Winnats pass

MarkJ

Guest
Seen some blurb saying Winnats pass is to be avoided, but although a bit steep in places it doesn’t look too bad to me. Certainly not as difficult as Applecross since I don’t see any hairpins, nor is it as long or steep.

Not really an issue, is it?
 
We've been over Winatts many times in the MoHo, Just take it steady and no problems.

We've also used the MoHo towing a trailer with no issues.

Some places are single lane and people in cars don't always give priority to those going up, but so long as you can do hill starts you will be OK.

Average 1 in 10 ; max 1 in 3.5
 
I've ridden my push bike up and down it in the past.... And towed a rather over loaded car trailer up it. Its nowt like as bad as Applecross etc...
Worst your likely to suffer is locals in Castleton leading up to in (streets are narrow with a couple of bad bends)
And idiots coming down faster than they should at the narrow bits.
 
It would be a good test for your vehicle. If it fails, you can reverse back down without a huge amount of difficulty unless you try it on a sunny bank holiday weekend. If it passes with ease, you know you can go most places that have tarmac. Bonus is there are many great places to visit around there. I highly recommend the fish cakes in the chippie just up the hill from the main carpark in Castleton. A slab of fish between between two slabs of potato, none of your usual mush in breadcrumbs. Eat it sitting on the bench around the tree a little further up the hill. Treak Cliff Cavern is well worth a look but the Blue John mine is a bit disappointing by comparison. Drive up to the carpark on Mam Tor. Walk up to the top of the hill, it's paved all the way up, take a flask with you and sit and watch the sunset as the clouds dance shadows across the valley below. Makes having a motorhome worth the cost. :D

Richard
 
mistericeman said:
I've ridden my push bike up and down it in the past.... And towed a rather over loaded car trailer up it. Its nowt like as bad as Applecross etc...
Worst your likely to suffer is locals in Castleton leading up to in (streets are narrow with a couple of bad bends)
And idiots coming down faster than they should at the narrow bits.
Click to expand...

Not sure which would be worse, blowing a gasket cycling up it or scaring the s**t of myself coming back down. As I have disc brakes nowadays and can always get off and walk it may be fun to find out this summer.

Richard
 
Tbear said:
Not sure which would be worse, blowing a gasket cycling up it or scaring the s**t of myself coming back down. As I have disc brakes nowadays and can always get off and walk it may be fun to find out this summer.

Richard
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Not that long ago a cyclist died on the way down....

Mother of woman who died on Winnats Pass could challenge inquest verdict | road.cc

I tend to avoid the area summer wise as it can get far far too busy for my liking.
Pleasant round Xmas though when all the streets are lit up etc
 
Don’t try getting up Runswick bay hill in the wet if you have a front wheel drive motorhome you will fail it cost me £30 to get towed up by a four wheel tractor the owner of the cafe at 5he bottom no wonder he has a brand new Range Rover on his drive
 
mistericeman said:
Not that long ago a cyclist died on the way down....

Mother of woman who died on Winnats Pass could challenge inquest verdict | road.cc

I tend to avoid the area summer wise as it can get far far too busy for my liking.
Pleasant round Xmas though when all the streets are lit up etc
Click to expand...

Not sure I would try it on my old road bike with its little rim brakes, even when working, in the wet they are of little use so going down a hill like that??? With modern discs, more worried about sailing over the bars. Why do I cycle? They tell me it's good for my health:)
 
I think I'd avoid it on a busy bank holiday, other than that a modern van should be fine.
 
Didn't know Winnats was on the avoid list when I used it :bow:

Last weekend we went to Porlock and Lynton & Lynmouth, I stayed on the A39 up both 1:4 hills, they were very steep on the hairpins and if it was wet I definitely would have avoided (and I will avoid next time I visit!), I don't think 4 tonne would pull away if I had to stop, which I almost had to as some one pulled out of the Lynton give way junction which involves them going on the wrong side of the road to get round the sharp junction and heading straight at me, I just had to keep going directly at him, could have been avoided if the driver had LOOKED and waited:mad1:
 
Chris356 said:
Don’t try getting up Runswick bay hill in the wet if you have a front wheel drive motorhome you will fail it cost me £30 to get towed up by a four wheel tractor the owner of the cafe at 5he bottom no wonder he has a brand new Range Rover on his drive
Click to expand...

Found that out myself the hard way! Luckily I secured a tow behind a Range Rover that was out for a test drive ...
 
MarkJ said:
Seen some blurb saying Winnats pass is to be avoided, but although a bit steep in places it doesn’t look too bad to me. Certainly not as difficult as Applecross since I don’t see any hairpins, nor is it as long or steep.

Not really an issue, is it?
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No I don't think so. I've been both up and down recently, the latter yesterday afternoon.

There's sufficient road width and wide verges too.
 
Just been up it. Switched from auto to manual and left it in second, ignoring Fiat’s ridiculous message to change up on the steepest bit!

But why oh why do people not think more about their driving. A car coming down the hill saw me coming and stopped in a narrow part of the road whereas if they had kept moving we’d have crossed comfortably in a wider part.
 
MarkJ said:
Just been up it. Switched from auto to manual and left it in second, ignoring Fiat’s ridiculous message to change up on the steepest bit!

But why oh why do people not think more about their driving. A car coming down the hill saw me coming and stopped in a narrow part of the road whereas if they had kept moving we’d have crossed comfortably in a wider part.
Click to expand...

Because some folks are idiots...
Try it up here on Ardnamurchan.... It's been hell at times (the locals are fine, its some of the other motorhomes that don't seem to have a clue about passing places etc.
 
The standard of driving these days is crap. I drive the A85/A82 regularly and it’s a good road and can comfortably be driven at the speed limit. The trouble is people doing 30 40mph with a big line of traffic behind them. They should pull in and let faster vehicle past and a lot of the time it’s a motorhome at the front. 😱
 
MarkJ said:
Just been up it. Switched from auto to manual and left it in second, ignoring Fiat’s ridiculous message to change up on the steepest bit!

But why oh why do people not think more about their driving. A car coming down the hill saw me coming and stopped in a narrow part of the road whereas if they had kept moving we’d have crossed comfortably in a wider part.
Click to expand...

THat can be the problem with Winnats , peak season it gets busy, its driveable but I avoided busy times on the bike not bothered, I was always taught to give way to vehoicles coming up the hill especially vans but the rules dont apply there

BTW it used to be the case the Carpark at Mam TOr you could overnight 50 pence mentions sleeping etc but ran off to collect your hang glider

Channa
 
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DO NOT let your daughter polish your bike before going up Winats, it’s okay for driver as they have handlebars but passenger struggles to stay on when you open it up :)
 
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