Shap Summit

Shap Summit lies in the hills of the Lake District near the Cumbrian village of Shap. Three route summits meet here: the A6 road, the M6 motorway and the West Coast Main Line railway. Each summit reaches different heights above sea level. The A6 road summit stands at about 410 metres, while the M6 motorway summit is 316 metres high. The railway summit is the lowest at 279 metres but still marks the highest point of the West Coast Main Line in England. The A6 was once the main route between England and Scotland until the M6 opened in 1970. Before then, winter snow often blocked the road, making travel difficult. The M6 held the record as the highest motorway in Britain for just 58 days after opening. The railway line, opened in 1846 and engineered by Joseph Locke, required bank engines to help steam trains climb its steep gradients. Modern trains manage the climb more easily, though heavy freight trains sometimes need double heading. Visitors to Shap Summit see the remains of the old railway station and the sidings that once served Shap granite quarry. The northbound climb from Tebay stretches for nearly nine kilometres with gradients as steep as 1 in 75. The southbound climb from Penrith is longer but gentler. The landscape around the summits is open moorland, with clear views across the hills. The railway cutting where the summit lies adds to the sense of height and isolation.