMissendenFlyer you could have fooled me }~{
Excellent ;0)
TheMissendenFlyer you could have fooled me }~{
Well that was most enjoyable.
Have my three week old Triumph tiger explorer sat in the garage, have had torrential rain most of today and a powercut, so I also missed the F1 from Spa, this has at least given me a bit of a biking fix and thoughts of trips to look forward too.
Guessing you're still really enjoying the GS, any thoughts now your further into your relationship would be interesting.
Ride safe and thanks for sharing the excellent video.
cheers
Tony
+antonoat Thanks Tony, glad I helped make a rainy day a little more bearable! I'm still loving the big BMW, nothing has come along yet to tempt me away....I fairly recently did a long term review, I'm planning to do a "2 year ownership" follow up around Christmas....stay tuned! Cheers for now, TMF.
I know you only briefly mentioned it, but I have been there when it was proper snowy. I'm talking 2-3 feet of snow. The field by the inn is really good for sledging so we took my dads Kia sorento and I can tell you that that was the first (and probably only) time he used all the fancy 4x4 gizmos.
Nice one!
Wow, Very pretty!
i was a marconi radar apprentice in chelmsford 1979-1985 ,nice trip matey
notAngryandy I was there (Writtle Road and Gt Baddow) from 1986.....just missed you!
i left in 87 i think our paths may have crossed
notAngryandy I'm sure we must have queued at the sandwich van for lunch outside building 1 together!! I was on the Pheonix project.....oops probably shouldn't have said that!!!
writtle rd site is a housing estate now,sandwich van and pheonix project?,maybe not
Hey bud may I ask: I am considering the R1200Gs or the Ktm 1290GT. Any suggestions and or insights? Thank you
We camped on Ullswarter in 1950, hardly any cars then, we were on a 1933 Sunbeam 500 with Swallow sidecar, Four people on it, went up Kirkstone easy. It took 3 days from London no motorways only A and B roads. Went back when I had a Triumph T110 Gerrrd chair, in 1961,chased a woman around Ullswater she was driving a Triumph TR?. You mentioned lake Tahoe I was there this past June. Did a 6000+ trip from Ohio.
Wow nice - both trips! Thanks for watching George and for stopping by - good to have you along!
I loved the Lake District, but now its getting a bit commercialised, It was great in the 40s 50s 60s.
....yes you have to pick your time carefully now to avoid the caravans!
Really enjoyed this one!, just a quick bit of trivia...the only lake is in fact Bassenthwaite lake...all others being "meres,waters,or tarns" including windermere!only letting you know as I found it rather strange myself. Hope you pay a few more visits this way!
...tut tut mrpacificdrummer, I did mention this in one of my other Lake District videos.....you have watched them all haven't you ;0)
We have good scenery here in Canada, but I must say England has much to offer! In a couple of years, I would love to go over and have a ride.
zambam3 Hi Zambam3 - yes, I love Canada, can't beat The Rockies for scenery, that said we do have some nice spots here too - just nowhere near as much of it! Thanks for watching, all the best from Blighty - TMF
Lake Windermere is just called Windermere, it's a common mistake. There are only a few lakes in the Lake District that have Lake in their name, more usually Water, Mere or Tarn. Bassenthwaite Lake is probably one of the only lakes in the Lake District to have lake in the name . Interestingly, or not, although Windermere is England's deepest lake the mere part in Windermere means a body of water that is wide but shallow for it's size. The name mere comes from the Old English meaning "sea lake", but Windermere is a fresh water lake. Figure that one out.
Great video buddy.. should definitely arrange a ride.. I'm in Washington UK and the lakes is my local playground! I rode the North Coast 500 last month and was spectacular! As mentioned by others Hard knott and Wrynose passes are more challenging and better views!
