List of hill passes of the Lake District

{{short description|Mountain routes in northwest England}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

'''Hill passes of the Lake District''' were originally used by people in one valley travelling to another nearby without having to go many miles around a steep ridge of intervening hills. Historically, in the Lake District of northwest England, travel on foot or by pony was difficult because of the region's steep-sided valleys so tracks across the ridges were created taking the easiest route over passes – often, but not always, via a col. Since Roman times long-distance travel had tended to be along ridges. From the 19th century these passes and ridge routes were brought back into use when recreational hill walking become popular. Forty hill passes within the Lake District National Park are listed here, using criteria for selecting the major routes. [[File:Glenridding, Cumbria, England - June 2009.jpg|thumb|Ullswater valley]]

==Background== The Lake District National Park was created in 1951 covering an area of over {{convert|2000|sqkm}} and, although its population is only 42,000, over 10 million visitors arrive each year, mostly attracted by the lakes and fells.<ref name="rgs">{{cite web |title=Lake District |url=https://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Fieldwork+and+local+learning/Planning+your+fieldtrip/Fieldwork+locations/Lake+District/Lake+District.htm |website=www.rgs.org |publisher=Royal Geographical Society |archivedate=10 May 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510113847/https://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Fieldwork%2Band%2Blocal%2Blearning/Planning%2Byour%2Bfieldtrip/Fieldwork%2Blocations/Lake%2BDistrict/Lake%2BDistrict.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Geology=== About 500 million years ago<ref name="rgs" /> in the late Cambrian and early Ordivician periods,{{sfnp|Smith|2010|p=6}} the region was situated where the Iapetus ocean floor was being subducted under the Avalonia plate.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|p=10}} Sedimentary material became metamorphosed to the Skiddaw slates found in the north and west.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=5–9}} For a relatively short time of 5 million years Ordovician{{sfnp|Smith|2010|p=111}} volcanoes ejected the Borrowdale volcanic rocks – firstly lavas (mostly andesite}{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=11–13}} and later pyroclastic rocks{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=19–22}} found in the more central part of the region. The ejection of rock was extreme by world standards and it produced deposits at least {{convert|6000|m}} deep.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=11,24}} When the Baltica-Avalonia and Laurentia continents collided some 420 million years ago in the Caledonian orogeny there was folding of the slate and fracturing (faulting) of the more brittle volcanic rock.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|p=10}}{{sfnp|Turnbull|2011|p=106}} The whole region was then uplifted again by a batholith of granite mainly in the Carboniferous period although the granite remains largely below the surface.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=45,91}}<ref name="ldnpgf">{{cite web|title=Education Service Geology Factsheet |url=http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/171188/factsheet_geology.pdf |website=Lake District National Park |publisher=Lake District National Park Authority |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073034/http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/171188/factsheet_geology.pdf |archivedate=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The high ground became gradually eroded and to the south the land subsided.<ref name="rgs" />{{sfnp|Smith|2010|p=45}} In the south {{convert|8000|m}} of Windermere Supergroup sediment formed in the Silurian period with Coniston Limestone towards its base.{{sfnp|Smith|2010|pp=33–36}} Overall cover of limestone eroded away.

In the north, slaty rocks now form a smooth topography with sharp ridges although the hills can still be quite high – {{convert|931|m}} in the case of Skiddaw. Centrally the pyroclastic tuff rocks <ref name="rgs" /> give a knobbly terrain such as that around Scafell Pike, {{convert|978|m}}, England's highest mountain.{{sfnp|Turnbull|2011|p=88}}{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Scafell Pike, pp. 1–30}} To the south is a mostly less hilly area.<ref name="rgs" />

