This drive began at 10am on Sat 8 Aug and ended at 10pm that evening, covering 250 miles during which the Zed never missed a beat (stalled once but that was ‘user error’ 
). Route planned my Mrs Marlon, driven by Marlon.
Setting off at 10am under blue skies and with the promise of a clear sunny day we blasted up the M6 – roof down of course. Exited at Junction 40, Penrith, then headed west on the A66 bound for Cockermouth.
Parked up outside ‘The Front Room’ in Cockermouth for what felt like breakfast but was in fact lunch.
Veggie sausage, beans and potatoes for the missus, mine - always thinking of the waistline, was a stack of pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup (already half devoured by the time Mrs Marlon had focused the camera).
Some obligatory sightseeing, Wordsworth’s birthplace:
High street:
Then back to the main business of the day. Heading out of Cockermouth and cruising down the high street we couldn’t help noticing a lot of ‘rubbernecking’ from passers by (a pleasant occurrence throughout the day), once on the clear B-roads opened up the throttle and punched through the gears following the satnav all the way to Allonby.
Somewhere between Cockermouth and Allonby:
After a great drive, we parked up on the coast at Allonby looking out across the Solway Firth to Dumfries and Galloway.
A brief walk along the deserted beach and an opportunity for Mrs Marlon to do her usual and collect small samples of driftwood, seaweed and pebbles to take home and do god knows what with. Then back in the Zed for a fast drive north along the coastal road to Silloth.
It’s difficult to describe how strange Silloth is, you really have to experience it for yourself. The two main high streets are wide cobbled highways with no road markings, parking is free and, as far as I recall, there are no traffic lights or roundabouts to speak of.
The church at Silloth:
It’s a coastal town but doesn’t feel like a seaside resort nor does it resemble one. Driving around the backstreets it has more of the feel of a sleepy Spanish town, there was also an element of the ‘Wild West’ about it; around each corner I kept expecting to see a Saloon with tethered horses. (We actually drove behind a horse and trap on the way in.)
This is where we parked up for tea and cakes (chosen by the missus I hasten to add)
It may have been the Fairy Dust Emporium, but the cakes were made for giants! We chose two slices of walnut & date cake with fresh cream, but we both wimped out and left some – not unusual for the missus but unheard of for me (in my defence the stack of pancakes were still sitting heavy)
Back in the car and heading south back down the coast road we drove through Allonby and made a pit stop at Maryport
Then off again heading for St. Bees. Further down the coastline we had to make an emergency stop in Workington to take a pic of this iconic structure - thanks for the heads-up mr wilks :wink:
The zed was eating up the road, and before we knew it we found ourselves at the seafront in St. Bees, a quick photo and then off to Ravenglass.
Chilled out for a while at Ravenglass; that’s me loping off to stretch the legs.
The Inn at Ravenglass:
This next leg of the journey wasn’t pre-planned: Mrs Marlon decided we should head back home over Hardknott pass and Wrynose pass then descend into Elterwater for a pub tea. So, well rested, we set off again; this time inland towards Boot and Hardknott pass.
The start of Hardknott Pass:
Not for the fainthearted this, first time I wish I’d had four-wheel drive, I’ve never used 1st gear so much!
(Not the actual sign, but you get the picture)
The gradient was so steep at times all I could see was the red nose of the Zed stretching into blue sky, it was a little unnerving having to guess where the verges where.
Worth it though - the views from the top were spectacular.
Heading into Wrynose pass
Up and over Wrynose
Pic from the passenger seat:
Both passes safely negotiated we were now rather hungry, so headed off to Elterwater and the Britannia Inn for fish and chips
Leaving the Britannia pleasantly full, we set off into the twilight.
Becoming very dark now, this is last leg of the journey and the last pic overlooking Lake Windermere.
We took our normal route back from the south lakes by-passing Kendal and joining the M6 south at junction 36. Nice blast down the motorway to round off the perfect day
). Route planned my Mrs Marlon, driven by Marlon.Setting off at 10am under blue skies and with the promise of a clear sunny day we blasted up the M6 – roof down of course. Exited at Junction 40, Penrith, then headed west on the A66 bound for Cockermouth.
Parked up outside ‘The Front Room’ in Cockermouth for what felt like breakfast but was in fact lunch.
Veggie sausage, beans and potatoes for the missus, mine - always thinking of the waistline, was a stack of pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup (already half devoured by the time Mrs Marlon had focused the camera).
Some obligatory sightseeing, Wordsworth’s birthplace:
High street:
Then back to the main business of the day. Heading out of Cockermouth and cruising down the high street we couldn’t help noticing a lot of ‘rubbernecking’ from passers by (a pleasant occurrence throughout the day), once on the clear B-roads opened up the throttle and punched through the gears following the satnav all the way to Allonby.
Somewhere between Cockermouth and Allonby:
After a great drive, we parked up on the coast at Allonby looking out across the Solway Firth to Dumfries and Galloway.
A brief walk along the deserted beach and an opportunity for Mrs Marlon to do her usual and collect small samples of driftwood, seaweed and pebbles to take home and do god knows what with. Then back in the Zed for a fast drive north along the coastal road to Silloth.
It’s difficult to describe how strange Silloth is, you really have to experience it for yourself. The two main high streets are wide cobbled highways with no road markings, parking is free and, as far as I recall, there are no traffic lights or roundabouts to speak of.
The church at Silloth:
It’s a coastal town but doesn’t feel like a seaside resort nor does it resemble one. Driving around the backstreets it has more of the feel of a sleepy Spanish town, there was also an element of the ‘Wild West’ about it; around each corner I kept expecting to see a Saloon with tethered horses. (We actually drove behind a horse and trap on the way in.)
This is where we parked up for tea and cakes (chosen by the missus I hasten to add)
It may have been the Fairy Dust Emporium, but the cakes were made for giants! We chose two slices of walnut & date cake with fresh cream, but we both wimped out and left some – not unusual for the missus but unheard of for me (in my defence the stack of pancakes were still sitting heavy)
Back in the car and heading south back down the coast road we drove through Allonby and made a pit stop at Maryport
Then off again heading for St. Bees. Further down the coastline we had to make an emergency stop in Workington to take a pic of this iconic structure - thanks for the heads-up mr wilks :wink:
The zed was eating up the road, and before we knew it we found ourselves at the seafront in St. Bees, a quick photo and then off to Ravenglass.
Chilled out for a while at Ravenglass; that’s me loping off to stretch the legs.
The Inn at Ravenglass:
This next leg of the journey wasn’t pre-planned: Mrs Marlon decided we should head back home over Hardknott pass and Wrynose pass then descend into Elterwater for a pub tea. So, well rested, we set off again; this time inland towards Boot and Hardknott pass.
The start of Hardknott Pass:
Not for the fainthearted this, first time I wish I’d had four-wheel drive, I’ve never used 1st gear so much!
(Not the actual sign, but you get the picture)
The gradient was so steep at times all I could see was the red nose of the Zed stretching into blue sky, it was a little unnerving having to guess where the verges where.
Worth it though - the views from the top were spectacular.
Heading into Wrynose pass
Up and over Wrynose
Pic from the passenger seat:
Both passes safely negotiated we were now rather hungry, so headed off to Elterwater and the Britannia Inn for fish and chips
Leaving the Britannia pleasantly full, we set off into the twilight.
Becoming very dark now, this is last leg of the journey and the last pic overlooking Lake Windermere.
We took our normal route back from the south lakes by-passing Kendal and joining the M6 south at junction 36. Nice blast down the motorway to round off the perfect day
thanks for sharing 
