Hardknott Pass

Hardknott Pass
Hardknott Pass from Hardknott Roman Fort
Elevation	393 m (1,289 ft)
Traversed by	Eskdale - Duddon road
Location	Lake District National Park, Cumbria
Range	Cumbrian Mountains
Coordinates	54°24′10″N 3°11′50″W / 54.40269°N 3.197118°W / 54.40269; -3.197118Coordinates: 54°24′10″N 3°11′50″W / 54.40269°N 3.197118°W / 54.40269; -3.197118

Hardknott Pass is a hill pass that carries a minor road between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England. The tarmacked highway, which is the most direct route from the central Lake District to West Cumbria, shares the title of steepest road in England (the other is Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire). It has a maximum gradient of 1 in 3 (about 33%).

The pass takes its name from Hard Knott which is derived from the Old Norse harthr (hard) and knutr (craggy hill).

A single track road highway runs between Eskdale in the west to the edge of the neighbouring Wrynose Pass in the east. On the western side is Harter Fell and the remains of Hardknott Roman Fort (200 metres (660 ft) above sea level).

The Hardknott Pass stands at a maximum elevation of 393 m (1,289 ft). The Isle of Man in the Irish Sea can be seen on clear days. The road descends steeply at a gradient of 30% (1 in 3) into the Duddon Valley. At the eastern end of the pass is Cockley Beck farmhouse, it was built in the 1860s and currently owned by the National Trust. The route from Hardknott leads eastward towards the Wrynose Pass and Ambleside.

The pass is described as one of the most challenging roads in Britain. A series of hairpin bends make visibility difficult in various places. Traffic ascending the pass have priority as advised by the Highway Code. The pass is often closed in winter due to ice that makes the route impassable for vehicles. The challenging 1 in 3 gradients make the route popular with cyclists. It is part of the annual Fred Whitton Challenge, a 112-mile ride around the Lake District.