Last week my brother and I tackled the Hardknott, the steepest pass in the UK. We camped in Windermere, from where we set out. First stop was the second picture where we had a ice cream in this little value and saw a Typhoon zoom past us while we were having an ice cream stop. The pass lived up to its name but I must say the road service in places were quite trying. We ended up going up Wast water (the last picture) and a circular route through Keswick back to Windermere. A very good day out with some lovely corners for an XT.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Lovely scenery Jacque, your brother must have enjoyed his visit to the UK! Steve

He certainly did but now thinks me a liar with all my rain warnings. We camped 13 days straight with only 2 hours of rain on the first day. How lucky can you get.
Only problem was the midges in Scotland, but I did expect that. Never thought I'd be wishing for the wind to blow.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Road surface not service. Oops

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

We keep it that bad for a number of reasons;

1) It deters the sportsbikes,
2) It deters too many visitors
3) it's perfect XT territory !

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

You are very very lucky to live in the lakes. Even our ride to Cockermouth was great.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

We do have some great roads, in every direction, North into the Borders and Southwest Scotland, West and South into the Lakes, East to the North Pennines.

When you rode over Wrynose, did you go south, then over Hardknot or Hardknot first ? I ask because there is Side Gate Pass to Langdale which is pretty cracking, and the Old Langdale Road (just a gravel road now). There are a coupe of Byways in that area too.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Not sure, we did Hardknot from East to West (towards the coast). Also had a cracking ride over the Kirkstone Pass on a locals recommendation. Some of the finest corners I have ever been on. The Tenere so nice when it comes on the power band especially up steep hills. Gave the bigger BMW (800 Twin) something to think about. There is also a smashing bit of road between Keswick going south to Grasmere where the road splits to two separate lanes and going through covered lanes. Road surface brand new and banked. Sheer pleasure to ride on the quick cornering XT.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

I think you've missed it, you'll just have to come back and ride some of the other great roads....

The split dual carridgeway out of Keswick, that was the road that was taken out in the storms, but further south. It has been voted 'The Best Driving Road in Europe" a number of times.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

My brother was on a hire bike so insisted on only tarred roads. I will def be back at the lakes

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'