Kirkstone Pass

At 454 m, Kirkstone Pass is the highest pass in the Lake District open to road traffic. Here the A592 links Ambleside in the Rothay Valley with Patterdale in the Ullswater Valley; the gradient reaches 1 in 4 (25%) in places. The climb from Ambleside is known as “The Struggle”. Near the summit stands the Kirkstone Pass Inn, a former coaching inn and, according to Wikipedia, the third-highest pub in England. The pass is named after the “Kirkstone”, a prominent rock near the A592 on the Patterdale side of the inn, whose shadow resembles a church steeple.

A second approach, from Troutbeck, meets the road from Ambleside at the inn. On the descent towards Patterdale, the view opens out over Brothers Water. Because of the gradients, drive slowly and in a low gear if you are in a motorhome or towing. In winter the road can be closed by snow or ice, so check the current situation before you set out.