The Ultimate Guide To UK Via Ferrata For 2023

Once the reserve of alpinists and mountaineering club members, via ferrata are becoming an increasingly popular way of exploring the vertical world and a major tourist attraction in destinations throughout Europe and even further afield. With a decent level of fitness, proper safety equipment and guidance, via ferrata can offer an exciting and unique experience with awe-inspiring views and exhilarating exposure.

Consider the below your ‘UK via ferrata 101’.

While the name probably conjures up images of scaling the rugged, turreted rock faces of the Dolomites or ascending into high alpine environments, we have five of our own via ferratas here in the UK. These include three in England, two in Wales and one in Scotland.

As it turns out, this alpine pastime has more than made its way onto UK soil in recent years, with offerings for adventurers with a head for heights to be found, with infinity bridges over gaping chasms, zip-lines in subterranean slate caverns and ladders scaling the side of a thundering waterfall, and some exciting interpretations of the original, historical format. While the UK may be lacking in altitude, it certainly has some thrills well worthy of note.

Many of the older European via ferratas are funded by local communities in order to attract tourism and they’re typically open to anyone to tackle without supervision. Via ferratas in the UK however are generally privately owned and maintained, which means you can’t do them without a guide. Most require booking in advance and using the centre’s own safety-tested equipment. Via ferrata excursions with a qualified guide can make for an excellent introduction to the activity, and many UK routes are suitable for beginners making it the perfect place to try your hand at via ferrata before venturing onto bigger terrain.

Read on, as below we give an overview of each site and what it has to offer.

Via ferrata is an Italian phrase that translates to Iron Path in English and is used to describe a series of metal cables, ladders and rungs or stemples which are fixed to a rock face in order to protect a climbing route. It is believed that these pathways have existed for centuries, used originally to connect villages in the Alps to high pastures, and later used by military personnel in World War I in locations such as the Italian Dolomites to transport equipment to strategic positions in the mountains. Latterly, these pathways were adopted by mountaineering clubs, who over the years added extra hardware in order to make them safer and more easily accessible. The term via ferrata is used across the world, except in German-speaking countries where the term klettersteig (climbing path) is more common.

In Europe, there are different classifications for via ferrata which indicate their difficulty. These vary from country to country and typically reflect the values used to grade climbing routes, taking into account elements such as technical difficulty, physical effort, exposure and environmental factors. The UIAA Mountaineering Commission adopted the Italian grading scale as the international standard in 2016 because of its completeness, though most via ferrata operators in the UK do not offer a grade for their routes, rather an indication of the required level of fitness and will be able to advise you of anything you need to be aware of. Whilst via ferratas in Europe can vary from the fun and beginner-friendly to the overhanging, sketchy and downright scary, commercially operated via ferrata in the UK are designed to be accessible to a broad range of people.

Simply, via ferrata involves a mixture of scrambling and climbing, but unlike traditional rock climbing, the route is marked by the metal rungs and cables that you will use to aid your ascent. These pieces of gear help you to negotiate tricky or otherwise impassible sections of rock, and whilst they make moving over the rock much easier, still require an element of strength and agility as well as a good head for heights. You will need to be confident enough to find a good, balanced stance and be dexterous enough to hold on with just one hand as you move your carabiners past the transition posts. Via ferrata typically only go one way, so you will need to be prepared to keep moving even if the butterflies kick in!

Weather can also play a part in how difficult a via ferrata might feel. Many of the UK’s sites operate year round, stopping play only in the event of dangerous conditions – keep an eye on the forecast and dress accordingly! Outdoor centres and operators will be able to offer guidance on how difficult their particular via ferrata route is, but ultimately it is up to you to assess your fitness levels and ability before you go.

ENGLAND

Honister Slate Mine – Cumbria

What could be better than a day spent climbing in one of the country’s most beautiful counties? Honister Slate Mine is situated near the town of Keswick in the north Lake District on the Honister Pass, a winding, undulating road that connects the Buttermere and Borrowdale valleys. It’s believed that slate might first have been extracted from Honister during Roman times, but the first real surviving evidence of slate mining at Honister is from around 1643, and mining ceased there in 1986.

The route is open to anyone over 8 years old and over the height of 1.2m, and whilst no previous climbing experience is needed, it is recommended that you are comfortable with heights and exposure or ready to get over your fear. The course is designed for a variety of abilities, so it’s ideal for beginners with a good level of fitness. You can take on The Grey Mare’s Tail all year round (weather permitting), though of course, you’d be remiss to forget your waterproofs!