===Glaciation=== [[File:Wast Water in Cumbria in England - aerial view looking north-east (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Ribbon lake formed by glacial erosion – Wast Water in Wasdale]] From about 2 million years ago glacial erosion then greatly modified the landscape.<ref name="rgs" /><ref name="ldnplg">{{cite web|title=Landscape and geology |url=http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/learning/geology |website=Lake District National Park |date=18 September 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601111140/http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/learning/geology |archivedate=1 June 2016 |url-status=live |language=en }}</ref> Glaciers formed preferentially at existing streams which had developed at the many rock faults produced by crushing during the continental collision. The terrain was ground away leaving characteristically steep-sided glacial valleys which became ribbon lakes.<ref name="rgs" /> On the Rossett Pass (see below) Rossett Gill is an example of a geological fault and the glacier that descended from it created the Mickleden and Great Langdale valleys below.{{sfnp|Turnbull|2011|pp=106–112}} Taken as a whole the region is characterised by mountain ridges splaying out from a central core. The intervening valleys have been made by glaciers flowing outward along the lines of the previous streams draining the dome of the Lake District.<ref name="rgs" />

===Human history=== Historically the region was suitable for sheep hill farming and from medieval (or possibly Roman) times there was a substantial mining industry for rocks and minerals.<ref name="rgs" /> The Romans had built a high-level military road north–south right through the region on its eastern edge at High Street and another road through the Hardknott and Wrynose passes for travel between forts at Ravenglass and Ambleside.<ref name="mccloy">{{cite book|last1=McCloy|first1=Andrew|last2=Midgley|first2=Andrew|title=Discovering Roman Britain|publisher=New Holland Publishers|chapter=Hardknott Fort|year=2008|isbn=9781847731289|pages=132–139|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mswynZFMtqgC&pg=PA132|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821131320/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mswynZFMtqgC&pg=PA132|archivedate=21 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Travelling between valleys was difficult on foot or by pony because of the steep passes across the mountainous ridges. With no roads suitable for wheeled traffic until the late 18th century, for long-distance transport of goods long trains of horses were used with ridge routes being preferred although Esk Hause and Stake Pass (see below) are thought to have been used in this way. However, for travel within the region, routes were best kept as low as possible consistent with avoiding excessive detours so summits and ridges were to be avoided as far as possible.<ref name="ihc">{{cite web|title=Roads |url=http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/a-z-of-industries/roads/ |website=Industrial History of Cumbria |publisher=Cumbria Industrial History Society |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525084346/http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/a-z-of-industries/roads/ |archivedate=25 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the late 18th century the region started to become popular with travellers and the "Lake Poets" began seeing the lakes and mountains as beautiful rather than horrifying.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mapping 'Wordsworthshire' |url=http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/spatialhum.wordpress/?page_id=667 |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |publisher=Spatial Humanities |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212090812/http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/spatialhum.wordpress/?page_id=667 |archivedate=12 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Victorian times, encouraged by the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway,<ref name="rgs" /> a tourist trade developed. In the mid twentieth century Alfred Wainwright inadvertently encouraged further recreational use with his series of books ''A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells'' which described detailed routes to the major summits. His considerable knowledge of the district allowed him to make use of the ancient tracks although his focus was not on the ridge passes themselves.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Myers |first1=Ben |title=Why private genius Alfred Wainwright deserves a public monument |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/feb/17/travel |work=Guardian |date=17 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408115846/http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/feb/17/travel |archivedate=8 April 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Hill passes==

