Cat and Fiddle

nelliethehooker
nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
edited March 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We will be returning to Cumbria from Flagg, near Buxton next week. The recommended route is by using the A537 to Macclesfield. This is the Cat & Fiddle road! We've driven it solo a few times but never with a caravan on tow. What are members thoughts on towing
over it?

Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,084 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited March 2016 #2

    OH doesn't think you will have any problems Nellie, not with your tow car and experience. Biggest pain is likely to be following big lorries as it is a popular route with HGVs.Happy

  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #3

    Why not just head for Buxton, pick up the A6 to Stockport then join the M60 a little further East

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #4

    We will be returning to Cumbria from Flagg, near Buxton next week. The recommended route is by using the A537 to Macclesfield. This is the Cat & Fiddle road! We've driven it solo a few times but never with a caravan on tow. What are members thoughts on towing
    over it?

    Towed that route many a time. Not a problem

  • DaveandVicki
    DaveandVicki Forum Participant Posts: 192
    edited March 2016 #5

    Watch out for the speed cameras. Laughing

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,610 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #6

    Used it many a time. No problem. It's quite "windey" (and sometimes windy) so difficult to get up too much speed but that's a good thing. It just takes a little care but with your experience shouldn't be a problem. Be careful though if it's a weekend as
    its very popular with motorbikes.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #7

    Thanks all. It will be a Monday about 10:00 in the morning, so I'll probably give it a go. Nothing ventured nothing gained, as they say.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #8

    Why not just head for Buxton, pick up the A6 to Stockport then join the M60 a little further East

    harryb, that's the route we normally use when coming over from Chesterfield, but the section from New Mills to the motorway is rather a pain.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #9

    I drove this very Bond E minicar over the Cat & Fiddle and actually over took a cyclist on the way up ...... just! Laughing

  • Colr
    Colr Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2016 #10

    In 1976 we bought our first caravan from a small one -man manufacturer - Comanche - just on the Macclesfield side of Buxton so my first ever towing experience was bringing it home via Macclesfield.(The alternative route through Congleton via Allgreave isn't
    a road I would like to tow on). Since then we have towed on this route regularly as we often visit Buxton (Grin Low) site. Never experienced any significant problems beyond light snow one year at Easter, and mist/fog on a few occasions. There are a few sharp
    bends which need to be treated with respect, and of course it is used by quite a few HGVs

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #11

    Thanks, too, Coir. We will be doing it on Monday. Wish us luck!Wink

  • Colr
    Colr Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2016 #12

    OK, GOOD LUCK, but don't think you'll need it. Weather looks quite cold but otherwise OK. 

    To my mind negotiating Macclesfield (my home town!) is likely the most testing section, but Monday morning should be quiet enough

  • CBRBlackbird
    CBRBlackbird Forum Participant Posts: 184
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #13

    I drove this very Bond E minicar over the Cat & Fiddle and actually over took a cyclist on the way up ...... just! Laughing

    Very nice! Mk E or Mk F?

    Most people won't even know what a Bond Minicar is, let alone heard of Sharps Commercials.

    I have several Mk G's, then rebuilt a Mk C Deluxe with which I won Concourse at the National rally back in the 70's

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #14

    I drove this very Bond E minicar over the Cat & Fiddle and actually over took a cyclist on the way up ...... just! Laughing

    Very nice! Mk E or Mk F?

    Most people won't even know what a Bond Minicar is, let alone heard of Sharps Commercials.

    I have several Mk G's, then rebuilt a Mk C Deluxe with which I won Concourse at the National rally back in the 70's

    It wasn't mine, I was merely the driver for the weekend - Cheshire Micro car rally, it belongs to the driver in the Youtube clip. As the clip title of the clip, it is aparently a propotype E. I can say though,
    that I had the best time ever behind the wheel of a car. Fast it was definitely not, the brakes were lacking but brilliant fun. This one did have Dynastart & reverse gears, though it was rarely needed.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #15

    Just an up-date. We made it over without any trouble, and were fortunate that it was really good weather and that there was no-one in front of us, so I could select my own line and breaking points. Won't hesitate to use this route again in any reasonable
    conditions, but don't think I'd bother doing it in the reverse direction unless desparate. Thanks to all.Happy

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,610 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #16

    Just an up-date. We made it over without any trouble, and were fortunate that it was really good weather and that there was no-one in front of us, so I could select my own line and breaking points. Won't hesitate to use this route again in any reasonable
    conditions, but don't think I'd bother doing it in the reverse direction unless desparate. Thanks to all.Happy

    Write your comments here...ChickenHappy

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,084 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited March 2016 #17

    Just an up-date. We made it over without any trouble, and were fortunate that it was really good weather and that there was no-one in front of us, so I could select my own line and breaking points. Won't hesitate to use this route again in any reasonable
    conditions, but don't think I'd bother doing it in the reverse direction unless desparate. Thanks to all.Happy

    Write your comments here...good to hear Nellie, glad all went ok.

  • Colr
    Colr Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2016 #18

    Glad you made it OK. The reverse direction is no worse. How was Macc?

  • Colr
    Colr Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2016 #19

    P.S. Assume you meant braking points rather than breaking?

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #20

    Glad you made it OK. The reverse direction is no worse. How was Macc?

    It may be no worse, but it's a heck of a drag all the way from Macc up to the top. We got through the town ok, as we knew the right lanes to take having driven through there a number of times in the past.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #21

    P.S. Assume you meant braking points rather than breaking?

    Embarassed Fat finger syndrome!Wink

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited March 2016 #22

    Do remember the queue behind you will blame your caravan for them being held up and ignore the slow lorry ahead of you!

  • Colr
    Colr Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2016 #23

    Do remember the queue behind you will blame your caravan for them being held up and ignore the slow lorry ahead of you!

    Once or twice going over 'The Cat', I've had some difficulty keeping up with an HGV anyway, driving solo

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,659 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #24

    Do remember the queue behind you will blame your caravan for them being held up and ignore the slow lorry ahead of you!

    Fortunately on this trip there was only one other vehicle behind me, an SUV towing a cattle trailer, so we were both doing about the same speed....well at least he didn't try to pass me!Wink