Honister Pass the Lake District

We have really enjoyed living in Cumbria and the Lake District in northern England.  We have been able to travel from where we live in Cumbria to see many amazing places throughout Europe. However, we are always happy to return home and are often struck by the contrast and beauty of the place where we live.

The Lake District is often recognized as one of the most beautiful places on earth and we agree with that whole heartedly. The summer has faded and behind it bright clear days and changing colors  provide views that just can't be beat.

This past weekend we took a loop drive right here in our back yard through Newlands Pass, past Buttermere and Crummock Water and stopped here on the summit of Honister Pass. The climb took us up 1167 feet on a pretty steep grade of 1 in 4. It is one of Cumbria's highest passes. At the top we visited the Honister Slate Mine which continues to produce unique products today. The pass connects Buttermere valley to Borrowdale valley and the views from up here are well worth the climb. 

The Honister Slate Mine at the summit.

This little train doesn't move slate anymore but it once did.

We stopped at about the half way point to enjoy the scenery here. 

...and of course we shared the road with the local population, 
watch where you place your feet :-)

From the mine and the summit there are options for some wonderful walks. Scott wondered off on this one along the ridge line of Dale Head Fell, very nice. This fell is 2470 feet high with views that seem to reach out to the edge if the planet.

We continued over the pass and into Borrowdale where we set off on a walk to find the Bowder Stone. Borrowdale is strewn with large rocks attributed to glacial activity. The Bowder stone is the granddaddy of them all. This single stone is 30 feet high and fifty feet wide measuring 90 feet in circumference, and weighs in at about 2000 tons. The stone is believed to have been carried here from Scotland by glaciers during the Ice Age. There have been steps to provide a way to get to the top of the stone here since 1890, so we climbed to the top to take a look around. The stone is often used by rock climbers for bouldering or climbing without ropes. They place mats under the rock and then climb freehand.

Steps up to the Bowder Stone and some climbing mats beneath.

Views from the top of the Bowder stone…From here we headed into the town of Keswick where we stopped off for a great pub lunch to cap a pretty nice day in the Lake District. Not bad!