Two thoughts:
1. Stunning, simply stunning
2. Am sure it needs another recce
1. Stunning, simply stunning
2. Am sure it needs another recce
General The coast to coast rust accelerating adventure
- Thread starter andyholli
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General The coast to coast rust accelerating adventure
Excellent Andy, I only have one problem with this - where was my invite?
Are you booking the snow for the weekend as well?
Are you booking the snow for the weekend as well?
OP
OP
Right then, plan 'B'..
Too many people who want to come on this trip are struggling to get up to The Lakes on Friday, so lets begin on Saturday instead. Here's a new suggested timetable for this adventure:
Depart from The Lakeland Motor Museum at 11 a.m. Saturday. -So, if you can get up there earlier, or your journey goes better than expected, the museum and cafe can usefully fill your time.
Troop around the coast to dip our toes in the sea at Drigg. -
Bring a picnic, or find a Spar to buy one to consume at the summit of Hardknott, Wrynose, or Kirkstone passes then exit the Lakes via Penrith and fuel.
Then up onto the Snatch Nemesis Moor tracks, before descending to overnight in Hexham where there are more options for our accommodation and food.
Day two, much the same as the original plan (Slayley Forest) which should still mean handy completion of the traverse and therefore commencement of our journeys home.
It would be good to know numbers and who's coming but not critical. If you're 'in' then I'll see you at the museum on Saturday morning 16th April. Nearer the time I'll ask again who's coming and then book a table at a restaurant in Hexham for us on Saturday night.
No suggestions for overnight (we can all use Trip Advisor etc.) and Hexham's a pretty small town.
Finally - if you're 2wd and fancy this, then there are options to miss out the unmetalled sections and watch sump guards getting bent while thinking 'glad it's not me fixing that next week.'
What do you think?
Too many people who want to come on this trip are struggling to get up to The Lakes on Friday, so lets begin on Saturday instead. Here's a new suggested timetable for this adventure:
Depart from The Lakeland Motor Museum at 11 a.m. Saturday. -So, if you can get up there earlier, or your journey goes better than expected, the museum and cafe can usefully fill your time.
Troop around the coast to dip our toes in the sea at Drigg. -
Bring a picnic, or find a Spar to buy one to consume at the summit of Hardknott, Wrynose, or Kirkstone passes then exit the Lakes via Penrith and fuel.
Then up onto the Snatch Nemesis Moor tracks, before descending to overnight in Hexham where there are more options for our accommodation and food.
Day two, much the same as the original plan (Slayley Forest) which should still mean handy completion of the traverse and therefore commencement of our journeys home.
It would be good to know numbers and who's coming but not critical. If you're 'in' then I'll see you at the museum on Saturday morning 16th April. Nearer the time I'll ask again who's coming and then book a table at a restaurant in Hexham for us on Saturday night.
No suggestions for overnight (we can all use Trip Advisor etc.) and Hexham's a pretty small town.
Finally - if you're 2wd and fancy this, then there are options to miss out the unmetalled sections and watch sump guards getting bent while thinking 'glad it's not me fixing that next week.'
What do you think?
Sounds good. I've just got to do some jiggling, as parents want dropping off for their coach at 0530 in the morning on the Saturday for their holiday. Lowestoft to Hexham is 5.5 hours at least. Going to see if they can get sister to take them and I'll come up on the Friday after work potentially.
Without me trawling the thread, is it 2wd friendly (I suspect it isn't, but thought I'd check), or should I leave the Panda behind and milk float it up and jump about as a passenger taking more pic's that I'll take 6 months to upload (still got to do the last 2 Pandays, just been so busy
)?
Without me trawling the thread, is it 2wd friendly (I suspect it isn't, but thought I'd check), or should I leave the Panda behind and milk float it up and jump about as a passenger taking more pic's that I'll take 6 months to upload (still got to do the last 2 Pandays, just been so busy
)?
OP
OP
Great news, welcome and surely that's what sisters are for..?
2wd drive friendly apart from the few miles of leap-frogable byway.
If you're heading up on Friday - perhaps don't go to Hexham which is near the middle, head towards the west coast to be closer to the start.
Problem with hitching a lift is we end up a long way away from wherever you leave your car. - Need a plan to retrieve it on Sunday.
2wd drive friendly apart from the few miles of leap-frogable byway.
If you're heading up on Friday - perhaps don't go to Hexham which is near the middle, head towards the west coast to be closer to the start.
Problem with hitching a lift is we end up a long way away from wherever you leave your car. - Need a plan to retrieve it on Sunday.
Fair point. If its fairly 2wd friendly then the 750L should be ok. You'd be surprised how much she went off road when at my agricultural college 9 years ago :devil:
I'll get myself up to speed on things and look at where to stay overnight etc
OP
OP
With all that Alpine history I'd like to see the 750L monster those Lake District passes without breaking sweat.
On second thoughts you could stay in Hexham for two nights (much more relaxed weekend as a result) and head west on Saturday morning to the start. - Straight forward Friday trip up the M1 too.
On second thoughts you could stay in Hexham for two nights (much more relaxed weekend as a result) and head west on Saturday morning to the start. - Straight forward Friday trip up the M1 too.
OP
OP
Did a little bit more advance exploration this week and added a short forest drive section and some more moreland tracks.
Hopefully better weather when we go.
Also discovered that even hired Toyotas can't go where Pandas can - Most Easterly Pandas for info..
Hopefully better weather when we go.
Also discovered that even hired Toyotas can't go where Pandas can - Most Easterly Pandas for info..
Just spoken to AndyPanda4x4 who reminded me this is only a few weeks away! Assuming some suitable accommodation can be found I will be coming along. andyholli do you have somewhere booked?
