Hardknott Pass & Wrynose Pass. Is this one of the most dangerous roads in England?
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- Опубліковано 1 гру 2024
- I discovered Hardknott Pass by chance. Back in April 2017, we were going to see the Roman Fort. It was raining a little, so the road was wet and slippery. Once or twice one of my rear wheels lost traction completely. So passing these passes in a mid-sized family saloon was a real treat.
This time we went there just to enjoy the road. We stopped by the Roman fort as well :)
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I've ridden these passes often enough, they are a lot of fun. The video flattens everything out a lot, it's much much steeper than it looks, especially Wrynose
Perhaps I had better tell you I did it in 1956 and 7 on a 1955 Ariel 650cc motoercycle
@@walkerhjk wow that’s awesome, I bet you didn’t encounter much in the way of traffic either.
Did this one 50 years ago with me and 3 friends in my dear old 1965 Hillman Minx car. Talk about brake fade! Two way traffic as well - terrifying and brilliant!
The problem is NONE of the youtube videos fully capture how tricky/scary it is. The cameras just don't do the gradients and turns justice.
It's no real challenge without meeting a Mountain Goat minibus or two near the summits. Drove this first in 1980, then second time mid nineties, let the girlfriend have a go from the Eskdale end. She said it was the hardest piece of driving she ever did
@@foxstranglerYeah I wheel spun on that final right bend coming from Eskdale. West to East is harder.
Very much underrates the true impressiveness of the terrain!
Thank you for bringing back happy memories my husband and I had our honeymoon in the lakes, he worked in a garage in Ambleside and had to go and rescue drivers who had gotten into trouble. In the video I was fascinated by the cloud formations because I love clouds, so thank you again😊
Verrry nice. just passed our 50th =:-O
@inyobil
Congratulations; mine only lasted eighteen years, my wife got fed up with my being an HGV driver and away so much, so she wanted out. I stayed with it till I retired!! Well, it's all a question of priorities, isn't it?😂😂😂😂
Great memories, this has brought back, but the roads, wow, look really bad now.
I got to drive the pass shortly before I took my driving test (ca 1970). Both directions. Mother, brother and sister along for the ride: sister in nail-biting silence, brother lapping it up and mother having kittens all the way. My dad was of the opinion that if I could drive up without stalling and down again correctly using the gears for breaking I'd pass easily. Seems he was right.
Ah back in the days when just proving you could move the car forwards and backwards, was enough for a licence 😂
Beautiful scenery-makes me appreciate what gorgeous countryside we have.
Couldn't agree more!
Not as good as Scotland or Italy
I love my visits to Britain, between the comfy landscapes and the super-nice people, _cannot_ be beaten.
Superb scenery! Many thanks for taking the time and making the effort to create and share this excellent video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Loved driving the pass but the highlight is the remains of the Roman fort they must have been tough it’s bleak up there in winter.
Happy memories! Our first time in the Lake District we booked the campsite at the other end of the pass (in complete ignorance of it) - arriving after dark in a rented and staggeringly underpowered Peugeot 208. Roads got smaller and smaller and suddenly it was pitch black with steep inclines and drops and no traffic. After dodging the occasional sheep suddenly appearing in the headlights, I hit the brake at the S-bend in the intro to avoid going over the edge. Then found the car literally could not hill-start in those conditions! After panicked rolling backwards towards the previous bend (in dark, with drops and walls) I only made it, with much clutch-burning, after my wife got out to lighten the load **just** enough...
Welcome to the Lake District. Driving around the lanes of the Lakes at night is an art.... I was born here 60+ plus years ago, and I'm just getting the hang of it.....
Uncannily similar experience in a 1.0 Metro - although my girlfriend didn't become my wife...
Wrynose pass in a Morris Minor. Scary.
We did it in the 1980s in our 20 year old VW camper. Even in daylight we had a mad moment trying to negotiate the S bend in 2nd gear. We also had to drop back and take a run at it in 1st gear, only just managing to get over. We felt good about making it and rested on top for the night to recover and enjoy the scenery. While the evening advanced, we watched many exotic classic automobiles making the climb up. They all seemed to make it successfully and presumably they were on some club challenge. The following day I recall we visited the remarkable Roman Fort which is up there too. A memorable experience indeed but I wouldn't want to repeat it in the dark.
