The road
From Kendal the A6 climbs steadily past Huck’s Brow and over open fell to the summit, then drops through Shap village to Penrith. There’s a memorial at the top to the drivers and road workers who kept the old road open in winter. The M6 runs close by, but the A6 has little traffic, few houses and long stretches with no shelter at all.
What usually goes wrong here
Bikes running out of fuel (there’s little on the road between Kendal and Penrith), electrical problems in heavy rain, crosswinds on the open fell, and riders caught out by snow and ice on the summit in winter, when the valleys are clear.
If you’re stuck right now
Pull right off into one of the wide verges or lay-bys, well away from the carriageway. Traffic is light but fast. Tell us whether you’re on the Kendal side or the Shap village side of the summit, and send a pin when you have signal.
Where to stop and phone signal
The memorial lay-by at Shap Summit is wide, easy to find and well away from traffic. Shap village is the only place of any size on the road, so if the bike will still crawl along, that is where to aim. Between Huck’s Brow and the summit, signal can be thin, so send your pin when you get a bar.
- Get off the road, and get the bike off it too if you can.
- Send your location: a WhatsApp live pin, what3words, or the last landmark you passed.
- Call 07520 639867, hear the price, and we’ll send a bike-ready truck.
Nearest areas we cover
FAQ
Rider questions
How long does it take to get a recovery truck to the Shap Summit (A6)?
It depends on where the nearest available truck is and the traffic. Remote roads take longer than towns. We give you an honest estimate on the call.
What if I have no phone signal?
Walk to higher ground or the nearest village. A single bar is enough for a text or WhatsApp pin. Note the last landmark you passed.