Newlands Pass is a narrow and perilously steep road in England
Newlands Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 333m (1,093ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Lake District, in Cumbria, England. The route has humbled many egos.
Can you drive to Newlands Pass?
The road to the summit, also known as Nwlands Hause, is totally paved but narrow: a perilously steep road snaking up. The summit hosts a small parking lot. It’s a really fun drive with fantastic views but not for a faint hearted driver especially if the weather is bad. It’s a serious drive which can get quite hairy at times when negotiating with cars coming the other way. The road is single-track and narrow in places with unforgiving dry stone walls. This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. There are sheer drops with no barriers.
Is Newlands Pass open?
The pass is 10.94km (6.8 miles) long, running from Buttermere to Braithwaite. Access to the pass is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions.
How steep is Newlands Pass?
The road to the summit is brutally steep, hitting an 18.4% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The road has a series of hairpin bends that can be unnerving for drivers of cars and minibuses (heavier vehicles are advised not to use the pass), especially as the tarmac has become quite smooth in places. Rising steadily to start with, after a section with a good view ahead the first, more serious inclines appear.