If you’re looking for a challenge, why not try Via Ferrata in the Lake District? Honister slate mine is home to the UK’s first Via Ferrata and offers three routes of varying difficulty. All three routes provide a fantastic opportunity to sample exposure usually only experienced through climbing and mountaineering.
To start this activity we kit you up with a harness, helmet, and a set of Via Ferrata lanyards which we use to clip to a steel cable that provides our safety system. Depending on the chosen route, we make progress up the exposed northern flanks of Fleetwith Pike or within its labyrinth of tunnels and caverns.
Via Ferrata originated in the Dolomites (Northern Italy) and literally means ‘iron path’. They were used strategically by the military for moving soldiers and munitions through the mountains during the First World War. Their legacy has left an array of challenging and exciting routes and thus recreational Via Ferrata was born.
The Via Ferrata at Honister also provides great insight into slate mining and the rich industrial history of the area which is thought to date back to Roman times. All three routes start after a section of mine tunnels and roughly follow the old mine workings.
* Based on a minimum group size of four.
Please Note: Our prices are in line with Honister who stipulate the cost.
The Classic Via Ferrata roughly follows the old miner’s incline. Iron ‘staples’ and sections of ladders have been installed to make progress easier. This route starts with a relatively easy section which gives you a taste of what it’s all about.
The Extreme route shares the same start as the Classic route, but then it crosses the Burma Bridge (wire bridge). It then takes a tenuous line up the rocky ridge on the other side, with a section of cargo net to finish.
Climb in the Mine is essentially a subterranean Via Ferrata that explores some of the vast tunnels and caverns within the mine itself and is a great option if the weather outside is unsuitable for either of the external routes.
Honister Classic Via Feratta and Climb in the Mine both take approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. Honister Extreme Via Ferrata takes approximately 3-3.5 hours. Up to ten people can participate.
We offer a range of scheduled activities that are open to the public and that can be booked online via the red ‘Book Now’ button. Anything else (including this experience) can only be booked privately and enquiries can be made via the form on this page or via the contact form at the top of the page. We require a 30% deposit to secure private bookings and full payment prior to your course or activity commencing. If you would like any more information or have a specific question, please get in touch.
We will provide all of the safety equipment required. However, you will need to bring some of your own personal items including suitable footwear, as well as warm and waterproof clothing. There is a Cafe and toilet facilities at Honister if you require.