The passes are indicated in the following maps that are identical except for the annotation included. Both show the regions defined by Wainwright for his books. The first map shows the passes with their sequential numbers in the table. It also marks major lakes, valleys (dales) and a few important mountains. The second map shows the passes with their names (or a col on the route) and a few major towns. The colouring of the routes is merely to separate different adjacent ones. <gallery mode=packed heights=300 caption="Maps of Lake District National Park showing hill passes"> File:Lake District-pass numbers,fells,lakes.svg|Showing pass numbers, lakes, valleys and mountains File:Lake District-pass names,towns.svg|Showing names of passes and towns </gallery>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Table of Lake District hill passes, alphabetically within region |- valign="top" !style="text-align: left;" |Reference{{refn|group=see|The reference provides first the number of the region – the table is initially in order of the region for which the pass is most relevant – "region" being the volume number of the book in Wainwright's series ''Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells''.<ref group=vol name=vol1 /><ref group=vol name=vol2 /><ref group=vol name=vol3 /><ref group=vol name=vol4 /><ref group=vol name=vol5 /><ref group=vol name=vol6 /><ref group=vol name=vol7 /> Secondly the "route" – to help locate the routes on the maps in this article they have been given a sequence number. Finally the route's colour on the maps has been noted.}} <hr />Name{{refn|group=see|Following the reference is the name of the pass or of some named point on the route – sorting the table places it in alphabetical order of name.}} (path type){{refn|group=see|The type of path is in brackets. The terminology is as described in Rights of way in England and Wales.}} !style="text-align: left;" |Height/<ref group=see>Elevation (metres and feet) and OS grid reference of top of pass. – in a few instances the point named is some other waypoint (not the top) of the pass.</ref> OS grid !style="text-align: left;" |Start:<ref group=see name=startend>The "start and "end" locations of a pass are in arbitrary order and the valleys are those between which the pass travels. The actual places named are merely some identifiable low level locations on either side of the high point. No attempt is made to imply any length for the pass – the route via the col of the pass may be much shorter. The elevations of the terminating locations are of little relevance and no information is given about the elevation gained in crossing a pass.</ref> Valley/ place/ OS grid !style="text-align: left;" |End:<ref group=see name=startend /> Valley/ place/ OS grid !style="text-align: left;" class="unsortable"|Notes !style="text-align: left;" class="unsortable"|Image |- valign="top" |{{sort|Deepdale Hause| ''1/01/blue'' <hr />{{vanchor|Deepdale Hause|Deepdale Pass}}}} (footpath/path){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 1|loc=St Sunday Crag, p. 4; Hart Crag, p. 6}} | {{sort|0655|{{convert|655|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY360125}} ||Patterdale/ Bridgend/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY398143}} || Thirlmere/ Dunmail Raise/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY327117}} || Part way the footpath becomes an undefined type of path. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Grisedale Hause|''1/02/green'' <hr /> {{vanchor|Grisedale Hause|Grisedale Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 1|loc=Seat Sandal, p. 4}} || {{sort|0590|{{convert|590|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY350117}} ||Patterdale/ Grisedale Bridge/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY382156}} || Grasmere/ Mill Bridge/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY336091}} || || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Kirkstone Pass|''1/03/red'' <hr />{{anchor|Kirkstone Pass}}Kirkstone Pass}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 1|loc=Middle Dodd, p. 1}}|| {{sort|0454|{{convert|1489|ft|order=flip|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY401082}}||Patterdale/ Bridge End/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY399143}} ||Rothay / Ambleside/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY376047}} ||North: A592 (continuing to the town of Windermere). South: unclassified road. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Scandale Pass|''1/04/green'' <hr />{{vanchor|Scandale Pass}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 1|loc=Dove Crag, p. 3}} || {{sort|0516|{{convert|516|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY387095}} ||Patterdale/ Caudale Bridge/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY401110}} || Rothay Ambleside/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY384082}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Sticks Pass|''1/05/black'' <hr />{{vanchor|Sticks Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 1|loc=Stybarrow Dodd, p. 4}}|| {{sort|0738|{{convert|738|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY341182}}||Patterdale/ Glencoyne/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY387186}} || Thirlmere/ Legburthwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY318189}} || || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Boredale Hause|''2/06/magenta'' <hr />{{anchor|Boredale Hause|Boardale Hause}}Boredale Hause}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Place Fell, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0399|{{convert|399|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY408157}} ||Patterdale/ Hartsop/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY405132}} || Boredale/ Boredale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY418169}} || Or Boardale Hause || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Boredale Hause|''2/07/blue'' <hr />{{anchor|Boredale Hause|Boardale Hause}}Boredale Hause}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Place Fell, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0500|{{convert|500|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY417157}} ||Patterdale/ Patterdale/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY400161}} || Martindale/ Dale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY433164}} || Boredale Hause is not the high point of this route. