08/02/2026
Car Damlier Charabanc on Kirkstone Pass depicts an early motor charabanc making its way across one of the highest and most challenging mountain passes in the English Lake District. Kirkstone Pass, linking Ambleside with Patterdale, has long been a dramatic and demanding route, and images such as this highlight the transition from horse drawn travel to motorised transport in the early twentieth century.
The charabanc shown in the photograph represents an important stage in the development of motor tourism. Charabancs were large, open topped passenger vehicles, usually fitted with rows of wooden or slatted seats, designed for group excursions rather than private travel. They were particularly popular from the 1900s through to the 1920s and were widely used for day trips, outings by clubs and societies, and early sightseeing tours.