In May 2024, 7 cherished cars – a Bentley Mk VI standard steel, a BMW 2-series cabriolet, a Bristol 409, a Jaguar E-type, a Lotus Emira , a MGA, and a Triumph Stag, gathered at the Lakeland Motor Museum to start the first Salopian Drivers’ Club Cumbrian Tour. The museum has an excellent display of 140 classic cars and motorbikes as well as the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition next door. A must for any car (and boat) enthusiast.
After a quick lunch in the café we drove off, each at their own pace, to the Ruskin Museum – Telling the Story of Coniston Since 1901 Lots to see here with the Campbell’s story, John Ruskin and Arthur Ransome.
The next stop was Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s home at Near Sawrey, west of Windermere. Hill Top | Lake District | National Trust
This is a National Trust property – pre-booking is essential – with very chatty volunteers telling you every detail of Beatrix’s life, whether you want to listen or not.
We finished the day at the Drunken Duck Inn, where we had an aperitif made out of locally brewed beers and supper, which ended much later then intended, with the wine flowing freely up to the early hours.
The next morning, after struggling out of bed, we hit ‘The Struggle’, aka the Kirkstone Pass which does not look half as steep as it really is on the picture below.
The Cumbrian tour then made a stop in sunny Pooley Bridge after having driven through striking scenery along both fell and main roads. From there we headed for a truly delicious Sunday roast at the Pheasant Inn in Bassenthwaite before all Salopian Club Drivers headed back to their respective counties in the North.