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px  |- valign="top" |{{sort|Garburn Pass|2/''08/green'' <hr />{{vanchor|Garburn Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Ill Bell, p. 4}}|| {{sort|0447|{{convert|447|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY433043}}||Kentmere/ Kentmere/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY455044}} || Troutbeck/ (village)/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY423006}} || The southern part is a restricted byway that is now closed to vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lake District's Garburn Pass made a 'restricted byway'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-13640118|website=BBC News|accessdate=11 May 2016|date=3 June 2011|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527170908/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-13640118|archivedate=27 May 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Gatescarth Pass|''2/09/blue'' <hr />{{vanchor|Gatescarth Pass}}}} (restricted byway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Branstree, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0572|{{convert|572|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY473092}}||Mardale/ Mardale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY469107}} || Longsleddale/ Sadgill/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY483056}} || Restricted byway – open to all except motor vehicles (but permits are available).<ref>{{cite web|title=Gatescarth Pass |url=http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/green_roads/green_road_gatescarth |website=Lake District National Park |date=16 January 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605095859/http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/green_roads/green_road_gatescarth |archivedate=5 June 2016 |url-status=live |language=en }}</ref>||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Ketley Gate|''2/10/red'' <hr />{{anchor|Ketley Gate Pass}}Pass over Ketley Gate}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Loadpot Hill, p. 7}}|| {{sort|0323|{{convert|323|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY489223}} ||Eamont/ Pooley Bridge/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY479235}} || Lowther/ Helton/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY506210}} || Wainwright does not mention a name. ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Nan Bield Pass|''2/11/red'' <hr />{{vanchor|Nan Bield Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Harter Fell, p. 2}}||{{sort|0640|{{convert|640|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY452095}} ||Mardale/ Mardale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY468107}} || Kentmere/ Hallow Bank/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY464053}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Old Corpse Road, Mardale|''2/12/black'' <hr />{{vanchor|Old Corpse Road, Mardale}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 2|loc=Selside Pike, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0512|{{convert|512|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY493122}} ||Mardale/ (Mardale Green) {{gbmappingsmall|NY479118}} || Swindale/ Swindale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY504125}} || || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Greenup Edge Pass|''3/13/green'' <hr />{{anchor|Greenup Edge Pass}}Pass over Greenup Edge}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=High Raise, pp. 5,6}}|| {{sort|0608|{{convert|608|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY285105}} ||Rothay/ Easedale/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY327084}} || Stonethwaite/ Stonethwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY263138}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|High Tove|''3/14/green'' <hr />{{anchor|Pass over High Tove}}Pass over High Tove}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=High Tove, p. 1,2}}|| {{sort|0508|{{convert|508|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY288165}} ||Watendlath Valley/ Watendlath/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY275163}} || Thirlmere/ Armboth/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY304171}} || The traditional footpath crosses the summit of High Tove.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=High Tove, p. 1,2}}{{refn|group=note| The summit of High Tove is scarcely higher than the ridge it is on and the route is the driest way over the ridge.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3||loc=High Tove, p. 1,2}} }} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Long Moss Pass|''3/15/blue'' <hr />{{anchor|Long Moss Pass}}Pass over Long Moss}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=Armboth Fell, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0525|{{convert|525|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY296139}} ||Watendlath Valley/ Watendlath/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY275163}} || Thirlmere/ Wythburn/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY319131}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Megs Gill Pass|''3/16/blue'' <hr />{{anchor|Megs Gill Pass}}Pass near Megs Gill}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=Silver Howe, p. 2–6}}|| {{sort|0230|{{convert|230|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY328063}} ||Rothay/ Grasmere/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY333071}} || Great Langdale/ Chapel Stile/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY322055}} || Highest of three passes.