Lakes & High Pennines

2 days · 5 driving roads · 56 miles of them · best April–October

England's steepest tarmac. Hardknott and Wrynose hit 1-in-3 with hairpins that punish a cold clutch, Honister and Kirkstone carry you across the Lakeland passes, and then the moors: Hartside's long climb and the Buttertubs run over the Dales.

Worth knowing: Hardknott is genuinely difficult — 30% gradients, blind hairpins, and a queue of visitors in August. Go early or midweek. Not one for a nervous driver or a heavy car.

The roads, in order

1. Hardknott & Wrynose Passes Unclassified · Boot, Eskdale → Little Langdale · 10 mi · 40 min ⚠ ⚠ 30% gradients, single-track — avoid in ice and busy summer weekends 🍽️ Brook House Inn · 📷 Hardknott Roman Fort · 📷 Three Shire Stone (Wrynose summit) · 🍽️ Three Shires Inn
2. Honister Pass B5289 · Seatoller → Buttermere · 8 mi · 20 min ⚠ ⚠ 25% gradients; narrow with rock walls — care in wet and ice ☕ Honister Slate Mine · 📷 Gatesgarth · ☕ Croft House Farm Cafe
3. Kirkstone Pass A592 · Windermere → Patterdale (Ullswater) · 12 mi · 25 min ⚠ Closes in heavy snow; 'The Struggle' side is 25% 🍽️ Kirkstone Pass Inn · ☕ Glenridding (Ullswater)
4. Hartside Pass A686 · Penrith → Alston · 20 mi · 30 min ⚠ Summit can close in winter storms ☕ The Old Village Bakery, Melmerby · 📷 Hartside summit · ⛽ Townfoot Garage, Alston
5. Buttertubs Pass Cliff Gate Rd · Hawes → Thwaite · 6 mi · 12 min ⛽ Dale Head Garage · ☕ Wensleydale Creamery · 📷 Buttertubs Pass summit · ☕ Kearton Country Hotel

Drive it

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