Winter on the summit of Honister Pass

A must for dedicated winter walkers! This former quarry workers' house, is in true mountain country with easy access to England’s highest peaks. Steep valleys stretch down from the mountains to Derwentwater. 

Honister Pass  links Seatoller, in the valley of Borrowdale, to Gatesgarth at the southern end of Buttermere. The pass reaches an altitude of 1,167 feet (356 m), making it one of the highest in the region, and also one of the steepest, with gradients of up to 1-in-4 (25%). The saddle at the watershed is known as Honister Hause and that's where we will be staying. There’s a 400 year old working slate mine next door.Footpaths lead from the summit of the pass to Fleetwith Pike to the west, Grey Knotts to the south, and Dale Head to the north.

(Honister Pass holds the UK 24-hour rainfall record; in the 24 hours to 6 pm on 5th December 2015, 341.4 mm of rain fell there. Just saying.)

The walks are weather dependant - if poor weather is forecast, the walk may be changed to another mountain or different level in the same area, or possibly changed to the Sunday. The leader will advise in advance of Saturday of any planned changes.