Exploring Kirkstone Pass: A Scenic Drive with a Spooky Legend through the Lake District
England, europe
18.5 km
459 m
moderate
Year-round
Fancy a drive through the heart of the Lake District? Kirkstone Pass is calling! This beauty sits at 459m (1,505ft) above sea level, in Cumbria, England. The A592 stretches for 18.5km (11.5 miles) from Windermere up to Patterdale. It's a historic route, once a drover's road for farmers.
Be warned: this road is twisty, narrow, and seriously steep, with gradients hitting a hefty 17%! You'll want to keep it in low gear – it's no wonder they used to call it 'The Struggle'. As the highest pass in the Lake District open to cars, it's often closed in winter when snow and ice make it treacherous. Mist is common at the top too.
The views are amazing, but maybe keep an eye out for ghosts! This road has more than its fair share of spooky stories, from a grey woman to a lost hiker and a woman hanged for killing her child.
Allow around 30 minutes to drive without stops, but you’ll want to add extra time to enjoy the scenery! Near the top, you'll find the Kirkstone Inn, a pub that's been serving travelers for over 500 years. The views over the Lakeland fells and Brothers Water are simply stunning.
Where is it?
Exploring Kirkstone Pass: A Scenic Drive with a Spooky Legend through the Lake District is located in England (europe). Coordinates: 53.7555, -2.4024
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 18.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 459 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 53.7555, -2.4024
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