+alex lee Cheers Alex - have to save something for next year!! See you there! All the best - TMF
I drove that pass (in a car)about a month ago after all the rain. It was like a river and pretty heavily damaged. There was large gravel and what I assume was aggregate from building the road that had been washed onto the road surface. Also, isn't it Lake Bassenthwaite that's a lake and Windermere is a mere?
+zzpza Yep you're right on the lake thing - bad news on the damage, not one to be doing by bike just at the moment then!
+TheMissendenFlyer Yeah, Ullswater area was pretty badly hit. I was in Glenridding the day after the first flood and it was a full on relief effort there with the Army in full force as well as JCBs etc. The river burst it's banks and flooded the village for a second time later that day.
+zzpza Nightmare, got to feel for those guys....
why don't I remember it being so sunny this day? lol... bloody cracking roads, just hope the weather holds up until I pick up my new bike, think il be taking a mosey on up myself!
had a look at a gs while I was at the showroom today and my god I didn't realise how big they were!! being a short ass 5,8 I couldn't see me even getting my leg over the blooming seat! lol are they a heavy bike to ride?
therealmrcheese Yeah you have to pick your day! The big GS is a monster but once moving all the weight falls away and she is as light as you like. All the weight is low down, the clutch is super light, the big handlebars help - nope, doesn't feel heavy once you're riding her.....there is a lowered suspension model available too if you're worried about height....
Great video’s as usual but just a small detail Windermere is a mere, the only “lake is Bassenthwaite lake but thanks, I went over the kirkstone pass yesterday it was a beautiful day.
You're not the first to mention that!
stayed at a campsite on the road last night, had a good drive around, didn't realise it was the same spot on this video till was riding about. Also went down the 'struggle' into windermere. That was an experience haha.
+Thomas Miller ....and was it a struggle??
+TheMissendenFlyer very much so, haha. Was just popping to windermere for petrol and the gps took me down it and I was little prepared for the road, and the wandering sheep.
How is the old girl nowadays , we need more as she’s now starting to be a classic machine mate
a bit late to the game, only just come across your channel, carrying onto hartside then to Barnard castle is a great ride from Penrith, hardknot pass is brilliant and a bit scary, been all over the UK and there are great roads everywhere but Scotland's West coast is the tops,
Yes Scotland is very much on the radar...and the Hard knot pass when I next get up there...cheers for watching and for stopping by...all the best - TMF
This is basically my 'route' for taking the bike out for a spin. A66 Keswick, 591 to Windermere and 592 Kirkstone for back home. About 60-ish miles - all good :o)
+Fell Rider lucky chap to have it available nearby!
Great views cheers for sharing. 2nd camera angle is good. :)
Sky Rider Thanks SkyRider - good to hear from you again!
I don't know if anyone else has already corrected you, but the only lake in the Lake District is actually Bassenthwaite Lake.
Windermere is a mere - hence the name.
They are mostly meres and waters up there, only 1 actual 'lake', but I think it has the highest proportion of inland water compared to land - but I'll have to check that after work :)
Yes sorry Wayne, many people beat you to that one...I think I even mentioned it myself in one of my Lake District videos! Thanks for watching anyway - glad to see the old back catalogue getting an airing....
No worries. I enjoy them
I remembered the fact about the number of lakes in the lake district as 1 of the Qi questions.
I'd like to do the Hardknott Pass at some point. My entire family had a brown pants moment there when our clio 1.2 ran out of legs! It's the steepest road in the country and we had a small french family hatchback! haha. I'd to revisit it on a vehicle that has some balls
Trooper125 Yes the Hardknott is a gnarly one compared to Kirkstone - which is just a really nice ride/drive! Cheers for watching/commenting - all the best - TMF
Hardknott on the CRF250L? I'm thinking of buying one soon. Bit of a drag up there on it, but great fun on the passes, and, any green lanes 😀😀😀
terryjackman Great idea! I'm hoping to get some Northern Green Laning in over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! ....oh, and buy yourself that CRF, great fun machine....
