A Compendium of High Roads and Road Passes in Great Britain

Compiled by Alan Kind, from Hodology.com. Thanks to Alan Iwi for the grid reference updates and map links.

This is Alan Kind's definition for what the list includes: "A high road or road pass is a public road historically open to vehicles (vehicles includes pedal bicycles), which connects two valleys, settlements, or other roads, by way of crossing a hill, col, or ridge between. The road must be, or have been, metalled for all, or substantially most, of its length. The minimum height of a ‘high road’ is 1,400 feet, but an historic road pass that is lower may be included if it is of interest to the traveller. Where a high road or pass branches into two or more alternatives, only one shall be listed unless each has a character or name of its own. Where there are alternatives the test shall be applied: highest is best; most historic is best; and rougher is better. The editor’s decision is final. Readers are invited to submit comments and corrections."

Number Height (feet) Height (metres) Name Area OS Map Grid Reference
1 2674 815 High Street Lake District 90 NY 439 110
2 2575 785 The Corpse Road North Pennines 86/91 NY 681 351
3 2526 770 Corrieyairack Pass Scotland 34/35 NN 415 985
4 2487 758 Tyne Head North Pennines 86/91 NY 716 316
5 2391 729 Loch Builg Road Scotland 36/43 NO 186 988
6 2212 674 Grasshills Causeway North Pennines 91 NY 826 357
7 2198 670 The Maiden Way North Pennines 86/91 NY 657 374
8 2198 670 The Cairnwell Scotland 43 NO 141 774
9 2083 635 The Lecht Scotland 36 NJ 247 129
10 2057 627 Langdon Fell North Pennines 92 NY 863 351
11 2057 627 Killhope Cross North Pennines 86/91 NY 799 432
12 2053 626 Bealach na Ba Scotland 24 NG 773 427
13 2001 610 Walna Scar Road Lake District 96 SD 258 964
14 1998 609 Black Hill North Pennines 86 NY 794 444
15 1991 607 Great Southern Drove Road North Pennines 92 NY 898 332
16 1968 600 Old Allenheads Road North Pennines 87 NY 858 432
17 1965 599 Dowgang Hush North Pennines 87 NY 770 427
18 1965 599 The Gap Road South Wales 160 SO 032 206
19 1962 598 Yad Moss North Pennines 91 NY 775 364
20 1936 590 Gatescarth Pass Lake District 90 NY 474 093
21 1932 589 Fleet Moss Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 862 843
22 1926 587 Cam High Road Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 854 842
23 1903 580 Hartside Pass North Pennines 86/91 NY 648 418
24 1903 580 Wayfarer's North Wales 125 SJ 091 365
25 1870 570 Priorsdale North Pennines 87 NY 784 420
26 1870 570 Burtree Fell North Pennines 87 NY 852 432
27 1864 568 Swinhope North Pennines 87 NY 814 459
28 1857 566 Okehampton Ranges Devon 191 SX 603 877
29 1841 561 Stake Pass Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 935 821
30 1818 554 Pont Scethin North Wales 124 SH 637 223
31 1805 550 Bridge of Balgie Scotland 51 NN 594 417
  1805 550 Glas Choille - see The Lecht (9) Scotland 36 NJ 302 052
32 1801 549 Gospel Pass Mid Wales 161 SO 235 352
33 1788 545 Bwlch-y-Groes North Wales 125 SH 913 232
34 1785 544 Summer Lodge Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 964 940
35 1775 541 Jacob's Ladder South Pennines 110 SK 077 861
36 1768 539 Scarsike Head North Pennines 87/91 NY 911 413
37 1768 539 Great Northern Drove Road North Pennines 87/91 NY 911 413
38 1762 537 Galloway Gate Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 786 894
39 1759 536 Shorngate Cross North Pennines 87 NY 872 451
40 1759 536 Tan Hill Yorkshire Dales 92 NY 899 068
41 1742 531 Dol-y-moch North Wales 124 SH 784 334
