Short answer: you can drive the Hardknott Pass in a small campervan if you are confident on steep single-track roads, but large vans, motorhomes and anything towing should not. Hardknott reaches a gradient of 1 in 3 and Wrynose up to 1 in 4, with hairpins, few passing places and frequent winter closures. The Lake District National Park warns that caravans and larger vehicles have got stuck on roads like these. If in doubt, go round.
At a glance
| Thing | Detail |
|---|---|
| Roads | Wrynose Pass (Little Langdale to the Duddon Valley) then Hardknott Pass (Duddon Valley to Eskdale) |
| Highest points | Both summits sit at about 393 m |
| Steepest gradient | Hardknott 1 in 3 (about 33%); Wrynose up to 1 in 4 |
| Start and finish | Little Langdale (east) to Eskdale (west), or the reverse |
| Time | Half a day with stops; plan a whole day if you are walking |
| Best for | Small, light campervans with a confident driver, dry weather, quiet hours |
| Van-size watch-outs | Single track, hairpins, very steep sections. Large vans, motorhomes and towing should avoid. Often closed by ice in winter |
What the official warnings say
We wanted to find something firmer than forum stories, so here is what the people who run the place actually say. The Lake District National Park Authority's travel advice names "Hardknott Pass, Wrynose Pass and Honister Pass" as "among the steepest roads in the country". It goes on: "Before you set off, double-check your route, especially if you're driving a caravan or larger vehicle", and "Caravans and lorries in particular have become stuck on tight corners and narrow lanes in the past." It also tells drivers to "check the route carefully in advance for gradient and narrowness".
On the road itself, there is a sign at the foot of Hardknott warning about the extreme gradient. The maximum gradient is 1 in 3, and Wrynose reaches 1 in 4. Both are single-track roads. Hardknott is often closed in winter when ice makes it impassable.
We could not find a published legal ban on motorhomes using these passes. That is not the same as them being suitable. The National Park's own wording is a clear steer: if you drive a larger vehicle, do not rely on the satnav's quickest route. Check before you go.
Hardknott Pass in a campervan: who should go
This is our rule of thumb, not an official line. Think about length, weight, power, clutch and how you feel reversing uphill on a narrow road with a drop beside you, because at some point you might have to.
- Probably fine: a small camper based on a car-derived van or a short-wheelbase panel van, lightly loaded, with a driver who is used to steep single-track roads.
- Think hard: a medium or long-wheelbase panel van conversion. Long rear overhangs can ground on the tightest hairpins, and a heavy, fully loaded van works its clutch and brakes hard.
- Do not go: coachbuilt and A-class motorhomes, high-top long-wheelbase vans, anything towing, and anything you would not happily reverse 100 metres uphill. Go round instead (see below).
Weather matters as much as size. Wet hairpins get slippery, and in winter the road can be shut. If the forecast is poor, or you are arriving in the dark, save it for another day.
The route, stop by stop
Most people do this east to west, from the Ambleside side towards the coast. Wrynose is the gentler warm-up; Hardknott is the real test.
- Little Langdale. The road leaves the valley and starts climbing Wrynose. A good last chance to check your brakes feel right and to let any faster traffic past.
- Wrynose Pass summit. Around 393 m. Gradients up to 1 in 4 on the way, then down into the Duddon Valley.
- Wrynose Bottom. The road splits. South takes you down the Duddon Valley towards Broughton-in-Furness, a useful escape if Wrynose felt like enough. West carries on to Hardknott.
- Hardknott Pass. The steep, twisting climb with the 1 in 3 sections. Keep going; stopping on the steepest bits is the hardest part.
- Hardknott summit. Around 393 m. If you want to stop for the view, park only where it is safe and legal, and never in a passing place.
- Eskdale. Down into the valley, which is a lovely place to stop, breathe out and walk.
How to drive it
These are habits we use on any steep single-track road, not official instructions.
- Go early in the day or outside school holidays. Fewer cars means fewer reversing stand-offs.
- Use low gears going down and let the engine do the braking. Riding the brakes all the way down is how they fade.
- Look well ahead for passing places and use them early. Uphill traffic usually has priority, but be kind and practical about it.
- Fold mirrors in if you need to squeeze past a wall, and know your exact width before you set off.
- Do not stop to take photos in passing places. They are there so people can get by.
The way round for big vans
If your van is in the "do not go" group, you still get to Eskdale and the western valleys. Take the main roads round by the south, via Broughton-in-Furness, or approach from the coast. It is slower on the map and much calmer in practice. The National Park lists postcodes for car parks and points out that the quickest way may not suit your vehicle, which is exactly this situation.
Roam's ready-made routes and trip planning that knows your van's size are coming, not built yet. The idea is that a route like this would be flagged for a long van before you commit to it. Join the waitlist if that would help.
Where to sleep
Be clear on this before you arrive. The Lake District National Park says that for campervans "the only legal places to park are on formal camp sites", and that you need the landowner's permission to use any land. It also says wild camping is not permitted anywhere in the Lake District without prior permission from the landowner, and that camping in car parks or on roadside verges is not allowed. Laybys count as highway, and "parking on a highway is not a right".
So: book a campsite in Eskdale, Langdale or the Duddon Valley and treat the passes as a day drive. In summer, book early. More on the wider rules in our wild camping in the UK guide and our overnight parking rules page.
Fuel and water
There is nowhere to fill up on the passes themselves. Fill your tank in a town before you set off, carry drinking water and some food, and make sure your phone has an offline map, as signal in the valleys can be patchy. A steep climb in low gear uses more fuel than you expect, so do not start with the warning light on.
Making a weekend of it
The passes are a few miles of road, not a trip in themselves. The way we would do it is to base at a campsite on one side, drive over in the morning when it is quiet, spend the day walking in Eskdale or the Duddon Valley, and drive back or stay on the other side. If your van is big, base in Eskdale and come in from the coast side, so you get the valley without the climb.
Questions
Can a motorhome drive Hardknott Pass?
We would not take one. There is no published legal ban that we could find, but the National Park warns that caravans and larger vehicles have got stuck on these roads, and Hardknott has 1 in 3 gradients and tight hairpins on a single-track road. Go round by the main roads.
Which is steeper, Hardknott or Wrynose?
Hardknott. Its maximum gradient is 1 in 3, while Wrynose reaches 1 in 4. Both top out at around 393 m.
Is Hardknott Pass open in winter?
It is often closed in winter when ice makes it impassable. Check local road notices before you go and do not attempt it in ice or snow.
Can I sleep in my van at the top of the pass?
No. The National Park says the only legal places to stay overnight in a campervan are formal campsites, and camping on verges or in car parks is not allowed.