Lake District Cycling Climbs: Guide to the Best Road Passes

The steepest road in England, starts hard & barely lets up: a series of brutal ramps & hairpins with gradients of 33% at their steepest.

​Ambleside to Kirkstone Pass - the shortest, steepest way to the top of the Lake District's highest road.​​

Beginning in the picture-postcard setting of Buttermere, following the valley up past Moss Force waterfall before a steep 25% pitch to the top.

A steady and manageable gradient throughout with a beautfiul view over Ullswater as you climb.

Straight on from Hardknott's descent is easier but east to west is nearly as savage as Hardknott Pass with gradients topping out at 25%.​

Kirkstone Pass - the highest road pass in the Lake District.

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Arguably the best plateau views of any climb in this list, taking in Harter Fell, Dow Crag, the Old Man of Coniston, and the Scafell massif.

One of the Lakes' landmark climbs,  climbing out of Borrowdale via Seatoller - is widely considered the harder of the two ways up.

East to West: Braithwaite to Lorton.  Whinlatter is the gentlest of the well-known Lakeland passes

Sitting in the quieter western fells is the loneliest climb on the list. Exposed, open, and remote rather than dramatic or steep.