Riding round Bassenthwaite Lake, a short tour at the end of my day; the route is a mixture of country lanes between Skiddaw and the lake, then a fast main road, the A66 between west Cumbria and the Pennines. The circuit crosses the lake outflow, the River Derwent, at Ouse Bridge near a lake beach popular with fishermen and a marina. Bassenthwaite Railway station is now a restaurant with a steam locomotive parked prominently outside.

More photos: Bassenthwaite Lake circuit - Lake District National Park

Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.). View over Cockley Beck towards Wrynose Pass.

Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.)

Mega brill ride round most of the main road passes of the Lake District plus a couple of lakes. These passes are steep (20-30%) and most are single track roads with passing places through open moorland with sheep grazing. So different challenges to the passes in the Alps and the little bike does them well.
This was the route of my tour: starting at Keswick and Derwent Water, then Honister Pass (25%, 356 m.) - Newlands Hause (333 m.) - Whinlatter (318 m.) - Blakeley (Cold Fell) (293 m.) - Hardknott Pass (30%, 393 m.) - Wrynose Pass (25%, 393 m.) - Kirkstone Pass (20%, 454 m.) - Great Mell Fell (343 m.).

More photos: Lakeland road passes: Hardknott - Honister - Kirkstone etc

Back route out of Penrith, Cumbria

Just bought this 2016 Kawa 250 twin for riding out from Keswick. This is the lowest cc bike I’ve owned since 1978 and it’s turned out pretty well. It’s not a green laner, but just one ride out on it has already taken me along a couple of country roads I’d never have explored by car and they’re too far out from Keswick for a comfortable ride on a push bike. Anyhow, you could easily pay more for a new mountain trail bike or e-bike than the price of a 2016 250cc motorcycle.

More photos: My Ninja 250 (2016)

Lucky enough to book a test ride and on a brilliant morning, I took the bike once round Richmond Park. The CRF300 Rally was fun right out of the dealer’s parking. Firm and sure when filtering in London traffic. A joy to aim straight at Richmond’s many speed ramps and just let the ample suspension and the spoked wheels take the bump. And as it will do that on just road bumps, what will it do on big stuff? So playing a bit in a rocky car park (ABS off) got the dust flying and started to show the CRF300’s potential off the tarmac.

Read more: Test ride: Honda CRF300 Rally 2021