Hardknott Pass

Hardknott climbs to 393 metres with sections at a gradient of one in three, or thirty-three per cent, which makes it the steepest road in England, tied with Rosedale Chimney; it has hairpin bends on both sides, no barriers, and stretches wide enough for only one vehicle. Combined with Wrynose Pass immediately east, it forms the standard route between Eskdale and Langdale and is regularly closed by snow, ice and breakdowns. On the shoulder above the western descent stands Hardknott Roman Fort, built under Hadrian around 120 to guard the road from the port at Ravenglass to Ambleside; the walls, gates, commandant's house, bath house and a parade ground levelled out of the hillside all survive as low structures in an extraordinary position looking down Eskdale.

The main sights

• The one-in-three gradient - the steepest public road in England, with hairpins.
• Hardknott Roman Fort - walls, bath house and parade ground at 240 metres.
• The Eskdale view - the valley falling away west from the fort platform.
• The Wrynose link - a second pass immediately east, taken in the same crossing.

When to go

May to September; the pass closes in winter with snow and ice and is genuinely dangerous then. Dry weekdays are far better than weekends, when meeting traffic on the hairpins is constant.

Practical notes

This road defeats vehicles regularly, including cars that overheat, lose grip on the hairpins or cannot restart on the gradient; caravans and large vehicles must not attempt it. Reversing on a one-in-three bend to pass is normal. Rental agreements sometimes exclude it.

Nearby

Eskdale and the Ravenglass railway lie west; Wrynose and Langdale are east.

Key facts