❤❤got the car cheap?.? 1st lesson the hardest
We drove this in our 1956 Morris 1000 in 1975. It was a heatwave and the road surface was soft and melting. Every time I applied the brakes, the tyres squealed. Ascending blind hairpin bends on at times 1 in 3 hills was very scary. I had to apply full power and steering lock and pray. At least once the car couldn't make the hill, and I had to back and try and build up more speed. I was so hot and sweaty my shirt was stained red from the leatherette seat! Happy days! Thankyou for posting this video!
Great film Yevhen,brought a lot of memories back of when my parents lived at nearby Seascale. We used to visit the Roman fort back in the 50s, early excavations then, massive difference now! Those two 1 in 3 bends (Eskdale side) were killers for clutches and nerves, my father would not risk it in his 1938 Austin 10 , rod brakes no discs and hydraulics then.
Thank you
What a great vid'. No "me-me-me" Commentary. Just the joy of my favourite drive.
Mind you! It does need driving skills that are sadly lacking in a lot of people. Such as thinking ahead with courtesy and consideration for other road users.
Glad you enjoyed it
Lovely road through beautiful scenery. Best in Spring or Autumn - Summer gets too busy. Love the lack of heavy metal soudtrack that so many would try to add.
I spent a month up there on an outward bound course in 1968 , i was from a big dirty city and this was my first taste of what beauty was, I moved to New Zealand because of the lake districts affect on me, Thank you for this reminder.
Wow, this brings back the memories, first time in 1973 in a knackered 850cc mini with 4 up. Car radiator boiled up by the time we got to the top of Hardknott and again at Wrynose. Fortunately we had enough water on board to cope with these incidents. If you really want a brown trouser experience try the Bealach na Ba in western Scotland. I traversed it in 1974 in a mk2 Jag, no boil ups this time, but the car's length and lack of power steering made the hairpins very difficult. At the time, the coast road was being built, so the pass was the only way to get to Applecross.
Bealach na Ba is superb.
The Roman fort is well worth taking a look at as well. I drove through the pass in similar conditions last summer. Definitely an experience that will stay in the memory.
Drove it once in August 1985 in a Saab 900 Turbo with a dodgy ignition controller. Quite interesting, especially as I was "enjoying" the wettest holiday of my entire now 77 year life.
Ancient yellow VW Golf 3 door hatchback with a worn clutch: rock climbing trip.
It couldn’t make the last incline.
The passenger door didn’t open….not did the handbrake hold it.
The passenger slid his foot onto the brake pedal whilst myself and mate got out from the back ‘seat’ (no…no seat….sitting on foam sleeping mats with backpacks for a backrest)
We then gave manual assistance to crest the hill.
Good times…
It’s a doddle on good dry weather days - a different matter in misty, poor visibility and icy conditions
Many years ago I drove this in a 2CV - which added to the excitement! - thanks: this brought back the memories
My one and only time over that pass was in a nice powerful Granada, but it was an automatic and so you needed to use the brakes a lot. Half way back down the brakes started to squeal as they were obviously close to wearing out..... Found somewhere with the pads in stock, and simply replaced them myself (had enough tools with me to get the pins out...) while grovelling in the dust near Seascale. A few years later they discovered quite high levels of radioactivity in that very dust resulting from the discharge from the nearby nuclear power plant.....
Come to southern Ireland and drive the connor pass on the Dingle peninsula in Co kerry and the Tim Healy pass between Kenmare Co Kerry and Castletownbear Co Cork . Truely spectacular scenery and really scary
Thank you for suggestion. I have never been to Ireland so one more reason to go there.
First time over this road in a car was just after dusk going to Seascale in our then one year old Reliant Kitten YDN333R in 1978, great fun, only 848cc but romped over the hills with wife and 9 yr old son plus baggage for a weekend away!
Much better on a pushbike touring the Lake District and best going West as you get the great views towards the Isle of Man as you get towards Boot (assuming it's daytime and not foggy!).
