Top 12 Mountain Passes around Windermere

For those seeking a challenge, Hardknott Pass is renowned as one of England's steepest roads, with gradients up to 1 in 3. Wrynose Pass also features similar steep gradients and is often tackled in conjunction with Hardknott. Kirkstone Pass includes 'The Struggle' from Ambleside, known for its harsh gradient of 1 in 4 in places, making it a significant climb for cyclists and drivers alike.

Several passes boast rich history. Near the summit of Hardknott Pass, you can explore the well-preserved remains of Mediobogdum, a 2nd-century Roman fort. Wrynose Pass features the historic Three Shire Stone at its summit, marking a former county meeting point, and much of its route follows an ancient Roman road. Kirkstone Pass is home to the Kirkstone Inn, a pub that has welcomed travelers for over 500 years.

Kirkstone Pass offers fabulous views across the Patterdale and Troutbeck valleys, with Brothers Water often visible. Honister Pass is known for its dramatic and rugged scenery, providing breathtaking panoramic views. Newlands Pass also delivers stunning scenic drives with waterfalls and panoramic mountain vistas, often as part of a circular route including Buttermere and Crummock Water.

Wrynose Pass is often described as one of the most scenic, yet least visited, places in the Lake District. It offers superb views over remote hills and provides a high starting point for hillwalkers, making it a good option if you prefer a quieter experience.

The area around Windermere's mountain passes is excellent for various outdoor activities. You can find challenging mountain hikes, including routes up Fleetwith Pike and Dale Head near Honister Pass. There are also numerous hiking trails, from valley strolls to fell walks, especially around Newlands Pass. For cyclists, the passes offer demanding road cycling routes, with Hardknott Pass featuring in events like the Fred Whitton Challenge.

While many passes are challenging, Honister Pass offers a unique family-friendly attraction at its summit: the Honister Slate Mine. It provides adventure activities like a via ferrata and the 'Infinity Bridge,' which can be an exciting experience for families with older children. For gentler walks, the Newlands Valley, accessible via Newlands Pass, offers picturesque and quiet valley strolls.

The best time to visit is generally during the spring, summer, and early autumn months (April to October) when the weather is milder and conditions are more predictable for driving, cycling, and hiking. In winter, many of these passes, especially the steeper and higher ones like Hardknott and Wrynose, can become impassable due to snow and ice, and some may close.

The Kirkstone Pass Inn, located near the summit of Kirkstone Pass, is the third-highest pub in England and provides a unique spot to rest and enjoy the surroundings. It's a popular stop for travelers and hikers alike.

Grisedale Tarn is a lake and mountain pass situated high in the mountains, serving as a meeting point for hikers at the head of three valleys. It's known for its atmospheric setting and offers a choice of routes, including a valley option for bad weather, or more challenging routes towards St. Sunday Crag and Helvellyn for spectacular views and ridge walks.

Garburn Pass is a mountain pass known for its varying gradients depending on the direction of travel. The ascent from Kentmere is much steeper and more technical, while the descent towards Troutbeck is more gradual and exhilarating. It offers a rewarding experience for mountain bikers and hikers, with beautiful views across the landscape.

Many of the passes are popular with cyclists, but The Struggle Climb from Ambleside up to Kirkstone Pass is particularly famous. It's a long and steep ascent, often featured in professional road races like the Tour of Britain. Hardknott Pass is also a significant challenge for endurance cyclists due to its extreme gradients.

Scandale Pass offers a wilder and quieter option for walkers traveling between Ambleside and Ullswater, especially when compared to the busier Kirkstone Pass. It's a less trafficked route where four paths converge, leading to areas like Red Screes and Little Hart Crag, and features the small Scandale Tarn just above the pass.