I'm a mountaineer. I have done any number of desperately exposed climbs up sheer rock faces in the Lake District. However the single most terrifying thing thing I have ever done in the Lake District is driving over the Hard Knott pass in a Vauxhall Omega. Never again. It might be alright to drive in a hatchback but driving it in a big long car, on the downhill sections, there are places where you literally can't see the road in front of you and you become terrified that any second you're just going to find yourself hurtling into space.

Thanks for reminding me of how my Mini 1275 GT cooked its engine going up and cooked the brakes going down both Wrynose and Hardknott. A stop at the summit of both was needed to get water to top up the radiator, and a stop at the bottom to let the brake discs cool down. Happy days! It's just not the same in modern cars!!

The romans knew how to build

It's a shame videoing doesn't give you a sense of the inclines. It is seriously steep! Loved it though as it reminds me of driving it. If the weather is good, your car is reliable and you have half an hour to spare then do it, it's breathtaking.

I remember trying to get up it in a mk2 Fiesta 1.0 about 20 years ago...nightmare lol, and Loved the tales my grandad told me about coming down it in a mini cooper and how he learned the hard way about brake fade lmao. Great Video.

I drove this route last week and your video let me enjoy it all over again. Definitely beats Bealach na Ba. I aim to do it again in, say, two years, to celebrate being 75 - and one of those derided 'women drivers' to boot. I mean, to Boot, that's where I thought I was taking a short cut to . . .

Just along for the ride! Reminds me of when I drove in the hills off the main highway behind lebanon oregon. Great hairpin turns, views looking west over the willamette valley, then back to the valley floor heading towards brownsville. I would just love to drive the route you took. I love to drive!

Drove this not long after passing my test in the opposite direction at the end my rear brakes were smoking and I to was also very hot and was also the first time I ever got swore at by another driver, never done it again since.

drove it last may in 1933 Rolls Royce to celebrate her 80th birthday, she did well!

I LIVE IN MEDFORD, OREGON, AND WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO BE ON THUS ROAD, TO THE DRIVER, I LOVE U SO MUCH, GOD BLESS U.. AND UR FAMILY I HOPE U HAVE A GOOD LIFE GOING ON...

We wrecked our clutch driving Hardknott. It's actually pretty scary irl, or we thought it was anyway. Hate anything with steep drops next to the road! Very scenic though

Good stuff, remember driving it around 5 years ago in a heavy drizzle - nightmare, but fantastic scenery! Is 21 minutes a bit long, not sure. Enjoyed watching it. Thanks for the upload.

I think ive just decided where im gonna go skiing/ski touring this winter

Nice video did the Hardknott Pass a few years ago, stunning scenery and a bit hairy to say the least.

Awesome video. Tilly why would you have to top up the rad? Sounds like a leak or head gasket problem

Did this for the first time just the other day, (30/07/14). Awesome and great fun!

Great video, Awesome road, I went over there with a friend last summer. What vehicle were you in? We were laughing at the unsuitability of some of the cars attempting the passes.

07:21 - "oh look, a camera."

Brilliant! What camera did you use? Shame about the Turkeys getting in your way!

can imagine your brakes getting pretty got going down them hills.

Title should read Hardknott & Wrynose Passes. w.r.t. comments about speed: it's not You Tube that speeds it up, it's the Go Pro Hero's 140 degree field of view. Exaggerates perspective, miniaturises the mountains (so much so that Vicky Hills can't even recognise it) and effectively triples the speed. i.e. it may look like 60mph but it's really only 20mph. Which the farmer would say is still too damned fast past those roadside sheep. Can be reasonably confident about speed because there's a tourist in front. Crossing Hardknott in particular with an intimidated tourist in front of you acting as a moving obstruction is a very frustrating experience.

This hill blew the engine of my classic mini :(

At 20.38, you see a sign, if took that left turn, you would have gone doon Greater Langdale, a track as steep as the other 2 passes, shame the cam does not give a true reflection of just how steep this is, and you caught it with not much traffic, its a real nightmare going up, and having to stop, lots of cars, have great difficulty in getting going again good clip

waw je sens comme si j'étais moi meme dans cette aventure

talk about steep lol

Hi, i've made an exploration video all about the Lake district and i'd absolutely love it if you were able to take a look at it and tell me what you guys think? You won't be disappointed!

to many this is complete isolation, almost Siberian taiga.

I share the doubt that this is not ascending & then descending Hardknott Pass, having just been a passenger in a car I REFUSED to go on to the next Wrynose,(i.e. onward to Ambleside) then taking the valley route out and long route. There is no way you could ascend and descend Hardknott at that speed, yet alone follow a VW and the road otherwise busy. Would strongly advise anyone to take care. A clue in the video, IMHO is the sign post is point back to Wynose. Personally, I was TERRIFIED.

Hardknott ? 30% ? ... you wimp. Get to Honister, 20% and there's even a bus route over it.

Don't know which road you were driving but this vid is certainly not the Hardknott Pass. Google will point you in the right direction. This vid is rubbish.