It seems to scare the pants off some folk, but when you're used to the banks in the North Yorkshire Moors like Rosedale Chimney it's just a magnificent road with superb scenery that takes your breath away if you're not used to mountainous roads.
Definitely one of my favourite routes and on a par with some of the big French cols!
Duke's Pass, Callander to Aberfoyle. Just passed my test at 17 (1981) decided to go for a drive in my mums Renault five (remember those). All Renault five brakes felt like they were made out of compressed grass. On the very long steep descent into Aberfoyle I suffered severe brake fade. OMG I have never been so scared of dying before or since.
I Did it in 1970 on a 1943 Harley Davidson motorcycle which had hand gear change and a foot operated clutch and no rear suspension! The hairpin bends were challenging to say the least !
Did It on my kawasaki Kh 500 the widow maker it flew up it !!
I did it a few times about 40 years or more ago. It was one of the most challenging roads even back then when there were no potholes to contend with. I'm not at all sure I would want to do it again now at the age of 72 and with potholes seemingly everywhere!
Great video - First time was in 1976 Vauxhall Victor, a lot more crowded these days in summer, many nice places to brew a pot of tea on the camping Gaz.
Many years ago I had to unload the 2 dogs and myself so husband could continue in our Fiat 126 Happy memories
Absolutely fantastic ,should be on the TV to show what this country has to offer. This used to be used as a competitive section on one of the Motoring News Road Rally Championship rounds I think it was the R L Brown Rally , it was timed at about 55mph at night OMG and I think some of the top crews came close to cleaning it, sadly I never had the car or the skill to compete at that level! damn. I hear you say dangerous, but I think the driving standards where better then than some drivers are now! Great memories .
I drove on this road and nearly blew the engine on my cherished 3 yr old 1ltr Vauxhall Corsa! It was 1st gear on the verge of stall, the temp guage shot over to the right, I was sweating like a pig with anxiety! I had a brainwave of putting the inside heater blowers on full with full heat temp, even though it was a summer heatwave outside. It worked! The problem with this road (track) you cannot gain any momentum cos of the blind hairpin bends, & near vertical incline. You cannot appreciate the difficulties on camera. Not to take away a brilliant vld.
Been over this a few times on a bicycle, one of which was during a hunt for black arrows.
To explain, in the days before satnav, decent maps used to have a > or < symbol to indicate the direction of a steep hill (There could be more than one arrow for an especially steep hill).
The object of the game was to plan and cycle a route for one day, that had the greatest number of black arrows.
Thanks for posting this. The first time I drove over this; there four of us in an 850cc mini. The second time I was driving an Escort van. Both times we were traveling from Boot and both times I had problems going up. Filming it is not the same as driving it.
I did this drive few years ago in similar conditions to this video and the scenery was breathtaking. If there were any scary moments it was trying anticipate the actions of opposing vehicle drivers. Otherwise enjoyed every moment of this Pass.
Did this drive coming from the other way by mistake once took a wrong turning but wow is it impressive. Those steep sharp bends going up the car was on three wheels because of the steepness and sharpness of the turns lovely drive but not for the faint hearted.
like the sceneary dont think that roads all that bad been on worse in scotland if i was driveing it would be a lot slower than you i bet the scenary looks awesome in the winter when it snows i am quessing roads closed at that time love the sheep dont envy the farmer who tends them a long way from anywhere thanks for sharing
Having driven this road in both directions I didn’t find it scary or dangerous providing you are sensible and drive carefully. We did come across one gentleman who appeared incapable of reversing his car in a straight line but most drivers appeared to be ok with the situation including a coach driver who admittedly had to shunt back and forth on some of the bends, the coach was empty save one brave passenger.
I'd be coming past buildings and farms a lot slower than this, allow for possibility of sheep, dogs, children coming out of gates or people stepping out of doors adjacent to road. Country driving is all about respect and anticipation. Love these roads, my favourite drives and like lonely quiet places.
Went parts in reverse in a Bedford van in 1961. The potholes are still there!
I went up whilst youth hosteling in a Novemver the mid 70s with a Friend (Chris W.) I went up the steep dide on 44*28. I got to the cusp at the top sometimes after the fort. A headwind caight me. I did a 2 minute trackstand-couldn't move the pédales, and fell over. Walked the last 100 mètres. Going Down frightened me-I was afraid of going off the road. (I did that coming off Tansley tops to Rowsley, Derbyshire-ended up head-butting a tree.)
