How long is Honister Pass?
England, europe
5.95 km
364 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Honister Pass, chilling at 364m (that's 1,194ft) smack-dab in the Lake District, England. It's one of Cumbria's highest passes, and let me tell you, it's a *drive*.
The B5289, fully paved, stretches for about 5.95km (or 3.7 miles) from the sweet little village of Seatoller in Borrowdale to Gatesgarth, just east of Lake Buttermere.
Now, don't go thinking this is a Sunday cruise! This road is narrow, seriously steep, and winds its way up the fellside. We're talking gradients that max out at a whopping 19.3%! Low gear is your best friend here, and keep an eye out for the 6ft 6ins width restriction.
From Seatoller, you're looking at a 3km (1.86 mile) climb, gaining 238 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 7.9%. Coming from Gatesgarth Farm? Another 3km (1.86 mile) climb, gaining 243 meters, with an average gradient of 8.1%.
Without stops, give yourself about 15-20 minutes to conquer this road.
But honestly? You *want* to stop. It’s said to be one of the best driving roads in Great Britain! The views of the fells are incredible, and there are tons of spots to pull over and soak it all in – waterfalls, mountain vistas, the works.
And at the summit? A historic slate works! Just a heads up: dress for anything. It's usually either wet or windy up there, and it's often snowy in winter.
Road Details
- Country
- England
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.95 km
- Max Elevation
- 364 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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