Located at the head of Honister Pass in the centre of the Lake District, we produce the world famous Westmorland Green Slate – a beautiful, functional material that has been extracted here for centuries. Our slate is over 450 Million years old.
There is so much to do at Honister, with both inside and outdoor adventures you will have great day out regardless of the weather!
Select a tab to find out more about adventures at Honister!
Via Ferrata is Latin for ” Iron Way”. The original Via Ferrata`s were routes literally across The Alps that soldiers and partisans used to carry munitions and supplies to their Allies in “World War One and Two”.
Using a series of metal cables, rungs, ladders and bridges to ascend and descend tremendous and precipitous climbing routes and paths across the Alps. These Via Ferrata tracks provided the most spectacular and dramatic viewpoints of Europe’s fabulous Mountain scenery.
Commercialised for public use in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy after the Wars, they made tremendous climbs achievable in relative safety for the visiting masses.
We are proud to announce that we are approved by the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority (AALA). Introduced at Honister Slate Mine in 2007 by local entrepreneur Mark Weir, the Honister Via Ferratas were the very first in the UK.
Using the original Miners track up the precipitous outer incline of Fleetwith Pike, the addition of a continuous cable made climbing this magnificent Lake District Mountain achievable and safe for everyone.
Honister’s Via Ferrata allows the average person on the street the opportunity to go higher and further from the street than they ever imagined possible. These climbing/walking experiences are hugely popular in the Italian Dolomites and across Europe, but this is a first in the UK. The good thing is it’s all perfectly safe and you don’t have to be a trained mountaineer to do it.
The highlight of any visit to Honister Slate Mine must be our fully-guided underground tour! The Kimberley is our most popular Mine Tour.
This tour is suitable for all ages as it is mainly all on the level! Go deeper and deeper within Fleetwith Pike on a fully guided mine tour. See and hear the history, past and present of Lake District life. Explore the awesome caverns hacked out by Victorian miners with hand tools and only candlelight to show the way. See Honister “Green Gold” crafted into roofing slate.
Clothing
Please come prepared with warm clothing and sensible footwear. Safety helmets and lamps will be provided by Honister on arrival.
Honisters ‘Climb the Mine’ experience follows the route of the original underground mine workings. Complete with vertical climbs and rope-bridge crossings, this weather-proof experience sees participants led deep underground to explore a secret world of hidden passages and magnificent caverns.
Along the way, they scale rock-face rungs and awesome Burma bridges. Then it’s up into the roof of the mine itself for an experience previously confined to an elite group of miners in days gone by.
“The Bradbury and Wilkinson – Weir families have worked and played alongside each other for many years. We are thrilled to be part of The Outdoor Guide, and this next exciting phase.”
Jan Wilkinson
Delightful luxury self-catering properties, close to Honister Mine.
“I fell in love with Honister when I filmed there many years ago and ‘stroked the slate’ with Uncle John and the lovely late Mark Weir who was the soul of the mine.This is a place not to be missed on your visit to the Lakes.”
“We had a fantastic time at the slate mine, as ever! It is a place that we always visit when up in the Lakes. We just need to try out the Via Ferrata next! Click here to view the blog for behind the scenes footage of the Lake District shoot.”
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