+TheMissendenFlyer Thanks. I'm still deliberating, but everyone says just buy one. Did have a test ride and it's a proper hoot. Would get the Yoshimura full system though and the EJK. Running a '98 Fazer 400 atm, although it's a bit poorly, hence the need for fun wheels, aka CRF 😀
terryjackman ...you know it makes sense ;0)
@Themissendenflyer, What camera are you using for you films mate ? Helmet cam that is.
GoPro - details in the description.... :0)
Another great video of a stunning ride. I was wondering, where do you choose to stay when riding further afield? Do you camp or use hotels / B&B's?
Mark Nichols I'm afraid to admit I'm a hotels man - this time around it was a Holiday Inn and a Mercure.....I have ambitions to camp, just can't quite bring myself to do it yet ;0)
I live about 20 minutes ride from kirkstone pass brilliant road for a Saturday/Sunday ride around the Lake District. Did you carry on to Penrith and up over hartside side? Also loving the videos on the Ducati 899 hoping to get one my self in the coming months
+Kevin Routledge Hi Kevin, thanks for the kind words - and yes I did make it to Penrith, fabulous riding around there. Good luck finding an 899, I think they are quite hard to find second hand at reasonable prices....brilliant little bike though so worth persevering....
The Deepest lake in England is Wass water, Windermere is the longest. Loch Ness is the deepest 'lake' in the UK
Great roads did it my self few years ago on superblackbird
tattydad Yep, sure is a lovely spot...I'll be back!
I know what you mean about being careful on these roads. And the uppy n downy continuum. Big lake, Lake Tahoe! Remember being on there in a powerboat and after an hour of whizzing around, struggling to find the place where I'd hired it from at the lakeside. Doesn't sound possible but it was. Of course, no radar, ILS, ADF or GPS to help. Stayed in Tahoe City. A nice, if a little spooky, kinda place. :-) As you say parts of it looks very similar.
***** ...may have been stretching it a bit with the Tahoe comparison but a lake is a lake eh? I went to the Reno air races a couple of years back and drove back to San Francisco via Tahoe, lovely sunny day, gorgeous....just like Ullswater!! :0) (I also had my honeymoon at Lake Tahoe for the skiing!)
Cracking views, really enjoyed the lake district when I was there years back (although in the car...)
What camera setup/mount do you use for the shots on the right fairing?
Grumpy Bike Wizard Cheers Grumpy - I just use another GoPro HD Hero 2 mounted on a handlebar mount (EBay special) that's mounted on my crash bar...quite like that angle! Cheers for watching and commenting....all the best - TMF
I'm just curious, at the 9:00 mark, how far from London are you?
+fivefootsixtriumph .....about 300 miles(ish) maybe 250 without checking...
You rode up the easy way. Where the pub is at the top you should turn left. Thats a fun road.
Bother - next time!
Also when you get to POOLEY bRIDGE GO ROUND THE OTHER SID OF THE LAKE TO THE END, ITS A NICE TWISTY ROAD.
Another great video and what glorious scenery and weather! Did you learn anything about the GS on this trip that you didn't know or appreciate before? Thanks for posting.
HeadhunterUK007 Thanks HeadhunterUK007, great question! I did as it happens, I learned that the bike is fabulous on long rides - much better than I thought. One day I did 12 hours in the saddle and covered 700 miles over the weekend - not an ache in my aging body!! I thought the GS was good but I've come back loving it even more...a long termer for sure. Cheers for watching and commenting - TMF
You mention in long-term review that dials are hard to read - is it really that bad? Thinking of getting the R1200. Thanks. Jon
+JLO Staff Well I struggle but my eyesight isn't very good, you can get round it by using the GPS as an instrument binnacle (part of the reason I love the NAV V) - certainly not a significant enough issue to be a deal breaker in my view. Best to try one and see how you get on??
Test ride in next few weeks! Thanks. Jon
+JLO Staff Take your bank card with you - you'll love it :0) Let me know how you get on......
