Via ferrata is an Italian term which literally translates to English as “iron path,” and refers to a climbing route in which climbing aids, usually made of metal, are fixed to elements of the environment to increase the accessibility and safety of the route. Ladders, rungs, bridges and other instalments alternate with walkable sections and serve two purposes: they make it possible to traverse terrain that would otherwise be too rough or steep to get over, and they provide fixed points that climbers can attach themselves to. What’s the result? You can reach the spectacular viewpoint of a mountaintop by an exciting, varied route. It’s no surprise that the best place in England to have this unique adventure is in the most mountainous part of the country: Cumbria’s Lake District National Park.

Honister is a working slate mine in the heart of this rugged landscape. It sits at the foot of Fleetwith Pike, an imposing peak that rises to 650 metres above sea level. From the top, the views over lakes and valleys are breathtaking, but they’re not the only reason you’ll be out of breath - the gruelling via ferrata is the route to the top, up sheer rock faces, through gulleys, and over bridges suspended high in the air. If you’re brave enough to take on this challenge, you’ll have an infinitely rewarding experience. But if it sounds a bit too intense to tackle without anyone training, you can try out Europe’s only indoor via ferrata which is located in Kendal, in the south of Cumbria.

Where to do a via ferrata route in Cumbria?

The via ferrata at Honister is based on the route of an old miner’s trail. Vie ferrate were originally practical solutions to tough terrain, but the focus nowadays is on the challenge and the excitement. You’ll find that in spades, right from the beginning of your ascent up Fleetwith Pike. Iron rungs just out the rock face. You clip a safety line into the first and start climbing, clipping into successive rungs as you go. As you gain altitude, climbing alternates with sections of walking, and you start to approach the really good bits.

The Lake District is a beautiful, wil part of the country. You can see for miles across open landscape with no signs of human habitation, and only rocky peaks to block your line of sight. This sense of openness is taken to the max on the via ferrata, when the scenery doesn’t just open up around you, but also below your feet! The infinity bridge is made up of three cables stretched across a gorge on the mountainside. Suspended 60 metres above the ground, you have to keep your eyes ahead of you and put one foot in front of the other until you get across. Other obstacles include a cargo net climb, vertical ladders and rocky scrambles, which stand between you and the reward of the summit. The ascent takes 3 hours, and will leave you speechless.

The drops, rocks and exposure to the elements on the Honister via ferrata might be enough to make you think twice about signing up. If that’s the case, then we recommend a warm-up event in more controlled conditions. The town of Kendal is one of the hubs for mountaineers and hill walkers in the Lake District, a kind of base camp for the National Park., and alongside the tour operators, hotels and outdoor equipment shops it has a unique via ferrata experience, the indoor skyline. This route is located in an indoor climbing and bouldering centre. It has all the features of a traditional via ferrata, and requires the same techniques, but the indoor setting takes away some of the fear factor. You can focus on the technical aspect, building up confidence in the kit and your own capabilities on a course set over 5 levels. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll feel ready for anything!

Requirements to do this activity

In the last 50 years, vie ferrate have spread from their birthplace in the Italian alps across the globe, allowing people who aren’t experienced mountaineers to enjoy the mountains and feel the thrills of reaching the peaks. You don’t need to have any specific experience or training with the ropes and other equipment that’s involved in order to enjoy this activity. The clip and release system is easy to get the hang of, and you’ll be instructed by an experienced guide during the ascent.

It’s also an activity that the whole family can get involved with. At both the Honister mine via ferrata and the indoor skyline in Kendal, children over 10 who are at least 1.3 metres tall, when supervised by an adult, can get onto the route and follow it all the way to the top. The harnesses that every participant is given in Honister are suitable for people who weigh less than 18 stone, 114 kilograms, and measure less than 43 inches, 110 cm, at the waist and 27 inches, 68.5 cm, at the thighs.

Experiences to combine with

This is a fantastic way to experience the Lake District, but it’s not the only one. At the Honister mine, you can enjoy other extreme adventures like climbing, or take a tour of the working mine. It can also be organised alongside ghyll scrambling, a typical activity in this region that doesn’t involve aiming for a peak, but plunging into a canyon and finding your way out the other side. Ghyll scrambling can take place on rivers and streams in many parts of the National Park, including around the towns of Keswick, Ambleside and Eskdale. In this way, you can convert your ascent of Fleetwith Pike from Honister into a full day of adventure in this beautiful part of the country - and you’ll probably be back for more before long!

Take it to the extreme by following the Iron Path here, you won’t regret it.