2026 BMW Sidecar Register Rally

A select few attended the very first BMW Sidecar Register Lakes rally back in 2015 and this year was Keith’s 10^th Rally he has organised at Church Stile Campsite located in the village of Nether Wasdale. Not far from Wastwater and Scafell Pike.

2015

2026

Lesley had a panic moment just before we set off, basically she looked in the April BMW magazine diary of events and it was listed for May 16^th / 19^th. Needless to say, I assured her it was definitely April and showed her the main advert.

We had a good run up to Kendel services, rolling in at around 13:15 just before the rain arrived. Basic plan was to have a bite to eat and a rest before the last 60 miles. The band of rain passed over in just over an hour, so we set off in the belief we would only be subject to the odd light shower. How wrong can one be? After about 15mins the heavens opened and it lasted almost an hour. It was that bad Lesley thought I would stop as visibility was not good to say the least. Then when on the A590 all the traffic started slowing and moving to the middle of the road, I was thinking accident, but no, it was fording time with a bit a flash flooding.

Sometimes a little bit of luck is required and when we filled up with petrol 7 miles from the site the rain stopped, so we were able to pitch the tent in the dry. We had brought food for the evening, but in all honesty, there would have been no issue getting a table in the pub which is only a 5 minute walk from the site.

Which one are you going to have, said the barman, I will start at one end and finish at the other.

In the pub

Keith had put up a reception Marquee / Gazebo, complete with Kettle, Tea, Coffee, Biscuits plus sockets to charge your phone. It was quiet on Wednesday evening, as we were first there and the only ones there that night for the rally. We popped up to the pub for a drink, plus it was nice and warm with a fire in the wood burner providing heat. The Strands https://www.strandsandscrees.com/ is a cracking pub; they have a brewery on site and brew all their own beer. They always have 6 hand pulls (cask) on, which changed regularly over the days we were there. The food is very good and they use local produce wherever possible.

The station cat.

Thursday, and we took a trip out to the “Ratty” as it is known locally. Ravenglass Railway, https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/ defo worth a visit, museum and café and a couple of good pubs, one on the platform of the mainline operated by Northern Railway.

On the way back we took a ride up Wastwater, be aware, there will be “Donkeys” sorry, sightseers and visitors who park and fill up the passing places along what is a narrow single-track road making it dam right painful if you meet something coming the other way.

In the car park at Ravenglass, “Cheshire Cats On Tour”

Back on site more had arrived and the weather was good, much better than the forecast for Friday morning. This did delay attendee’s plans until midday, we took a short stroll and ended up at the Sawmills Café and farm shop, https://www.wasdalesawmill.com/ which for out in the sticks, so to speak, do a roaring trade. Also, on the campsite you will find a small shop, plus they do breakfast baps. The site is well looked after; the toilets and showers are heated and very clean. You also have washing machine and drying room. https://churchstile.co.uk/ You also get a lovely dawn chorus from the birds and the woodpeckers in the woods.

Keith runs this event all by himself, plus he does a barbeque on the Saturday tea time / evening. Local butcher supplies the burgers, sausages and the best kebabs I have ever had. He also does a really good vegie option. All Keith asks for is a donation to NABD.

Attendance was a little down on previous years, the weather didn’t help on Friday, plus it was held in April rather than May. Bonus though was no issues getting a table in the pub, campsite is pretty quiet, but it was April and it was chilly at night with a slight frost Sunday morning, but as long as you have a decent sleeping bag, once tucked up in bed you don’t worry about it.

Having attended many times, it is a really good event and a credit to Keith’s hard work laying on a Sidecar Register event, which is open to all BMW members, even those on solos, so if you haven’t been, you need to put it in your calendar.