Honister Slate Mine is one of the Lake District's most unusual days out. Sitting at the very top of Borrowdale, where the valley road climbs into the fells and the Honister Pass begins its dramatic ascent, it's the last working slate mine in England, and over the past few decades it has grown into one of the region's most memorable adventure attractions. For anyone staying in Rosthwaite or the wider Borrowdale valley, it's right on the doorstep, a short and scenic drive up the pass.
Slate has been quarried at Honister since the late 17th century, and the prized Westmorland green slate cut from this mountain has been used on landmark buildings far beyond Cumbria. The best way to understand that story is on a guided mine tour. Lasting around 90 minutes and led by knowledgeable guides, the tour takes you deep inside Fleetwith Pike to walk the tunnels and caverns where generations of miners once worked. It's engaging for adults and children alike, and being underground, it's a reliable option whatever the Lakeland weather is doing.
For something with more of a pulse, Honister is home to England's original via ferrata. The name is Italian for "iron path" and describes a route of fixed cables, ladders and bridges that lets you scale terrain you'd never manage otherwise, all while clipped to a continuous safety cable.
There are two routes. The Via Ferrata Classic follows the historic miners' path high onto Fleetwith Pike, mixing scrambling and climbing with sweeping views, and needs no previous experience. The Via Ferrata Xtreme ramps things up with vertical climbs, cliff-edge ladders, a Burma bridge and a cargo net crossing before you reach the summit. Both carry a minimum age of 10 and a minimum height of 1.3 metres, with younger climbers accompanied by an adult. Alongside these sit the Infinity Bridge, the Climb the Mine experience and, for the truly fearless, cliff camping.
One of the joys of Honister is how much sits nearby. Borrowdale is one of the loveliest corners of the Lake District, and the Royal Oak in Rosthwaite makes an ideal base for exploring all of it. Within a few minutes' drive or a good walk you'll find the balancing Bowder Stone, the riverside path from Rosthwaite to Grange, and the low fell of Castle Crag, one of the smallest but most rewarding Wainwrights. A little further afield, the road to Watendlath passes Ashness Bridge and the celebrated Surprise View over Derwentwater. It's easy to pair a morning at the mine with an afternoon on the fells.
Honister sits high and exposed, so bring layers and waterproofs whatever the forecast, and note the mine itself stays cold even on warm days. Booking ahead is strongly advised, particularly in summer and school holidays, as slots fill quickly. There's a café on site and a shop selling handcrafted slate gifts, from house signs to sculptures. The car park is free with an activity ticket, and the mine is reached via the B5289 through Borrowdale from Keswick.