Honister Pass- 10 Things to Know Before Visiting

Honister Pass is one of the most scenic and popular routes in the Lake District. The B5289 road that goes through the pass climbs from Borrowdale to a height of 356 m and plunges on a 4:1 slope to reach Buttermere far below. The valley of the pass is huge, with a beautiful rocky stream running through and huge boulders on each side.

The pass offers incredible views in any weather conditions. There are plenty of spaces to stop by and enjoy the beauty of nature from waterfalls to lovely mountain views. The parking spaces are free and unlimited. The road is up and down, slightly winding as well. The torchlight-like sunshine that is coming through the clouds is mesmerizing to watch, with the backdrop of mountains on each side. The drive sometimes feels like you're driving into Jurassic park.

From the summit, some trailheads lead to Fleetwith Pike to the west, Grey Knotts to the south, and Dale Head to the north that hikers could explore if they are interested. There is a youth hostel at the summit that can be used if you planning to explore the area over multiple days. The views from the summit of the valley below is breathtaking as well.

The summit of Honister Pass is home to a historic slate mine. Visitors can tour the mine workings and see slate being split using traditional methods and buy small slate items from the shop. This is an extremely popular stop for Lake District tours.

The slate from Honister is a striking shade of green and is used for roofing, as well as walls and flooring. The earliest workings here date from 1688 when the miners had to lead packhorses laden with slate to Ravenglass on the coast for shipment some 50 kilometres away.

From the slate mine, paths lead towards Haystacks and Indomitable Tarn. The trail leads past disused slate quarries, where decaying mine buildings lay amid heaps of stone.

At any weather, Honister Pass offers incredible views. Try not to visit in the nighttime so that you won't miss all the amazing views from the drive.

1. Remote area. Make sure that you have enough fuel in your vehicle.
2. Beware of the steep inclines, bring a vehicle that is powerful enough.
3. If you are planning to hike through the pass, beware that there could be strong winds which may force you to get down on your hands and knees and crawl up the pass.

1. The slate from Honister Slate mine that is located at the summit of the pass is used to design Kensington Palace in London.
2. Honister Pass holds the UK 24-hour rainfall record. In the 24 hours to 6 pm on 5 December 2015, 341.4 mm of rain fell there.

It only takes 30 minutes to drive through Honister Pass but if you stop by to see the river flowing through and the waterfalls and to enjoy the scenery around, it would take 1 to 2 hours in total.

If you plan to hike to some of the mountains that are connected to the summit of the pass, or if you plan to visit the slate mine, you can easily spend a whole day here. There is also an option to spend multiple days here exploring the nearby peaks if you stay in the youth hostel on the pass's summit.

From Buttermere, drive towards Borrowdale. The road passes through Honister Pass.

There is no entrance fee to visit Honister Pass.

Honister Pass is a public road so there are no opening hours. It is highly recommended to go during the daylight to enjoy the extremely scenic views and to avoid not getting help if stuck in the steep climbs of the road.