Going down hill always is scarier and you always start wondering just how good a job you last did maintaining your brakes!
The roman fort is the perfect excuse to travel this road.
Thanks for the memories, drove it both ways, was surprised to to see a couple of small motorhomes up there though!
On the question of Hard Knott vs the Burway, it's like comparing apples and pairs. Yes, there's quite a drop on the left of The Burway if you're driving downhill, which I dare say can be a bit scary, especially for any nearside passengers, but it's probably less than a mile long, no hairpin bends to speak of, and not as steep. Hard Knott is a beast by comparison. Have driven over and back a few times. The only time my ex wife ever heard me drop the F bomb was on the first occasion, coming face to face with another car whilst driving uphill around one of the steep hairpin bends, without apparently anywhere for either of us to pull over. All in all a really exhilarating experience. If you're ever up in Scotland, head for the Bealach Na Ba road to Applecross.
Pears
@@Royboy50 good spot!! Sad to say that I'm most embarrassed, as a fully paid up member of The Grammar Nazis 🙂
@@johnwilliams575 sorry John it’s a bit pedantic and sometimes you don’t notice if spell checker messes up ,but I’ve been up that pass from the steep side on a rainy Easter Day in my c class and my god it struggled on those hairpins,atb John
Great! Have been over the pass several times. Great film but it doesn't give the impression of the steepness - especially on those bends at the western end. Can be very scary especially if you get someone coming the other way, stuck on a tight bend because they have panicked!
More fun than Disneyland. Do take notice of Snow Warnings. One time hit by blizzard at the top and the road simply vanished. Luckily I could follow local in Land Rover. Pure adrenalin.
We did it back in May 1983. Luckily my husband was used to small alpine roads and passes. I was terrified when the bends became so sharp and steep! But we made it! The scenery was incredible! We had far more traffic then than shown in this video. Mostly cars and people walking. Not many bikes.
You wanna try it in icy conditions ,,there s a farmer on other side selling underwear and toilet paper 🧻😮
Well done nice drive, considerate driving, not always easy.
Thank you
I found them no problem in my 1200 Micra. What I was very cautious about was the single track, high-hedged road to the east of the Pass, once I had descended.
I’m hoping to do this on my motorbike this year. I planned it in 2020, and had to cancel of course.
When approaching Hardknott Pass, warn passengers that they may need to jump out and push. I’ve done this myself, and I see this advice is supported by other comments.
Try doing it in a Hillman Clubman with dodgy brakes and a worn out clutch while a cycle race is coming the other way…. Oh such joy 😱
You've posted a drive around Bodmin, so you definitely know that Cornish roads are at least this scary. Next time you're down that way, try the coast road from St Ives through Zennor to St Just then on to Lands End. Also the roads around Mousehole are an experience, especially with double decker buses coming the other way!
Yes, I know that road. We visited Zennor and Lands End last summer.
The Bloomfield track in far north Queensland,although not a road is quite gruelling but worth it for the spectacular view into the gorge on the north end just outside Cooktown and see big crocs sunning themselves.
Thanks
They run a bus service up there, the bus is called "The mountain goat"
Great journey❤️
Not really too "scary" to begin with, but then that's because you haven't got as far as the steep hairpins on the descent of Hardknott at that time, (which makes your title a little confusing, because it implies Hardknott Pass THEN Wrynose Pass!)
Nice to see that you included footage of Mediobogdum, (Hardknott Fort remains,) since most people producing similar videos don't even seem to notice it when they pass!
Just to avoid confusion , the video starts with Wrynose Pass, then (see 42:42) Hardknott Pass.
The caption at the beginning is a little misleading: it reads "Hardknott Pass" as you're actually entering Wrynose Pass.
Wrynose runs from Little Langdale to The Duddon Valley, then later Hardknott Pass runs from The Duddon Valley to Eskdale. The stretch of road inbetween in the Duddon Valley is indicated by the River Duddon, running near to the road on the North side, so if you're travelling west, it's on your right, (and of course on your left if you're travelling east,) The traditional delineation markers of the two passes are the cattle grids at either end of each pass.
