England · United Kingdom
Dunmail Raise
A591Troutbeck Bridge to Keswick
The A591 links Windermere, Grasmere and Keswick across the central Lake District, a 20-mile run over Dunmail Raise.
The A591 runs through the heart of the Lake District over Dunmail Raise, alongside Thirlmere and beneath Helvellyn between Windermere, Grasmere and Keswick. It is one of the busiest scenic roads in the country, so patience and care come first.
We’ve driven this more than any other road in the country, and it has never once felt routine. Some drives wear thin; this one doesn’t.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
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Where it runs20.0 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 5Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%42.1 – 238.9 mPoints of interest1 stop
- Dunmail RaiseViewpoint11 mi in
Hazards
- Heavy tourist traffic
- Standing water after rain
- Cyclists
Sources
“It's by no means the highest pass but offers some amazing scenery, flanked by Helvellyn and Seat Sandal to the east and Steel Fell to the west.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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