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Honister Slate Mine

Honister Slate Mine

Mountain adventure at Honister Slate Mine in the Lake District
LAKE DISTRICT ATTRACTIONS

Honister Slate Mine

Adventure above the clouds

Discover a working slate mine on dramatic Honister Pass. Go underground on a guided tour, take on a Via Ferrata adventure or enjoy the extraordinary mountain setting.

Explore activities & book ↗Official attraction website · Check times and suitability before travelling
LAKE DISTRICT ATTRACTIONS

Explore Honister Slate Mine

An extraordinary working slate mine high in the fells, with underground tours, exhilarating mountain activities and some of the most dramatic scenery in the Lake District.

01 · Mine toursDiscover how slate is extracted and learn about the people who worked these mountains.
02 · Via FerrataExperience a guided, exposed mountain adventure; check suitability and restrictions.
03 · Honister PassEnjoy sweeping views and an unforgettable journey through the surrounding fells.
04 · Visitor facilitiesPlan time for the café, shop and visitor area alongside your booked activity.

Plan your visit

Where: Honister Pass, between Borrowdale and Buttermere, Cumbria.

What to book: Guided mine tours and adventure activities are separate experiences; check age, fitness, weather and equipment requirements.

Before you travel: Confirm opening times, activity availability and parking arrangements directly with Honister.

See activities and book with Honister ↗

This is the official attraction website, not an affiliate booking link.

Booking.com

Christmas at Honister: Santa’s Secret Grotto 2026

Planning a festive family visit? Discover Santa’s underground hideaway at Honister on selected dates from 14 November to 23 December 2026. Our guide covers what to expect, practical advice and where to check tickets and availability.

Choose your Honister experience

A guided mine tour and a mountain adventure offer very different days out. Start with the experience that suits your group, then check its individual booking requirements.

Guided mine tours

Step inside Fleetwith Pike to explore tunnels and chambers with a guide who explains the slate miners’ working lives. Lighting and sound effects help tell the story of the mine.

The tour takes around 1½ hours. Expect uneven ground and steep steps; the underground route is not wheelchair accessible. Wear sturdy footwear and warm layers, and arrive 30 minutes before your booked time.

Via Ferrata: Classic and Xtreme

For an outdoor challenge, Honister’s Via Ferrata uses fixed cables, ladders and metal footholds to explore the exposed mountainside with a guide. The Classic follows a historic miners’ route; Xtreme offers a more demanding option.

Choose this if your group wants a physical mountain experience and is comfortable with heights. Check age, height and harness requirements for your chosen route before paying.

The Infinity Bridge

This 190-metre high-wire crossing puts the mountain scenery beneath your feet. It is a guided, harnessed activity for visitors who want an exposed crossing rather than a full climbing route.

Allow around 1½ hours for the experience, plus the required early check-in. Check the current participation restrictions before booking.

Climb the Mine

This is the more active underground option, with climbing, ladders, rope bridges and other obstacles inside the mountain. It is a separate experience from the guided heritage tour.

Allow around 2½ hours, arrive early for equipment fitting and check the current age, height and fitness requirements. It is worth considering when your group wants adventure with shelter from the weather.

A working landscape with a long history

Honister’s Westmorland green slate is part of the Lake District’s industrial heritage. The workings, quarry faces and routes across the crag reveal how people have shaped this mountain over generations. A guided tour gives that landscape context, adding the miners’ stories to the views.

For more background, read Honister’s own history of the mine.

Before you set off

  • Location: Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5XN. Allow time for the steep, narrow mountain-road approach.
  • Tickets: book the specific experience you want. Prices, departure times and availability vary; the official booking pages carry the current details.
  • What to wear: sturdy footwear and layers suitable for mountain conditions. Follow the clothing and equipment instructions in your booking confirmation.
  • Accessibility: discuss your requirements directly with Honister before booking. The mine tour involves rough ground and steps; adventure routes have additional physical requirements.
  • Facilities: check café, shop and parking arrangements when planning your visit.

Our activity buttons lead directly to Honister’s official website.

Make a break of it

Build your visit into a stay around Buttermere, Borrowdale or Keswick. Choose accommodation for the wider trip as well as the attraction: a quieter valley base for a walking break, or a town base if places to eat and other days out are the priority.

Browse the accommodation suggestions below, then explore more Lake District attractions to plan the rest of your stay. Some accommodation links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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