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=Silver Howe, p. 2–6}} {{refn|group=note|Wainwright discusses three passes running roughly parallel – via Megs Gill, Hunting Style and Red Bank.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3||loc=Silver Howe, p. 2–6}}}}|| style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"|100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Esk Hause|''4/17/green'' <hr />{{anchor|Esk Hause}}Esk Hause}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Esk Pike, pp. 3–4}}|| {{sort|0759|{{convert|759|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY233081}} | Borrowdale/ Seathwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY235121}} | Eskdale/ Jubilee Bridge/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY211011}} || Just north there is col by a shelter that is often wrongly called "Esk Hause".{{Refn|group=note|name=falseeskhause}}{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Esk Pike, pp. 3–4}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Hardknott Pass|''4/18/red'' <hr />{{anchor|Hardknott Pass}}Hardknott Pass}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Hard Knott, p. 3}}||{{sort|0393|{{convert|393|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY231014}}||Duddon/ Cockley Beck/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY246016}} ||Eskdale/ Dalegarth station/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY174007}} || Unclassified public road, the gradient reaches 1 in 3 33%.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dale |first1=Sharon |title=Lake District: Rustic charmer |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/lake-district-rustic-charmer-1-7602980 |work=Yorkshire Post |date=5 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808001654/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/lake-district-rustic-charmer-1-7602980 |archivedate=8 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> || 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Harter Fell Pass|''4/19/blue'' <hr />{{anchor|Harter Fell Pass}}Pass near Harter Fell}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Harter Fell, p. 3–6}}|| {{sort|0355|{{convert|355|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|SD210993}} ||Duddon/ Seathwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|SD230974}} || Eskdale/ Hardknott Castle/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY213011}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Old Corpse Road, Wasdale|''4/20/black'' <hr />{{vanchor|Old Corpse Road, Wasdale}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Illgill Head, pp. 4,5; Scafell, pp. 5,7}}|| {{sort|0298|{{convert|298|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY184055}} ||Eskdale/ Boot/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY176012}} || Wasdale/ Wasdale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY186083}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Red Tarn Pass|''4/21/red'' <hr />{{vanchor|Red Tarn Pass}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Pike o' Blisco, pp. 3,6,8}}|| {{sort|0530|{{convert|530|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY267039}} ||Great Langdale/ Oxendale/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY276056}} || Little Langdale/ Three Shire Stone/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY275026}} || See Pike of Blisco and Cold Pike. ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Rossett Pass|''4/22/blue'' <hr />{{vanchor|Rossett Pass|Rossett Gill Pass|Rossett Hause}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Rossett Pike, pp. 3,4}}|| {{sort|0610|{{convert|610|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY246075}}||Great Langdale/ Mickleden/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY284061}} || Wasdale/ Wasdale Head {{gbmappingsmall|NY187086}} || There is a higher col on this pass at {{convert|722|m}} near Esk Hause.{{refn|group=note|name=falseeskhause|The Wasdale to Langdale route reaches the Sty Head Pass but does not descend north to Borrowdale but rather continues southeast to a high point at a col often wrongly called "Esk Hause" at {{gbmappingsmall|NY234083}} with an elevation {{convert|722|m}} (near a stone shelter). Rossett Pass is then crossed. The route was used for taking smuggled goods from Ravenglass.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4||loc=Rossett Pike, 3–4, Esk Pike, pp. 3–4}}}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Side Gates road|''4/23/green'' <hr />{{vanchor|Side Gates road|Blea Tarn road}}}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Lingmoor Fell, pp. 5–7}}|| {{sort|0224|{{convert|224|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY289051}} ||Great Langdale/ Rossett/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY285059}} || Little Langdale/ Ting Mound/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY302033}} || Also called Blea Tarn road.{{refn|group=note|A bridleway takes a similar route following the road for a short distance.}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Stake Pass|''4/24/magenta'' <hr />{{vanchor|Stake Pass}}}}{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Rossett Pike, p. 2}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 3|loc=Sergeant's Crag, p. 3}}|| {{sort|0480|{{convert|480|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY265087}} ||Borrowdale/ Rosthwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY259147}} || Great Langdale/ Mickleden/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY284061}} || On the Cumbria Way. