A country road carving through one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations has been dubbed one of the country’s “most dangerous” routes.
The A592 road is the Lake District’s highest route open to cars, reaching almost 1,500ft in altitude at its steepest point.
The Kirkstone Pass starts at Ambleside in the Rother Valley, just four miles north of Windermere.
The route then runs through the villages of Troutbeck, Hartsop and Bridgend before arriving in Patterdale and the Ullswater Valley.
By car, the 14-mile journey should take no more than half an hour – a stark difference to the almost 3-hour-and-30-minute walk.
Experts at JMW Solicitors included the road on their list of 10 most dangerous roads in the UK, with specialists pointing out its “sharp bends”.
As the UK’s largest national park, over 18 million people visit the Lake District every year.
However, motorists travelling on the route have been urged to maintain extra concentration to avoid being caught out.
The experts said: “Kirkstone Pass is located in the Lake District at the highest pass. The road sweeps through from Ambleside in the Rothay Valley, over to Patterdale in Ullswater.
“This road is filled with sharp bends and stretching slopes. The highest point reaches 1,489 feet.
“Despite the surrounding scenery, it is important to maintain complete concentration when driving on this dangerous road.”
The route has just undergone a multi-million-pound improvement scheme aimed at making the road safer and more resilient to traffic.
Westmoreland and Furness Council laid down a new road surface in October, following a wealth of safety improvements.
Experts have fitted new wooden-clad environment-sensitive crash barriers, the first of their type on a major road in Cumbria.
Extra drainage and culverts have also been installed alongside new lay-bys and signage.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets backed the latest developments.
He said: “This route is vital, not only for local communities and businesses, but also for the thousands of visitors who come to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District.
“The extreme weather we experienced last winter certainly tested our resilience, but we’re now nearing completion, and the improvements made will ensure that this road is safer and more reliable for years to come.”