42 1742 531 A' Chrois Scottish Highlands 52 NN 809 418
43 1729 527 Bwlch yr Afan South Wales 170 SS 920 952
44 1726 526 The Butter Tubs Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 868 956
45 1726 526 The Driving Road Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 795 863
46 1719 524 Holme Pass South Pennines 110 SE 096 037
47 1706 520 The Coal Road Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 715 820
48 1699 518 Lamps Moss Yorkshire Dales 91 NY 810 042
49 1699 518 Cefn Onnau South Wales 161 SO 163 159
50 1690 515 Cat and Fiddle South Pennines 119 SK 001 719
51 1690 515 The Stang Yorkshire Dales 92 NZ 018 068
52 1680 512 Snake Pass South Pennines 110 SK 088 929
53 1677 511 Stanhope to Eggleston North Pennines 92 NY 992 319
54 1673 510 Cefn y Galchen Mid Wales 161 SO 263 107
55 1673 510 The Captain's Road Scotland 73/79 NT 257 180
56 1673 510 Cuthbert's Hill North Pennines 87 NY 934 452
57 1670 509 Bwlch Coch Mid Wales 136 SN 838 952
58 1670 509 Gamel's Path The Cheviots 80 NT 798 076
59 1650 503 Park Rash Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 987 758
60 1647 502 Mynydd Belli-glas South Wales 170 SN 923 029
61 1647 502 Minchmoor Road Scotland 73 NT 374 328
62 1641 500 Bwlch Rhiw Hirnant North Wales 125 SH 946 274
63 1637 499 Edmundbyers Cross North Pennines 87 NY 991 445
64 1634 498 Oxnop Scar Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 940 943
65 1634 498 Axe Edge South Pennines 119 SK 034 694
66 1621 494 Dryburn Moor North Pennines 87 NY 797 512
67 1617 493 Foel Fawr Mid Wales 160 SN 732 184
68 1617 493 Old Blaenpedol Road Mid Wales 160 SN 714 182
69 1614 492 Saddleworth Moor South Pennines 109 SE 053 064
70 1614 492 The Long Mynd Shropshire 137 SO 416 941
71 1608 490 Chapel Gate South Pennines 110 SK 099 832
72 1608 490 Lammer Law Southern Scotland 66 NT 526 600
73 1601 488 Penrhiw-wen Mid Wales 136 SN 921 708
74 1594 486 Milltir Gerrig North Wales 125 SJ 018 305
75 1591 485 Ffynnon Eidda North Wales 124 SH 760 436
76 1585 483 Long Cross North Pennines 87 NY 745 501
77 1585 483 Kerry Ridgeway Shropshire 137 SO 202 871
78 1581 482 Shot Moss North Pennines 92 NY 827 197
79 1581 482 The Tumble South Wales 161 SO 255 105
80 1578 481 Devil's Staircase Mid Wales 145/146 SN 751 576
81 1575 480 Dead Man's Hill Yorkshire Dales 98/99 SE 043 783
82 1575 480 Lang Coombe Somerset 181 SS 868 416
83 1575 480 Hafodyredwydd North Wales 115/124 SH 763 438
84 1575 480 Crathie Military Road Scotland 44 NO 266 986
85 1571 479 Old Llandrindod Road Mid Wales 136 SO 110 836
86 1571 479 Bwlch Cerrig Duon Mid Wales 160 SN 857 227
87 1571 479 Ceiriog Forest North Wales 125 SJ 149 394
88 1558 475 Rhyd Galed North Wales 116 SJ 007 565
  1558 475 Abergwesyn Pass (Esgair Cloddiad) - see Devil's Staircase (80) Mid Wales 145/146 SN 824 562
89 1552 473 Sarn Helen Mid Wales 160 SN 930 198
90 1549 472 Byrgwm South Wales 171 SO 240 033
91 1545 471 The Long Bank North Pennines 87 NY 740 509
92 1542 470 Sleightholme Moor Yorkshire Dales 92 NY 930 076
93 1542 470 Bwlch-y-Sarnau Mid Wales 147 SO 046 764
94 1539 469 Dane Bower South Pennines 119 SK 014 704
  1532 467 Esgair Gelli- see Devil's Staircase (80) Mid Wales 145/146 SN 772 573
95 1529 466 Mennock Pass Scotland 78 NS 879 133
96 1526 465 Bloody Bush Scotland 79/80 NY 560 914
97 1522 464 Bwlch Gwyn North Wales 115 SH 947 585
98 1519 463 Grinton Moor Yorkshire Dales 98 SE 042 948
99 1516 462 Druids' Way Mid Wales 160 SN 924 431
100 1516 462 Two Crosses Shropshire 137 SO 240 868
101 1516 462 Lucott Cross Somerset 181 SS 845 432