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Sty Head Pass|''4/25/green'' <hr />{{anchor|Sty Head Pass}}Sty Head Pass}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Great End, pp. 4–5,7}}|| {{sort|0485|{{convert|488|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY218094}} ||Borrowdale/ Seathwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY234120}} || Wasdale/ Wasdale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY187086}} || Between Borrowdale and Wasdale (but also Langdale and Eskdale).{{refn|name=styhead|group=note}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Walna Scar Road|''4/26/red'' <hr />{{anchor|Walna Scar Road|Walna Scar Pass}}Walna Scar Road}} (restricted byway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Dow Crag, pp. 2,7,8}}{{sfn|Wainwright Outlying Fells|p=114}}|| {{sort|0608|{{convert|608|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|SD258964}} ||Coniston Water/ Coniston/ {{gbmappingsmall|SD301975}} || Duddon/ Seathwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|SD232967}} || Restricted byway – open to all except motor vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Motorised vehicle ban for Lake District's Walna Scar|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-16942068|website=BBC News|date=6 February 2012|accessdate=10 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925225731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-16942068|archivedate=25 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Wrynose Pass|''4/27/blue'' <hr />{{anchor|Wrynose Pass}}Wrynose Pass}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 4|loc=Crinkle Crags, p. 10}}||{{sort|0393|{{convert|393|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY277027}}||Duddon/ Cockley Beck/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY246016}} ||Little Langdale/ Fell Foot/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY300031}} || Unclassified public road. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"|100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Cumbria Way|''5/28/green'' <hr />{{anchor|Cumbria Way, Skiddaw Forest}}Cumbria Way, Skiddaw Forest}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 5|loc=Skiddaw, pp. 7–10}}|| {{sort|0490|{{convert|488|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY279305}} ||Bassenthwaite/ Peter House Farm/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY249323}} || Greta/ Gale Road/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY280253}} ||Cumbria Way via Skiddaw House.{{refn|group=note|This section of the Cumbria Way passes Skiddaw House (YHA) at {{gbmappingsmall|NY287291}} {{convert|1550|ft|order=flip}} passing from the Derwent Valley to the Eden Valley and back again.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 5|loc=Skiddaw Little Man, p. 3}}}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Skiddaw House Bunkhouse |url=http://www.caldew.org.uk/places/skiddawhouse/index.cfm |website=Caledew Community websites |publisher=caldew.org.uk |archivedate=28 September 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928100104/http://www.caldew.org.uk/Places/SkiddawHouse/index.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Coledale Hause|''6/29/magenta'' <hr />{{vanchor|Coledale Hause|Coledale Pass}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Grasmoor, pp. 3,4}}|| {{sort|0603|{{convert|603|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY189211}} ||Newlands/ Braithwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY227238}} || Crummock/ Lanthwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY159208}} || See Coledale (Cumbria). ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Hause Gate|''6/30/red'' <hr />{{vanchor|Hause Gate|Hause Gate Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Catbells, p. 6}}|| {{sort|0360|{{convert|360|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY244191}} ||Borrowdale/ Manesty/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY250185}} || Newlands/ Little Town/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY234195}} || Lucie's path to Catbells in ''The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle''. || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle"|130px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Newlands Hause|''6/31/magenta'' <hr />{{anchor|Newlands Hause|Newlands|Pass|Buttermere Pass|Buttermere Hause}}Newlands Hause}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Robinson, p. 6}}|| {{sort|0333|{{convert|333|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY193176}} ||Newlands/ Little Town/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY230201}} || Buttermere/ (village)/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY176170}} || Unclassified road. Often called Buttermere Hause.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Robinson, p. 6}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Sail Pass|''6/32/blue'' <hr />{{vanchor|Sail Pass}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Causey Pike, p. 3; Eel Crag, p.6}}|| {{sort|0625|{{convert|625|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY204204}} ||Derwent/ Braithwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY229231}} || Buttermere/ (village)/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY173171}} || This pass is far higher and not much shorter than Newlands Hause.{{refn|group=note|Wainwright frequently mentions this pass (he himself gave it the name).{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6||loc=Sail, pp. 2,3; Eel Crag, p.6}} Just below the pass there used to be a cobalt mine and the mine road came from Braithwaite.