Honister Pass

Honister Pass links Borrowdale with the Buttermere valley and is one of the most dramatic road passes in England, hemmed in by the crags of Fleetwith Pike and Dale Head with the working Honister slate mine at its summit. The scenery is raw and mountainous, with spoil heaps, waterfalls and near-vertical fellsides on every hand. There is parking at the slate mine at the top of the pass. Be realistic about the restrictions: the surrounding fells are largely National Trust land where take-off and landing are prohibited, the slate mine and its yard are private, and the whole area falls within the Lake District's voluntary no-drone guidance. Pick genuinely open ground away from Trust land and the mine buildings, keep well clear of the road, walkers and climbers, and fly high and briefly. No Flight Restriction Zone applies. The pass funnels wind ferociously and mountain rescue and low-flying military aircraft use these valleys, so stay alert and keep your drone within sight and below 120 metres. A calm, clear morning outside peak holiday periods gives the safest air and the emptiest car park.