THE HONISTER AND NEWLANDS PASSES
There’s a reason why the Vintage Sports Car Club uses this intoxicating cocktail of twisty Cumbrian roads and steep climbs as the basis for one of its toughest events – but if an Austin Seven or Ford Model B can tackle these roads during the Lakeland Trial, so can your classic. Set off from the picturesque market town of Keswick, following signs for Borrowdale, and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most varied drives you’ll find anywhere in Britain, starting with a gentle meander along the shores of Derwentwater as the B5289 ventures south. There are occasional glimpses across the water to Cat Bells and Causey Pike, among other Lakeland fells immortalised in the late Alfred Wainwright’s walking guides, but keep
your eyes on the road, because it gets increasingly twisty as you head towards the southern end of the Lake. Slow down as you wind through the villages of Rosthwaite and Seat oller (they’ll be busy with tourists at this time of year), and take a moment to appreciate the stunning scenery of Borrowdale (although it’s on record as being the wettest place in Britain, so no promises on the weather). Shortly afterwards you’ll see a sign letting you know that the Honister Slate Mine – base for the VSCC’s Lakeland Trial – is just 1.5 miles away. England’s last working slate mine sits 1167ft up at the top of the pass, so reaching it involves a pretty
‘20 miles of Britain’s most challenging roads – with all of Lakeland’s best bits’
tough climb. It’s packed with tight corners and tricky gradients, but hugely rewarding when you make it successfully. The road snakes left and right as you drop down towards Buttermere and drive along the lake’s edge for a few miles, then take a sharp right just before you reach Buttermere village itself and power upwards again on a mountain road that’s even more dramatic – the Newlands Pass. This road is quite narrow, with a steep, unguarded drop to your left-hand side – so be prepared to stop and let other traffic ease past – but it offers some of the Lake District’s most dramatic views. Then it’s a gentle drop down through the Newlands Valley and on to the village of Braithwaite for a well-deserved ice cream – or back into Keswick itself, via the nearby A66.