Nice video, done this many times, question - what camera setup and mic?
+MotoUK Geo Cheers, answer - GoPro HDHero 2 and an E-Bay lapel mike.....
Windermere is the body of water. The small township is kown, correctly, as Applegarth.
+Julian Talbot Thanks for the clarification Julian, all the best - TMF
Incorrect on both points...Windermere is not a lake , its a mere. The only lake in the lake district is Lake Bassenthwaite. Also the deepest piece of water is Wast water is Wasdale...
Hi TMF .I have just watched this vid again it must be a spoof?.
John Woodruff Eh, I don't get you?
Every time I go to the Lake District it's raining where do you get your weather forecast from
John Woodruff Like it!!!
Bassenthwaite Lake?
indeed all the rest are meres and waters
when are you going to ride down and see Mr. Delboy??
+fivefootsixtriumph Eh?? Not sure I follow (Rodney).......
Never watched Delboy's garage here on TH-cam?
+fivefootsixtriumph Aha! Sorry - yes of course, I'm a huge fan.....I have done some South Coast touring but not for a while, so probably another to get in the ol' diary....so many places, so little time eh?? Cheers for now...and sorry for the slowness....
The lake is not Britains largest or deepest, suggest you look to loch morar as the deepest, lomand has a bigger surface area. Loch Ness holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It is England's largest though. Try the bike roads up in Scotland, though I'm not sure they are better than this.
...slip of the tongue, I meant England of course! :0)
Not a problem, A82 past Lomond and Ness worth a look too.
Yes I must do a Scotland tour - it's very much on the radar.....
Wast Water is the deepest lake in England not Windermere….. just saying! Great vid anyhoo!
Thanks for the clarification!
I’m such a geek haahahaha
Did you do the Struggle?
John Woodruff No, didn't like the sound of it on the heavy bike - did I miss out??
It goes from Ambleside to the top of Kirkstone by the pub you can see it on your vid. It's ok as long as you don't stop.
John Woodruff Yeah I saw the sign (and mentioned it!) as I rode past.....rumbled you!! ;0)
TheMissendenFlyer Thanks TMF, a great video and its a ride I enjoyed two years ago as part of a 4 day trip. Next Monday I'm off on some of that trip you did a while ago along the S. Coast. I think that was on your Tiger Sport. I'm doing on my new (one trip to Wales last month) Triumph Tiger 800 xcx. Keep making the vidoes!
John P Cheers John - Have a great trip along the South Coast, I hope the weather is as good for you as it was for me! Miss my old Tiger, great bike......
Driving around in France bikers wave at each other, then again being on the opposite side of the road means we don't have to let go of the throttle to do so ;)
Exactly - that waving thing looks so much cooler than tilting your head too!
very nice to have your car, but if it goes wrong you'll expect 999 services to turn out risking lives in impassable conditions.
Girlie manner??????
Erm I rode Hardknott pass fully loaded and onto Alexandria Scotland, this pass is a motorway compared to that.
My Brother and I took that road in 2008 when we did John O'Groat - Lands End. We were looking for a campsite, found several but was refused admission because they only wanted families - anti bikers more like.
anyway nice vid and lovely views.. !
Doug Lumsden Thanks for the kind comments Doug, glad I stuck to hotels then ;0)
Yes we had to find a hotel, ended up in Killington lake services where they have a premier Inn. The Scenery in your vid was a bit better than when we were there as the weather was a bit iffy. Oh and thanks for giving the Brecon Beacons a shout out ! I live in South Wales so I'm often around the Brecon area. Cheers :-)
Doug Lumsden Yeah Brecon is gorgeous - looking forward to getting back there in the not too distant future...(if you've not seen them I have some rides from there on my channel)...
TheMissendenFlyer I will look later tonight. Thanks.
Doug Lumsden point your browser here when you get 10 minutes >> th-cam.com/video/yNgr48LMkVA/w-d-xo.html