A Complete Guide to Lake District Passes: Roads and Walking Routes

The geography of the Lake District is defined by deep, radiating valleys divided by high ridges of rock and fell. To travel from one valley to the next, whether by car or on foot, you must navigate the crossing points that link them. A "hause" is the Lakeland word for a pass, denoting a saddle of land that offers a natural route over the high ground. These passes form the physical framework of the region. Some are ribboned with tarmac and open to traffic, winding their way past steep crags and falling water. Others are rugged, high-altitude tracks where walkers navigate loose stone and heavy weather. You can explore artwork celebrating these remarkable landscapes in our Valleys & Passes collection.

The Road Passes of the Lake District

Driving through the Lake District involves navigating some of the highest and steepest roads in England. These mountain passes connect the major valleys, offering vast views over the fells and demanding careful driving.

Kirkstone Pass

Sitting at an elevation of about 454 m (1,489 ft), Kirkstone Pass is the highest pass in the Lakes open to traffic. It forms a vital artery over the fells, running between Ambleside and Windermere on one side, and Patterdale and Ullswater on the other. Motorists and cyclists approaching from Ambleside frequently tackle the steep minor road known as The Struggle, a demanding and winding ascent that lives up to its name before finally joining the main route. Near the very top of the pass, exposed to the wind and rain, stands the historic Kirkstone Pass Inn. Browse works inspired by this high road in our Kirkstone Pass collection.

Hardknott and Wrynose Passes

These two formidable routes are usually driven together, charting a difficult and narrow line across the landscape. Wrynose Pass climbs to about 393 m, taking traffic from Little Langdale over to the Duddon valley. At its summit stands the Three Shire Stone, a solid, weathered marker denoting exactly where the old counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire met. From the Duddon valley, the route continues westward and climbs again to Hardknott Pass, which also sits at about 393 m. Hardknott drops down toward Eskdale with punishing gradients of about 1 in 3, making it one of the steepest roads in England. The tight hairpin bends demand absolute concentration. On the descent into Eskdale, the remains of a Roman fort stand on the fellside, positioned long ago to command a view of the valley below. View related pieces in our Hardknott Pass collection.

Honister Pass

This dramatic route runs from Borrowdale over to Buttermere, reaching a summit of about 356 m. The crest of the pass is dominated by the dark stone of an active slate mine. The steep ascents, flanked by towering crags and running gills, make it a classic route for those testing their endurance, a scene reflected in pieces like Cyclists Ascending Honister Pass. For a broader view of the heavy clouds and steep rock of this area, see our Honister Pass prints or our Honister Pass travel posters.

Newlands Hause

Leading from Buttermere over to the quiet expanse of the Newlands valley, this road peaks at about 333 m. Right beside the road as it begins its descent plunges Moss Force, a prominent waterfall that cascades heavily down the fell, especially after heavy rain. Discover more of the surrounding scenery and deep valley colour in our Buttermere collection.

Whinlatter Pass

Reaching about 318 m, this pass provides a very different atmosphere to the open, windswept hauses elsewhere in the park. It runs from Braithwaite near Keswick over to the Lorton valley, taking travellers directly through deep, dense forest rather than across bare fellside.

Dunmail Raise

As the main road link between Grasmere and Thirlmere, Dunmail Raise is a lower crossing, reaching an elevation of about 238 m. According to local legend, the large stone cairn sitting at the top of the pass marks the burial site of a king called Dunmail, who was defeated in battle on this very boundary.

The Walkers' Passes

Beyond the tarmac, a network of footpaths crosses the highest ground. These passes act as vital junctions for fell walkers, connecting the heads of the valleys and offering safe passage between the towering summits.

Esk Hause

At about 759 m, Esk Hause is the highest pass in the Lake District. Located high up under the vast crags of Great End, it serves as a remote, stony crossroads linking Borrowdale and Great Langdale on one side with the wild upper reaches of Eskdale on the other. It is an exposed plateau where walkers frequently encounter shifting mist and cold winds.

Sticks Pass

A high-level route reaching about 738 m, Sticks Pass crosses the main Helvellyn range. It provides a long, open walk over the grassy ridges between Thirlmere and Glenridding, forming an ancient line of travel over the eastern fells.

Nan Bield Pass

This steep walkers' track sits at about 640 m, offering a direct route from Kentmere over to Mardale. The pass is a sharp notch in the fells, flanked by steep drops and dark rock.

Black Sail Pass

Climbing to about 545 m, Black Sail forms a rough foot route from Wasdale over to Ennerdale. The path links two deep, quiet valleys, taking walkers far away from the busy roads. You can view interpretations of these vast, isolated landscapes in our Wasdale collection, or through specific pieces like Abstract Green Wasdale Valley.

Sty Head

Sitting at about 488 m, Sty Head is a busy and famous junction connecting Borrowdale to Wasdale. The path runs directly beneath the dark, heavy rock of Great Gable, with the dark water of Styhead Tarn gathering quietly beside the route. Walkers often rest by the tarn before making the long descent into the valley. Works such as Fell Walkers Beneath Great Cliffs reflect the vast scale of the rock faces that tower above these paths.

Scarth Gap

Reaching about 445 m, Scarth Gap takes walkers from the shores of Buttermere over to Ennerdale. The path climbs steeply through the heather, passing directly under the rugged, much-loved terrain of Haystacks.

Bringing the Landscape Home

The changing light, the heavy rain, and the vast scale of these valleys and passes are central to our collections. It is important to note that the paintings are impressions of these places, not photographs of them. They aim to capture the colour of the bracken, the line of a beck, and the winding course of the mountain roads, as seen in prints such as Blue Mountain Road to the Bothy.

Our square paintings are sold at 40cm, 70cm and 90cm. If you choose a framed print, the prices are £89.99 / £129.99 / £199.99, while an unframed print is available at £59.99 / £79.99 / £99.99. For those preferring canvas, a framed canvas is £109.99 / £159.99 / £209.99, and an unframed canvas is £79.99 / £119.99 / £169.99.

Frames are available in black, white or natural wood to suit your interior. Everything is made to order: please allow 2-5 working days to print, then 3-7 working days' UK delivery. Framed pieces arrive with hanging fixings fitted, ensuring they are ready for the wall as soon as they are unpacked. If you are ordering a piece for a friend or relative who loves the fells, a gift message can be added at checkout.