Don’t head for Lombardy this spring – you’ll find views, attractions and driving runs to rival Lake Como in the bracing wilds of Cumbria. From tips on your route to the stop-offs you can’t miss, here’s advice from our covered car storage team.
But there’s an alternative to Lake Como – and it’s right on your doorstep. Offering all the breathtaking views and shimmering sundowns of northern Italy – but about 500 miles closer to home – there’s more to the English Lakes than you imagined. Here’s some route advice and essential stop-offs from Windrush’s classic car storage team.
Day One – York and the Moors
The most evocative city in the North? With its undulating cobblestones, formidable city walls and imposing 13th century Gothic cathedral, York is certainly a strong contender. As the ideal launchpad for your visit to the English Lakes, you’ll want to start off on foot, soaking up the atmosphere, eyeing the countless visual calling cards from occupations by both the Vikings and Romans – and refuelling at highly rated fine dining favourites like Skosh and the Pearly Cow (set in a Grade II-listed former Regency townhouse).
But you can’t claim to have met the region without slipping back behind the wheel and roaming the North York Moors themselves. Ghostly and bewitchingly beautiful – especially on a mist-shrouded morning – it’s worth taking your time on this first leg to drink in a landscape you won’t find anywhere else.
Day Two – Through the Yorkshire Dales to Windermere
With its thousands of square miles of emerald tapestry, punctuated by dry stone walls and sprinkled with endearingly quaint villages, the Yorkshire Dales demand to be driven at a leisurely pace, keeping your itinerary flexible as you stop off to drink in the panorama (and the region’s excellent cups of tea). Make time for pocket-sized towns like Malham (an ideal base to see natural wonders like Gordale Scar) and Ingleton (where you can walk amongst the torrents of a waterfall trail). Kendal needs no introduction, but there’s more than mint cake to sample in this market town, not least its Quaker Tapestry and 12th century castle.
By now, you’ll be ready for your first lake – and Windermere is the largest and most famous of them all. If you’ve time for a hike, the best viewing point is Orrest Head – where the water seems to twinkle like a treasure chest if you catch the sunset just right. Meanwhile, bustling Ambleside is the best place for a coffee and to access the countless fell walks, before visiting literary attractions like the homes of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth. As for dining, it has to be nearby L’Enclume: the great Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred gastro-paradise (which also offers rooms).
Day 3 – Ullswater and onto Keswick
Rise with the sun and drive around the perimeter of Lake Ullswater: a seven-mile glacial mirror sometimes described as England’s answer to Lake Como, flanked by smooth hills to the north and looming mountains to the south. It’s awe-inspiring from the banks, but boat cruises and kayak tours are available for a closer look.
Back behind the wheel, drive on to the market town of Keswick, where the museum is a must and the best restaurants include the award-winning Danish-styled Brossen Steakhouse. Conveniently, the restaurant is part of Inn On The Square, which offers 34 modern luxury bedrooms with sheep-themed artwork – although the Keswick Country House Hotel will tick the boxes of those seeking something grander and more traditional.
Day 4 – Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall
As Cumbria’s largest city, Carlisle deserves a visit in its own right – but it’s the historical features in and around this 2,000-year-old cathedral city that make it an essential final stop before heading for home. The castle and cathedral should both be on your hit-list, but you can’t leave without investigating the surprisingly well-preserved remains of Hadrian’s Wall. This 73-mile coast-to-coast frontier was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 to shield the Empire from wild, unconquered Caledonia. For drivers, the quietest route to take is the B6318, stopping off for a closer look at the ancient temples and bath houses along the way.
Find a map of the route here.
Classic car storage and no-fuss collection
At Windrush, we’re happy to see vehicles arrive at our classic car storage in London and the Cotswolds – but we’re always ready to let them go. With all the cars in our care kept permanently ‘on the button’, it couldn’t be easier to check out your classic, for an English Lakes road trip or any other route. Whenever the wanderlust strikes you, simply drop our covered car storage team a line and we’ll have your vehicle purring upon your arrival, ready for your next adventure.
Contact the Windrush team for more details on our classic car storage in London and the Cotswolds. We’re ready to help you on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk
Images Copyright: Lake District National Park