If you consider this scary I suggest that you get out more often and broaden your horizons.
You must be a city slicker nothing terribly unusual about this road when you travel around our wonderful countryside
best comment. obviously not used to getting out very much judging by the speed he was taking those single track country lanes at - not really appreciating the terrain. also noticed that he pulled over once or twice with no oncoming traffic and that he didn't have to slow down or pull over for another car at all in reality. strange that! v2k and all other road users under control.
My wife and I drove this pass in 1973 in a HB Vauxhall Viva great drive until on one of the steepest parts an idiot came flying down my side of the road. Just missed us by inches but car stalled as I tried to drive on again. No choice but to back down to a layby ditch my new wife out of the car a take a wheel spinning flyer to make the top. We are still together 50 years on. Its when of UK's best drives when its fine. Not so good in the rain
Did this road 50+ years ago with my mum and dad! The road was so steep in places, you couldn't see above the bonnet going up,, then when we went down one hill, dad turned the engine off to coast down and didn't realise the brakes didn't work without the engine!!! Now THAT was scarey!!!
Try it on a 49cc moped. It’s a bundle of laughs!
The first ad is for the worlds Number 1 supplier of banned and counterfeit goods. I banned these ads from my channel in my ads preference settings. A truly great bit of scenery to ride through though 👍
terryfying when theres black ice on it, 🙃
Nice vid, that's definitely one to do on a motorbike though! 🙂
Definitely!
Done that many times. Some corners are really scary on the Bike. Very steep and suddenly goes to the right or left and the road is uneven with cars gripping the Tarmack. Fall and gravity is unforgiving with no level ground. It just wants to pull you over. But feels great when the power pulls you up with no obstructions to mess you up. Really feel the power then. Best holding back for traffic So you get a clear run. Safer.
I used to drive a Mountain Goat bus along that route twice a week in the 1980’s
Shame about the cut at 21:43, otherwise great video. The first section is Wrynose Pass then down into the valley, over the bridge, up and over Hardknott Pass. I think its easy enough the direction you went, its tricker doing Hardknott first if its wet then Wrynose, you can lose traction on those steep twisty sections of Hardknott at times. I did it in both directions, both times in a big heavy Jaguar XJ6. Great fun!
Camera's battery died so I had to stop and change it.
When you set off @ 27 seconds titaling Hardknott, you are wrong. That was the bottom of Wrynose pass from Langdale. Once over and down you then passed through the valley and the sharp right turn at Cockley Beck. This then is Hardknott........
Yes, I know :)
Still scary on film! At least you didn’t scream all the way down! 😂😂😊
Doesn't get much easier than from Ambleside in a car on a nice dry sunny day.
Try it on a motorcycle from Eskdale side in the wet in winter.
That's scary but fun.
Even more scary on a motorbike and Cambridge side car
Try our Bwlch !. This easy peesy. Any sheep who would decimate a tank. Thanks. Dave
Try the pass to Apple cross bay in Scotland shorter but much worse , went up in a motor home very narrow and struggled in first gear
thanks for the memories
Only found out about this road when I saw it on Hell On Earth (UA-cam channel) and they did as it was getting dark and danky weather.
*_“What is it about the English countryside - why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?”_*
Dodie Smith, _I Capture the Castle_
EDIT - Lovely video 8-))...
Thanks
I walked it at 17 with a 60Lb pack. It wan't scary but 8 hours of hard work.
Start at 22 minutes and playback at 2x speed, great road try and do it in the week not so busy
Yah, no, lemme suggest a couple drives in California. That route is a stroll in the park barely quals as "curvy", drop-offs moderate. I did driver training (ummmnmnnnmnnn, ..., yah, that many years ago. Thinking about how long ago that was frightens me.) on tougher roads. 00:34: Displaying above-average to advanced driving skill right there, nicely played.
England has few scary roads. On this one, the scary part is mainly the lack of width. Some drivers can be a worrying factor. Generally, the road surface is reasonable, and there are not many bad drop-offs.
Would be better with warning signs at some points.