102 1516 462 Manmoel Mountain Road South Wales 161/171 SO 160 084
103 1509 460 Moresdale Ridge Yorkshire Dales 92 NZ 032 040
104 1509 460 Gorbeck Road Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 875 652
105 1506 459 Bryniau Poethion North Wales 124 SH 787 396
106 1504 458 Pass of Drumochter Scotland 42 NN 630 762
107 1499 457 Bennet's Cross Devon 191 SX 682 820
108 1493 455 Pennau Hill Mid Wales 147 SN 964 467
109 1493 455 Roych Clough South Pennines 110 SK 062 846
110 1493 455 Mam Tor Pass South Pennines 110 SK 125 834
111 1490 454 Kirkstone Pass Lake District 90 NY 402 083
112 1486 453 Buckstones Moss South Pennines 109 SE 017 137
113 1483 452 Rundlestone Devon 191 SX 575 749
114 1483 452 Woodhead Pass South Pennines 110 SE 158 002
115 1476 450 Blackstone Edge South Pennines 109 SD 973 171
116 1476 450 Cairn O' Mount Road Scotland; NE coast 45 NO 649 807
117 1463 446 Senni Hill Mid Wales 160 SN 923 196
118 1463 446 The Street Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 864 668
119 1453 443 Wade's Military Road Scottish Highlands 115 NN 728 673
120 1444 440 Mynydd Bwlch-y-Groes Mid Wales 160 SN 869 357
121 1444 440 The Long Causeway Peak District 110 SK 247 844
122 1437 438 Widdale Head Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 797 844
123 1434 437 Old Coach Road Lake District 90 NY 344 233
124 1430 436 Fountains Fell Yorkshire Dales 98 SD 850 720
125 1427 435 Breast High Pass Lake District 90/91 NY 563 043
126 1427 435 Old Skye Road Scottish Highlands 33/34 NH 099 082
127 1421 433 Wanside Rigg Southern Scotland 67 NT 606 642
128 1417 432 Cock Hill South Pennines 104/103 SE 013 330
129 1407 429 Ouster Bank Yorkshire Dales 99 SE 118 754
130 1404 428 Bwlch y Ddeufaen North Wales 115 SH 712 719
131 1401 427 Cross of Greet Lancashire Dales 98 SD 682 608
132 1398 426 Summit of Shap Lake District 90/97 NY 553 064
133 1385 425 Dirtlow Rake Peak District 110 SK 133 813
134 1371 418 Upper Chapel Mid Wales 147/160 SO 020 431
135 1371 418 Carter Bar Cheviot Hills 80 NT 698 068
136 1368 417 Horseshoe Pass North Wales 116 SJ 195 474
137 1362 415 Winnats Pass South Pennines 110 SK 126 826
138 1328 405 Slochd Pass Scottish Highlands 35 NH 836 254
139 1312 400 The Well Path Scotland 78 NS 915 059
140 1289 393 Hardknott Pass Lake District 90 NY 232 014
141 1289 393 Wrynose Pass Lake District 90 NY 277 028
142 1280 390 Trecastle Mountain Road Mid Wales 160 SN 828 310
143 1263 385 Crimea Pass North Wales 115 SH 700 487
144 1178 359 Llanberis Pass North Wales 115 SH 646 557
145 1175 358 Van Hill Mid Wales 147 SN 939 890
146 1168 356 Honister Pass Lake District 90 NY 225 136
147 1115 340 Old Skye Road Scottish Highlands 33 NG 904 199
148 1093 333 Newlands Hause Lake District 90 NY 192 176
149 1043 318 Whinlatter Pass Lake District 90 NY 207 246
150 1017 310 Pass of Glencoe Scotland 41 NN 212 560
151 994 303 Nant Ffrancon Pass North Wales 115 SH 650 603
152 909 277 The Dalveen Pass Scotland 78 NS 902 077
153 860 262 Rest and Be Thankful Scotland 56 NN 233 074
154 794 242 Duke's Pass Scotland 57 NN 519 038
155 794 242 Pass of Ballater Scotland 44 NO 362 970
156 738 225 Howtown Hause Lake District 90 NY 435 192
157 735 224 Blea Tarn Pass Lake District 90 NY 289 051
158 577 176 Pass of Lyon Scotland 51 NN 708 471
159 509 155 Pass of Killiecrankie Scotland 43 NN 918 620
160 407 124 Pass of Leny Scotland 57 NN 588 093
161 377 115 Pass of Aberglaslyn North Wales 115 SH 595 464
162 138 42 Pass of Brander Scotland 50 NN 067 274

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