Northern Drive-Out 2022, Lakes and Pennines - Fri26th to Sun 28th August (Bank Hol Weekend)

Guys and Gals,

At last, the announcement you've all been waiting for! Yes, it's the Northern Run Weekend, which for a while looked like it might not be happening as I couldn't find anywhere that could host us - or at least, at a reasonable price.... but finally, we've got somewhere to stay other than spending two nights in the car eating takeaways from a chippy!

The hotel is the CASTLE INN HOTEL, BASSENTHWAITE, which is a 4-star joint complete with pool, sauna, gym, games room, small golf course (I think you have to climb over old VWs or something) and other stuff. The only dates they had available were over the August Bank Holiday, which I'd normally avoid due to the presence of large numbers of caravans and sleeping drivers, but I think we might be OK in that regard with the route I've got planned. So, it's 2 nights dinner, bed & brekky on Fri and Sat, 26th and 27th August, checking out on Sun 28th. Price for all this goodness is £85 per person per night, therefore £340 for a couple for the weekend. The only potential problem is that they only had 13 double/twin rooms available, so I've reserved all of them - but it means you'll have to decide if you're coming ASAP, cos once they're gone we won't be able to ask for more. They're also only holding these rooms till July 1st, after which any unsold ones (haha) will be put back on general offer and if you do try to book, you'll be paying full price.

To book a room, call 01768 776401 and have your credit/debit card to hand, and say you're with the Norm Briers group and mention the dates. At this stage they'll take no money, but will run your card 7 days before the event, at which point the money is non-refundable. Oh, another thing - if you're on your own it's still £85/night, but there's a £40/night supplement. Our contact is Anna, who seems very personable, but if she's not around you'll still be OK with one of the receptionists.

Enough of the accommodation, what about the route? Well, should be an interesting one - we'll kick off with a section through the Lakes, which cos of the dates may or may not involve contact with the Great Unwashed, but then we'll head East and onto interesting Pennines roads, some of which may be familiar and others which deffo won't. Approx distance is 170 miles but obviously you don't have to do the whole thing and can dive off the route at any time....or even not do any at all and just mooch around instead ;)

Anyhow, if you're going for it, update this thread once you've booked so I know who'll be there and who I can make fun of. And don't rely on the list of people on here as a guide to how many rooms might be left - there'll be non-club peeps going as well....

More info as and when, but at least the gig is actually on now!

Cheers!

Norm

It's a fair trek south to go on this Northern Run.

Spend a night in Blackpool beforehand, then it'll be a "Northern" Run, as well as rather more genteel :)

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Originally Posted by Normb666

Spend a night in Blackpool beforehand

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When I was a kid Blackpool was THE summer holiday destination for us Dundee folk.
We could never afford it so went to Fleetwood each year and had a tram ride to Blackpool for a day.
I remembered it as being magical.

Wendy and I went on a nostalgia trip to Blackpool and Fleetwood on our way back from seeing the car at Craig's about a year ago. Well, I guess they say never meet your heroes. The best bit about the weekend was that it was when one of the big storms was here and it was monsoon weather so everywhere was shut. :(

Anyhow, I'll try to make trip.

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Originally Posted by renmure

It's a fair trek south to go on this Northern Run.

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Delmer this is the same weekend as the Silverstone classic isn't it, its the north south divide thing I'm off to Silverstone spectating.
Ante you booked in for that weekend trip Jim!!

It is the same weekend as the Silverstone Classic, which is a month later than normal, this year.

Choices, choices, eh....sorry to tax the little grey cells and force a decision, but I didn't really have much choice over the dates. All the other places that did have availability were looking at another 100 quid or more, which I thought was a bit fruity given that we only wanted to stay there, not take all the furniture home with us :)

Just tried to book but reception said "please send an email to reservations@castleinnhotel.co.uk"................ so email was just sent !

