Honister Slate Mine

The Honister Slate Mine in Cumbria is the last working slate mine in England. Quarrying for Westmorland green slate has been taking place in the area since the late 17th century. Apart from the mining it is also a popular tourist attraction in the Lake District National Park.

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1.1 km

Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine

Seatoller Wood, Sourmilk Gill & Seathwaite Graphite Mine is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within Lake District National Park on the slopes above Seathwaite in Borrowdale, the valley of the River Derwent. The woodland is exceptional because of the lichen and liverwort species found there and the Red Squirrels that live there.

Hiking Landmark

Grey Knotts

Grey Knotts is a fell in the English Lake District. It is situated one kilometre (2⁄3 mile) south of the B5289 road as it crosses the Honister Pass. It is well seen from mid-Borrowdale as it rises above Seatoller. Grey Knotts reaches a height of 697 metres (2,287 feet) and is part of a ridge which ascends from the woodland behind Seatoller and continues south-west and then south for four kilometres to Great Gable. The fell's name really only applies to the summit rocks, but has been adopted for the entire fell with the high ground in this area, locally known as Seatoller Fell on Ordnance Survey maps.

Hiking Landmark

Honister Pass

Honister Pass is a mountain pass in the Lake District in Cumbria, England. It is located on the B5289 road, linking Seatoller, in the valley of Borrowdale, to Gatesgarth at the southern end of Buttermere. The pass reaches an elevation 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, using the Cumbrian word hause for such a feature. Honister Pass is one of three passes that link the tourist area around Keswick, including Derwent Water and Borrowdale, with the valley of the River Cocker, including the lakes of Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater. From north to south these passes are Whinlatter Pass, Newlands Pass and Honister Pass. Honister Slate Mine and Honister Hause Youth Hostel are located at the summit of the pass. 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 5 December 2015 during Storm Desmond, 341.4 mm (13.44 in) of rain fell there.

Hiking Landmark

Honister Crag

Honister Crag is a fell in the English Lake District. It has a height of 634 metres. It is adjacent to Fleetwith Pike, a higher summit, but it can claim to be a fell in its own right, as it is a Nuttall – one of the hills in England and Wales that are at least 2,000 feet (610 metres) high with a relative height of at least 15 metres (49.2 feet). Honister Crag is of interest to rock-climbers.

Hiking Landmark