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We've booked in to the Station Inn in Hexham. It doesn't get great reviews but did have the family rooms we needed and it's only for one night.
Glad you're coming panda1408, I'm hoping it's going to be an epic trip for us and always good to have the ultimate Panda accessory along in case of bent sump guards or towing duties being needed.
I'll post again to clarify the plan, in the next few days.
Glad you're coming panda1408, I'm hoping it's going to be an epic trip for us and always good to have the ultimate Panda accessory along in case of bent sump guards or towing duties being needed.
I'll post again to clarify the plan, in the next few days.
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Thanks Andy, My Berryman supplied me with the details earlier so I'm already all booked in Reviews I read said basic but a good breakfast, so that shall do me just fine.
Think I will have to get the Pand Rover shod with some new rubber before we go, don't want it embarrassing itself in the muddy bits with the current worn set. Alternatively for the same sort of money I could buy a half decent 2WD Panda and come in that
Reviews I read said basic but a good breakfast, so that shall do me just fine. Think I will have to get the Pand Rover shod with some new rubber before we go, don't want it embarrassing itself in the muddy bits with the current worn set. Alternatively for the same sort of money I could buy a half decent 2WD Panda and come in that
Two twin and one single room left
I've had to book somewhere a few miles out of town that is dog friendly, at least I hope they are no mention of it on the confirmation email through booking.com.
I hope Henry will start!
I hope Henry will start!
OP
OP
Thanks Andy, My Berryman supplied me with the details earlier so I'm already all booked in
Think I will have to get the Pand Rover shod with some new rubber before we go, don't want it embarrassing itself in the muddy bits with the current worn set. Alternatively for the same sort of money I could buy a half decent 2WD Panda and come in that
Great that you're coming F.
Panda Rover faces the same dilemma we all do - if it gets stuck it needs pulling out. Travelling with a shoal of Pandas must be like having a bunch of Minions around your ankles (just watched a bit of Despicable Me) - they mean well and are enthusiastic but really how capable are they..?
One day we'll find out. - And I'm sure it will be fine.
On your other point, I'd like to see a 2wd along to better understand the issues. Under engine protection is the first thing, along with height and clearance beneath the exhaust downpipe, for many of our rocky tracks.
4wd is odd. You think you're not using it because there's no drama, switch to 2wd and then realise how much you needed it. The difference always surprises me for some reason.
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Good news John. - I hope Henry will start and continue to run well. This isn't going to be a walk in the park for our cars or their drivers but there will be 'shortcut options' if needed by anyone.
OP
OP
We did another recce today - Bank Holiday Monday isn't a great time to head into a National park if you want it to yourself but anyway
Lovely route if you watch this video. But look carefully at 5mins 20 to 5mins 50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tshlqdLYU6I#t=105.258
Looked okay to me on the video but on the ground those walls are a Panda plus 3 inches, apart. There's also a sign at the bottom that says "Unsuitable for cars" and it isn't lying.
Got up it though.
So the results are almost identical to the other explorations - One no go, one closed/inaccessible (this time due to bridge destruction by the floods) and one good to go!
Roll on The Rust Accelerator.
Lovely route if you watch this video. But look carefully at 5mins 20 to 5mins 50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tshlqdLYU6I#t=105.258
Looked okay to me on the video but on the ground those walls are a Panda plus 3 inches, apart. There's also a sign at the bottom that says "Unsuitable for cars" and it isn't lying.
Got up it though.
So the results are almost identical to the other explorations - One no go, one closed/inaccessible (this time due to bridge destruction by the floods) and one good to go!
Roll on The Rust Accelerator.
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Is there a suitable shortcut for that narrow section Andy? If its that tight in a Panda there is not going to be much chance of a Land Rover getting down there without damage to both the vehicle and landscape!
I'm sure a number of Pandas harnessed together would manage to pull a Land Rover free, depending on the exact situation of course. Any sort of mechanical sympathy would have to go out of the window though I would imagine. As you say, I'm sure one day we will find out!
I'm sure a number of Pandas harnessed together would manage to pull a Land Rover free, depending on the exact situation of course. Any sort of mechanical sympathy would have to go out of the window though I would imagine. As you say, I'm sure one day we will find out!
OP
OP
Is there a suitable shortcut for that narrow section Andy? If its that tight in a Panda there is not going to be much chance of a Land Rover getting down there without damage to both the vehicle and landscape!
Unfortunately its a long way round to detour due to the ford at Little Langdale being closed to vehicles. But really, I made a mistake and shouldn't have attempted this track without walking it first. - They suck you in "just another corner" until there's no way back.
There were also quite a few damaging rocks that did the usual thing to our exhaust guard - i.e. bent it again:
But there's also a big difference between one Panda and three people getting away with a one off mistake that inconvenienced a couple of walkers briefly. (But also made one or two people's days). And a planned convoy, rudely, dominating a section of track for an hour while they scrape through.
I don't want to be part of that sort of trip but am happy to pass on the details and some tips to anyone who wants them.
I'm sure a number of Pandas harnessed together would manage to pull a Land Rover free, depending on the exact situation of course. Any sort of mechanical sympathy would have to go out of the window though I would imagine. As you say, I'm sure one day we will find out!
- Hope so.. I think..?
Ah, so that one is one of the no-go routes! Sorry didn't realise I did think it looked more like a footpath than byway on the video.
Yes, we don't want to be causing trouble and getting in the way of everyone else, I'm with you on that for sure, not what all this is about at all
I did think it looked more like a footpath than byway on the video.Yes, we don't want to be causing trouble and getting in the way of everyone else, I'm with you on that for sure, not what all this is about at all
