Top 5 Mountain Passes around High Abbotside

Among the most popular passes is Buttertubs Pass Climb from Hawes, known for its distinctive limestone potholes and challenging ascent, featured in the Tour de France. Another favorite is Fleet Moss Climb from Oughtershaw, which is Yorkshire's highest road, offering a steep and rewarding experience.

Buttertubs Pass is famous for its namesake limestone potholes, some up to 24 meters deep, which were historically used by farmers to keep butter cool. The routes over Great Shunner Fell offer vast moorland landscapes and panoramic views extending to the North Pennines and Lake District on clear days.

While the passes themselves are primarily natural features, the moorland environment around Great Shunner Fell includes historical remnants of coal mining, adding a layer of industrial heritage to the natural landscape.

The area around High Abbotside is excellent for various outdoor activities. You can find numerous MTB trails, cycling routes, and gravel biking adventures. The Pennine Way also traverses Great Shunner Fell, making it a popular spot for hikers.

The passes are generally best visited during drier months, typically from late spring to early autumn, when weather conditions are more stable and paths are less muddy. However, the visual drama of Buttertubs Pass is particularly striking in wet weather when water torrents into the potholes.

Absolutely. Buttertubs Pass Climb from Hawes features gradients up to 20% and was part of the Tour de France. Fleet Moss Climb from Oughtershaw is Yorkshire's highest road and offers a steep, challenging ascent. For hikers, the routes over Great Shunner Fell, especially via the Pennine Way, provide a rewarding high-altitude wilderness experience.

From the summit of Great Shunner Fell, you can enjoy panoramic vistas extending into the North Pennines, the Lake District, and other Yorkshire Dales fells. Buttertubs Pass offers breathtaking drives through the Yorkshire hills with spectacular views and dramatic landscapes.

While direct public transport to the passes themselves might be limited, the market town of Hawes, which is closely linked to High Abbotside and serves as a starting point for Buttertubs Pass and routes towards Great Shunner Fell, has public transport connections. From Hawes, you would typically need to travel by car, bike, or on foot to reach the passes.

Many passes, like Fleet Moss Climb from Oughtershaw, can be narrow with uneven surfaces in parts. Newby Head Pass is known for being exposed to strong winds. Always exercise caution, especially on descents, and be mindful of other road users and potential livestock.

Kidstones Pass was included in the 2014 Tour de France, earning it the nickname 'Cote du Cray'. It features an average gradient of 8% with sections up to 15%, offering great views and a varied ascent. After rain, you can often see impressive waterfalls along the route.

Yes, Buttertubs Pass Climb from Hawes has sections touching 17% and even up to 20%. Fleet Moss Climb from Oughtershaw also features an initial kick-up at 17% and generally steep terrain. The West Stonesdale Hairpin Bends are also known for their steepness.

Visitors frequently praise the breathtaking scenery, the challenging yet rewarding climbs for cyclists, and the sense of untamed wilderness found on routes like Great Shunner Fell. The unique features of passes like Buttertubs, with its distinctive potholes, also leave a lasting impression.