Cheers Phil

You shoulda given me a call cos I was up there this afternoon...coulda done it for ya :)

Reason for the fact-finding trip was cos I arranged everything over the phone last Sunday, having never been there in person and only seeing the photos on the website. How to describe it....sort of an upmarket Shap Wells, with extra facilities? Rooms were nice, pool is large, fair-sized gym, and outdoor grounds/seating area is pleasant. Plenty of car parking space too. I reckon we'll be fine :)

Hi Norm
We have only just got back from a long weekend in Inverary... so just tried to book it straight away..
Take it that its all ok
will let you know when i get an email reply
Cheers

I remember you saying you were going away. Isn't it a long long way to Inveraray?? Assume they didn't keep you locked up in the Old Jail :)

Hotel is fine. I'm beginning to believe it's some sort of Cumbrian Chic thing going on....woulda been the same wherever we ended up (so, back to Tynemouth next year ;) )
The contact at the hotel (Anna) wasn't in today which I presume is why they said to send an email. Cos it's obviously very complicated to tick off a room already reserved under a block booking....it's gonna be a lorra, lorra laffs....

Just received confirmation by email from Anna, following a couple of phone calls today to confirm that our room has been booked.

David

Our confirmation has come thro' too

Love these road trips and appreciate how difficult to organise but unfortunately we are away following the roundy roundy F1 in Spa and Netherlands. All the best
Neil & Debbie

Phil, great that you got in! - Neil, no worries, I wouldn't have chosen the Bank Hol given a choice, but they were the only dates available. Don't worry about missing it cos it'll be crap anyway. .....no it won't.... haha!

This just in:
"We saw a bright yellow Stratos rep on the way to the Lakes, reg prefix V66? It was between a bright red Porsche (I think) and a bright green Focus. A very colourful convoy."

Yep, that was me, Mark (in the GT4) and John in his new Focus. An interesting day out avoiding the Sunday Bank Hol crowd (successfully)!

Gang,
just bumping this up a bit. Visited the hotel today to see where we were up to - we've got 6 rooms booked and 11 people total. There are 13 rooms reserved but they're only guaranteed till July, so if you're umm-ing and ahh-ing, don't leave it too long!

It seems some peeps have had a bit of bother booking in - the hotel has some new staff who've not quite mastered the ropes yet so if you call to book, whoever you get, insist they make the reservation and then follow it up with an email to reception@castleinncumbria.co.uk and mark it for attention of Anna. Hopefully we'll get a few more of ya giving it a go....and don't forget to post on here if you do please!

Sent an email asking to make a reservation as that's what the hotel asked me to do and Anna would call back today. No call so called her and she said this handsome chap called in yesterday. She said his name was Mr Briers - strange !! Anyway I have made a booking direct with Anna but then realised I didn't give her an email as a backup - but she has the first one.
Why do I get the feeling this could go pear shaped ?
Is it overkill to confirm to the hotel they have booked us in ?

Nah, it'll be fine. I've got you on my list and I'll be speaking to them again in July, so we can make sure we're synchronised. It'll be a great weekend! .....honest.... :)

Any more for this? We're only 4 weeks away and the remaining reserved rooms are back on general sale, so if you want to come along, get in there before they're all gone!

Attachment 19922It occurred to me that with this being the Northern DRIVE-OUT, it could be helpful if there was some sort of indication of where to head to. Accordingly, I knuckled down and knocked up some route instructions, and here they are...


Attachment 19922

I originally had a plan to include a small initial loop over the Whinlatter Pass, but in the end dropped it as we're doing enough as it is. But if anyone wants to give that bit a go separately, let me know!

Latest news for those attending!

Spoke to the hotel today (OK, it was actually someone who works there, not the building....pedants!!) and the good news is that they've not lost our booking, and we're good to go. They'll be taking payment at check-in time, which is from 15:00 on the day. Dinner will be at 19:30 both nights and they're going to seat us all together, to save us annoying the other guests. Brekky is between 7 and 10, but I'm expecting us to be away on the run by 10:30. Don't think there's anything to add other than that, but chirp up if you've any questions.

If you're aiming to get there early, to try and avoid the traffic, and fancy somewhere decent to eat, try the BASSENTHWAITE STATION CAFE which is in the old station buildings on the Penrith - Cockermouth line and just a few miles from the hotel. They've got a replica locomotive, and art deco carriages that you dine in, all from the 2017 "Murder on the Orient Express" film. Best if you book ahead though as it seems popular - we were lucky to get a table when we just turned up a week last Sunday.

