Steeps › Driving steep hills safely
Driving steep hills safely
Steep UK roads such as Hardknott Pass and Porlock Hill catch out drivers every year. These are the basics, with real examples from the roads in this guide.
This is general information, not a replacement for the Highway Code or your vehicle handbook. Read the current Highway Code on GOV.UK for the rules.
Before you go
- Check weather and closures. Hardknott Pass is often closed in winter because of ice, and the Bealach na Bà is often impassable in winter.
- Check vehicle limits. Hardknott carries an "unsuitable for caravans" sign, the Applecross pass is unsuitable for very large vehicles and learner drivers, and Winnats Pass bars buses, coaches and vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.
- Check your brakes, tyres, coolant and fuel.
- Use an alternative if you are nervous: Porlock Hill has a toll road at an easier gradient of about 1 in 14.
Going up
Select a low gear before you reach the foot of the hill, as Countryfile advises at Rosedale Chimney. Changing gear halfway up a 1 in 3 slope is hard, and you may stall. Keep a steady speed, leave a gap, and do not stop on the slope if you can avoid it. Wikipedia says traffic ascending Hardknott has priority, so uphill drivers should keep going and downhill drivers should give way.
Coming down
Use the same low gear to let the engine hold you back, and brake in short firm applications rather than riding the pedal. Burning brake smell is common at Porlock Hill, where Wikipedia says there is a history of accidents; the descent has two escape lanes for runaway vehicles. Know where they are and do not be afraid to use them.
Single-track roads
On roads like the Bealach na Bà or Hardknott, use passing places and be ready to reverse. Hairpins on these roads are tight, so large vehicles may need several moves.
Ice and rain
The surface on Hardknott is described as poor and slippery when wet. In ice, many steep roads are closed. Do not try to push through a closed road.
If something goes wrong
Move to a safe place if you can, switch hazard lights on, and call 999 if anyone is at risk. For a breakdown, call your recovery provider.
See the ranking for the roads and England, Wales and Scotland for each country.
Choosing the right vehicle
Smaller, lighter cars cope best on narrow steep roads. Heavy motorhomes and vans with trailers risk wheelspin on the way up and brake fade on the way down. If a sign says a road is unsuitable for your vehicle, believe it. Satellite navigation does not always know, and it may route you along the shortest road, not the safest. Use a paper map or a road atlas to check for pass warnings.
Frequently asked questions
What gear should I use on a steep hill?
A low gear selected before the climb, and again before the descent, so the engine helps control speed.
Can I take a caravan on Hardknott?
No. The road has an "unsuitable for caravans" sign, according to Countryfile.
What is an escape lane?
A sloping gravel or sand lane beside a descent where a vehicle with failed brakes can stop. Porlock Hill has two.