Honister Pass

Honister Pass is a high mountain road in the Lake District of Cumbria. It runs between Seatoller in Borrowdale and Gatesgarth at the southern end of Buttermere. The road climbs to 356 metres at its highest point, making it one of the steepest passes in the region. Gradients reach one in four on some sections, so the drive demands care. The summit is called Honister Hause, a local word for a mountain saddle. Three passes link Keswick’s lakes with Buttermere and Crummock Water, and Honister is the southernmost of them. The pass is known for its dramatic scenery and its slate mine at the top. Honister Slate Mine has worked the same veins since the 16th century. A youth hostel stands beside the mine, offering simple lodging to walkers. The pass also holds Britain’s heaviest rainfall in a single day: 341.4 millimetres fell during Storm Desmond in December 2015. Footpaths fan out from the summit to Fleetwith Pike, Grey Knotts and Dale Head, giving views across the valleys. Visitors find a rough road winding between steep fells. The slate mine’s buildings cluster at the top, with spoil heaps and workshops beside the hostel. Walkers use the paths to reach nearby peaks or to descend into Borrowdale or Buttermere. The air is often damp, and mist can shroud the pass without warning. The landscape shows the Lake District at its wildest, with few signs of modern life.