Glad you got the same nobheads as I did the one's that don't know to give way to traf5going up hill
drove up here 50 years ago following a citreon 2cv who halfway up decided to try and do a 3 point turn to go back down,i really thought he was going to go over the top.
as some one said it does not look so steep on this video but by god it is..
Respect for other road users, stopping to allow cyclists to pass I salute you!
I've ridden a push bike and motor bike and driven a car over this and Wrynose Pass together and in both directions. Interesting but not scary.
yup - i've never done wrynose pass but happened upon hardnott pass without knowing it was a 'thing' in 1988 and just drove it on my way back to my holiday cottage. not scary. the burway is near to me and cars have been known to plop off the edge and into cardingmill valley below but not lately as i think the insurance companies got wise to the fact that everyone miraculously was 'thrown clear' of their rapidly descending vehicle!
Wondering why the roads are not widened.I have been on these roads as a back seat passenger.😮😮😮
My husband used to cycle this and wrynose pass .I've been there in the car and it scared the hell out of me. This doesn't do it justice
I once went to the Long Mind in Shropshire. Some scary roads there
Is this the one above Keswick !!? I couldn't get up it in my Ford Transit campervan ! The rear wheels just kept spinning . Had to go back and take a good run up ,avoid any wet patches as much a possible ! It took me about one hour !
Lovely filming.
Thats not the scariest road though.
Try the Burway on the Longmynd, Shropshire.
I've never been prone to panic attacks before but when going up there for the first time recently and not being aware of what was coming up , I nearly had one.
Glad there was an option for a gentler decent on the far side of the hill range, albeit a much longer route to take back 😅
Thanks for suggestion. Definitely will try the Burway.
The Burway is fun, for maximum enjoyment try it towing a glider trailer.
@@ChrisRowland-c7w I would only ever consider going up either of the two steep access routes if I had something with wings or a parachute immediately at hand, I can assure you 😅
We got stuck on here one hot summer's day in the early 70s Someone had tried to take a caravan over though it is clearly signposted not to. other people had got stuck behind it and traffic built up clearly no one had a clue. I had to get out of the vehicle and sort out where people should go to undo the traffic jam. clueless drivers are the problem not the roads. If you think this is the scariest road in England you haven't been on Chimney Bank in Rosedale. Hardknott is 1 in 4 Chimney bank is 1 in 2 and1/2. Something else to get filming is the road to Applecross in Scotland not the new one near the coast the old one that is often closed in Winter. Enjoy! I heard your breaks beginning to squeal. Using the gearbox mor than usual and well, e is the answer to not burning out your breaks on these roads.
It's a robust cycle ride but it's hardly scary.
I've driven them both and, yes, they are tricky but I don't think they're as scary as The Burway from Ratlinghope to Church Stretton in Shropshire or, for that matter, the road down from the top of the Long Mynd by the Gliding Centre to Asterton although they're not as long.
Lovely area, but Hardknott pass is easy, I've done it an 22 year old SLK and Ford Transit long wheelbase minibus (which was more fun then the SLK). In fact had so much fun I turned around and went back again twice, oh and I'm not a minibus driver by trade! :)
Thanks Robert. I've done it twice myself. The first time was in 2017 on a rainy day in early April.
@@YevhenYaremchukWhat about the scariest road in the whole of the UK - the Pass of the Cattle (Bealach - na - Ba) at Applecross in Wester Ross, Scotland? Much scarier, and much higher, than Hardknott Pass.
@@lorddaver5729 Yes, it's in my list already.
Yep done Applie Cross as well.@@lorddaver5729
Almost perfect, the only thing missing is the roar of a V8 engine.
Agree, I would love that as well :)
Scariest road? Try Bur view, near Long Mynd, Shropshire
myself and three friends done this a few years ago in two old land rovers
Try the Healy Pass on Cork/Kerry border in Ireland, far more scary. Also the Connor Pass outside Dingle, crazy narrow n dangerous
Someone always has to go one better, I'm sure there are hundreds more scary than Healy Pass in the Andes or Sierra Madre, but so what.
What's the point of racing along ?
Try "The Nasty wee road" in Scotland. It does exist and its worth doing.
Thank you for suggestion!
Scary in winter maybe with ice and snow. Not scary on a day like this.