Those attending -

Me and Leah
David and Pat Jowsey
Phil and Helen Dolby
Robin and Carole Tyler-Morris
Richard Craig and Sarah
Pete and Julie Hubbard
Dave Hill (non-club member).

If anyone fancies booking at the last minute, there may still be a couple of rooms left - give them a ring, ask for Anna, and don't forget to let me know if you're successful!

See y'all there!

Hope you all have a great time, there are some brilliant roads around there. With a little luck, I'll be able to join you next year. :)

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Originally Posted by AndyGuyton

With a little luck, I'll be able to join you next year. :)

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:D :D :D ... or the next ;)

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Originally Posted by renmure

:D :D :D ... or the next ;)

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O ye of little faith, my money’s on Andy!!!!

What's your route? Whee are you nearest to The North Bit?

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Originally Posted by ChrisCar6

What's your route? Whee are you nearest to The North Bit?

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see post 22

Cheers Andy, yep I've chosen some interesting roads! Fingers X'ed for next year!

Chris, furthest north will be the Brampton bypass where we come off the Pennines and head west. You thinking of popping down to say hello?
Thing is though, the route's not compulsory so some might detour at some point. And we'll likely be pretty spaced out as well (in so many ways.... ;) ) Best idea if you wanna catch us is to get to the hotel. We'll be there till around 10 in the morning and should all be back late afternoon on Saturday.

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Originally Posted by renmure

:D :D :D ... or the next ;)

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I'm staying positive Jim, but a little negative reinforcement can go a long way. :p;)

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Originally Posted by Longtimefan

O ye of little faith, my money’s on Andy!!!!

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Thank-you for the vote of confidence Robin. ;)

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Originally Posted by AndyGuyton

I'm staying positive Jim, but a little negative reinforcement can go a long way. :p;)

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In that case I'll be positive as well Andy.
Looking forward to next weeks update about how your IVA has gone.




:D

We’ve arrived. Nice place. Not gone to our room yet as having a beer and food.

As I only have a growing pile of bits and a build manual no run out for me. However as you are all literally in my back yard tomorrow afternoon (live in Hexham, grew up outside Carlisle near Caldbeck), I will potter out to see what I can see. If you do see a grey Scirocco with the driver waiving enthusiastically give me a waive. Weather should be near as damn it perfect for enjoying the drive and scenery.

Andrew, any idea of your likely location?

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Originally Posted by Longtimefan

Andrew, any idea of your likely location?

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I likely wander over to Brampton later this afternoon. I know where you guys will be exiting onto the A69. Even if I don?t see any Stratos? I can pop in to see my mum!

Attachment 20010Spotted!

Thank you so much for being up here. Even my 14 year old daughter said your cars were cool which is surprising as hell hasn’t frozen over.

I think the words of Richard Hammond are appropriate.

You know what I wasn't in one, I wasn’t moving in one but I still enjoyed them. They are beautiful.

Andrew, Peter (phubb) thanks you for the photo.

I saw you, I was the last car having stopped for fuel in Alston. I recognised a VW Sirrocco and then saw the hand shoot out of the window as you approached. All of us are sorry we never got to speak with you. You will have to come and join us like minded folk's on the next one. You don’t have to have a completed car, the Sirrocco will be fine and bring your wife along.

Robin

Thank you Norm for great weekend and interesting route around the Lakes and Pennines, we especially liked the stretch overlooking the Solway Firth in the late afternoon sunshine. On the homeward journey encountered a real heavy sharp downpour just after Barnard Castle, we could see it looming up in the distance.



David & Pat

Normster...
Thanks very much for organising another great weekend, great route, great company, great hotel, great weather..!
we also really enjoyed seeing the 1:1 scale model of a fibreglass steam train and also the memorabilia at The Fat Lamb....
We also encountered a guy who had just bought a Lancia Fulvia Zagato, we managed to get him to stop so we could take some photo's.Attachment 20014Attachment 20015Attachment 20016Attachment 20017
Thanks to everyone who came along for their enjoyable company.

Attachment 20018Attachment 20019Attachment 20020Attachment 20021

View from the Hotel towards Skiddaw - Fibreglass train and carriage used to film Murder on the Orient Express, based at Bassenthwaite station..