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6||loc=Scar Crags, p. 2}}}} ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Whinlatter Pass|''6/33/red'' <hr />{{anchor|Whinlatter Pass}}Whinlatter Pass}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 6|loc=Whinlatter, p. 6}}|| {{sort|0318|{{convert|318|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY205245}} || Newlands/ Braithwaite/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY230236}} || Cocker/ High Lorton/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY162258}} || B5292, B road. ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Aaron Slack|''7/34/magenta'' <hr />{{vanchor|Aaron Slack}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Green Gable, pp. 3,6}}|| {{sort|0750|{{convert|750|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY214105}} ||Ennerdale/ Black Sail Hut/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY194123}} || Borrowdale/{{refn|name=styhead|group=note}} Styhead Tarn/{{refn|group=note|Styhead Tarn is at {{convert|440|m}} and a short ascent reaches Sty Head}} {{gbmappingsmall|NY234120}} || High point at Windy Gap.{{refn|group=note|Only the Windy Gap to Styhead Tarn section is called Aaron Slack (slack means scree).{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7||loc=Green Gable, pp. 3,6}}}} Nearby is Sty Head with four onward routes.{{refn|name=styhead|group=note|From Sty Head, four valleys may be reached: (1) descent west via Styhead Pass to Wasdale, (2) descent northeast via Styhead Pass to Borrowdale, (3&4) ascent southeast to the col north of Esk Hause thence (3) up southwest over Esk Hause to Eskdale or (4) down southeast via Rossett Pass to Great Langdale.}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Black Sail Pass|''7/35/black'' <hr />{{vanchor|Black Sail Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Pillar, p. 8}}|| {{sort|0545|{{convert|545|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY191114}} || Wasdale/ Wasdale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY186087}} || Ennerdale/ Black Sail Hut/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY194123}} || Black Sail Hut is a Youth Hostel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brett |first1=Suzanna |title=Two years at Black Sail - England's loneliest youth hostel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/21/black-sail-youth-hostel-ennerdale-lake-district |work=Guardian |date=21 November 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310083446/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/21/black-sail-youth-hostel-ennerdale-lake-district |archivedate=10 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Floutern Tarn Pass|''7/36/green'' <hr />{{vanchor|Floutern Tarn Pass|Floutern Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Gavel Fell, p. 3; Hen Comb, p. 2; Starling Dodd, p. 3; Red Pike (Buttermere) p. 3}}|| {{sort|0416|{{convert|416|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY121172}} ||Buttermere/ (village)/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY175169}} || Ennerdale/ Whins/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY098167}} || Goes near Scale Force. ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Floutern Tarn Pass|''7/37/green'' <hr />{{vanchor|Floutern Tarn Pass|Floutern Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Gavel Fell, p. 3; Hen Comb, p. 2}}|| {{sort|0416|{{convert|416|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY121172}} ||Loweswater/ (village)/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY141209}} || Ennerdale/ Whins/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY098167}} || A branch off the pass going to Buttermere. ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Honister Pass|''7/38/red'' {{anchor|Honister Pass|Honister Hause}}Honister Pass}} (road){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Fleetwith Pike, p. 4}}|| {{sort|0356|{{convert|356|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY224136}}||Borrowdale/ Seatoller/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY245136}} ||Buttermere/ Gatesgarth/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY195149}} || B5289, B road.{{refn|group=note|A toll road ran from Grange to near Honister Hause but it is now a bridleway.}}|| style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |140px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Moses Trod|''7/39/magenta'' <hr />{{vanchor|Moses Trod|Moses Sledgate}}}} (footpath){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Great Gable, pp. 7,8,17,18; Fleetwith Pike, p. 4}}|| {{sort|0660|{{convert|660|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY209119}} ||Borrowdale/ Honister Hause/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY225135}} || Wasdale/ Wasdale Head/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY186088}} || An abandoned track for transporting slate.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Great Gable, pp. 7,8}}{{refn|group=note|Until about 1850 Moses Trod was used to transport slate from high-level quarries at Honister over to Wasdale. Although the route is also called the "Moses Sledgate" (gate is a path), it seems packhorses were used rather than sledges.{{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7||loc=Great Gable, pp. 7,8}}}} || style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 100px |- valign="top" |{{sort|Scarth Gap Pass|''7/40/blue'' <hr />{{vanchor|Scarth Gap Pass}}}} (bridleway){{sfn|Wainwright Vol 7|loc=Haystacks, p. 4,5,8}}|| {{sort|0445|{{convert|445|m|disp=br()|abbr=on}}}}/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY189133}} ||Buttermere/ Gatesgarth/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY194150}} || Ennerdale/ Black Sail Hut/ {{gbmappingsmall|NY194123}} || ||style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 160px |}

===Notes for table header=== {{reflist|group=see}} [[File:Helvellyn Striding Edge 360 Panorama, Lake District - June 09.jpg|thumb|640px|center|360° panorama from Striding Edge, leading up to Helvellyn]] {{clear}}

==Selection criteria== The hill passes listed are routes within the Lake District National Park between two different valleys where a pathway is marked on the Ordnance Survey 1:50000 or 1:25000 map. Passes to be considered may be listed as "pass" or "hause" in the Ordnance Survey 1:50000 gazetteer provided also that a route crossing the ridge is marked on the map.<ref>{{cite web|title=1:50 000 Scale Gazetteer|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-and-government/products/50k-gazetteer.html|website=www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=11 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417103758/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-and-government/products/50k-gazetteer.html|archivedate=17 April 2016|df=dmy-all}} This product is still available to download although it has been officially "withdrawn".</ref> Also included are routes described as passes in Wainwright's Guides and in other authoritative sources provided still that they go between different valleys. To be listed a pass does not necessarily have a name (though most do have names) nor does it need to cross a col (but nearly all do traverse cols). A few have been excluded when the gain in elevation seems rather small (less than about {{convert|100|m}} – this particularly applies with paved roads.

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==References==

===Citations=== {{reflist|2}}

===Volumes in Wainwright's ''Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells''=== The following individual volumes are part of a boxed set: *{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=The Complete Pictorial Guides: A Reader's Edition (Pictorial Guide Lakeland Fells)|date=2008|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-07112-2953-2|ref=none}} <references group=vol> <ref name="vol1">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book One, The Eastern Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2943-3|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 1}}}}(same content as first 1955 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol2">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Two, The Far Eastern Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2944-0|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 2}}}}(same content as first 1957 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol3">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Three, The Central Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2945-7|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 3}}}}(same content as first 1958 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol4">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Four, The Southern Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2946-4|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 4}}}}(same content as first 1960 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol5">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Five, The Northern Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2947-1|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 5}}}}(same content as first 1962 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol6">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Six, The North Western|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2948-8|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 6}}}}(same content as first 1964 edition)</ref> <ref name="vol7">{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=Book Seven, The Western Fells|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2949-5|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Vol 7}}}}(same content as first 1966 edition)</ref> </references> *{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=The Outlying Fells of Lakeland|date=2009|publisher=Frances Lincoln|isbn=978-0-7112-2952-5|ref={{sfnref|Wainwright Outlying Fells}}}}(same content as first 1968 edition)

===Other works cited=== *{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Alan|title=Landscapes of Cumbria, No. 4: Lakeland rocks : an introductory guide.|date=2010|publisher=Rigg Side Publications|isbn=978-0-9544679-3-7}} *{{cite book|last1=Turnbull|first1=Ronald|title=Granite and grit : a walker's guide to the geology of British mountains|date=2011|publisher=Frances Lincoln|location=London|isbn=978-0-7112-3180-1}}

<!--==Location map== {{location map+|United Kingdom Lake District|relief=1|width=720|caption=caption|places=

{{location map~|United Kingdom Lake District |label=Esk|mark=|marksize=8|position=bottom|lat=54.462917|long=-3.184004}} {{location map~|United Kingdom Lake District |label=Sty|mark=|marksize=8|position=bottom|lat=54.474368|long=-3.207483}} {{location map~|United Kingdom Lake District |label=Sea|mark=|marksize=8|position=bottom|lat=54.497974|long=-3.183474}} {{location map~|United Kingdom Lake District |label=WaH|mark=|marksize=8|position=bottom|lat=54.466693|long=-3.255089}} }} --> == External links == {{Lake District}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Lake District}} List of hill passes of the Lake District Hill passes Hill passes