England's Longest Zip Wire at 65mph
England's Longest Zip Wire at 65mph
Post date
7th Sept '26
Prentice Wilkinson-Weir
Looking for a zip wire in the Lake District? At Honister Slate Mine, you can take on a 1.2km mountain zip wire, flying down Honister Crag at speeds of up to 65mph.
The Honister Aerial Flight is England's longest zip wire, set among the mountains of the Lake District near Keswick. And this isn't a quick zip between a couple of trees. You'll be flying down a real mountainside, following the route once used to transport Honister slate.
If you're looking to add some serious adrenaline to your Lake District trip, here's what you need to know.
You'll find the Honister Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine, at the top of Honister Pass in Borrowdale, near Keswick.
Surrounded by some of the Lake District's most dramatic mountain scenery, Honister has been home to slate mining for centuries. Today, it's also home to a range of mountain adventures.
The Aerial Flight stretches for 1.2km down Honister Crag, making it England's longest zip wire. And once you're off the launch platform, you can reach speeds of up to 65mph.
Meet England's longest zip wire
There are plenty of zip lines around the UK, but the setting is what makes this one different.
The Aerial Flight launches from high on Honister Crag, with the Lake District opening out around you before you make your journey back down the mountain.
With 1.2km of wire, there's enough distance to properly experience the speed rather than feeling like the ride is over just as you've got going.
The anticipation starts on the mountain.
Then comes the launch.
And after that, there's only one way down.
The Honister Aerial Flight can reach speeds of up to 65mph.
Sixty-five miles per hour probably doesn't sound too unusual when you're sitting comfortably in a car.
It's rather different when you're attached to a wire on the side of a Lake District mountain.
There's no windscreen between you and the landscape. You feel the wind, see the crag beneath you and watch the mountains move past as you make your way down.
It's fast, exposed and designed for those looking for a proper adrenaline hit.
For many people, the biggest moment happens before they've moved anywhere.
Standing on the mountain, clipped in and waiting to go gives you plenty of time to think about what you're about to do.
Then you're off.
The nerves quickly turn into speed as you leave the launch point behind and fly down the mountain.
And while 65mph is impressive, it's the location that makes the experience.
You're not flying over a theme park or an artificial course. You're surrounded by the mountains of the Lake District, with the rugged landscape of Honister Pass beneath and around you.
It's a very different way to experience the Lakes.
A zip wire with more than 100 years of history behind it
The name Aerial Flight wasn't chosen at random.
Long before people were flying down Honister Crag for fun, an aerial system was used to transport slate from the workings high on the mountain.
Slate has been mined at Honister for centuries, and generations of miners have worked in this challenging landscape.
The modern Aerial Flight follows the route of Honister's historic aerial flight, turning part of the mine's industrial heritage into a completely different kind of journey.
The slate has been replaced by people.
The mountain hasn't changed quite so much.
That depends on how you feel about heights and speed.
If you're completely comfortable standing high on a mountain and travelling at up to 65mph on a wire, you may wonder what all the fuss is about.
For everyone else, expect some nerves.
The anticipation before launching is a big part of the experience. Once you're moving, however, those nerves can quickly turn into excitement.
You don't need to be fearless to enjoy it. For many people, taking that first step despite the butterflies is part of what makes the experience so memorable.
Like any mountain adventure, the Aerial Flight has participation requirements in place for safety.
If you're planning to visit as a family or group, check the latest age, height and weight requirements on the Aerial Flight page before booking.
It's especially important to check the requirements before making a long journey specifically for the activity, as restrictions can apply.
More than just a Lake District zip wire
If you're travelling to Honister for the Aerial Flight, you don't necessarily have to stop after the zip wire.
You can take on the mountain with Via Ferrata Xtreme, head underground with Climb the Mine, test your nerve on the Infinity Bridge, or discover the story behind Honister on a Guided Mine Tour.
That means you can turn your zip wire experience into a bigger Lake District adventure rather than simply arriving, flying down the mountain and heading home.
Explore all Honister adventures
Explore all Honister adventures
Planning your visit to Honister
Honister Slate Mine sits at the top of Honister Pass in Borrowdale, near Keswick, with Buttermere on the other side of the pass.
If you're driving, use postcode CA12 5XN and plan your route before travelling. Mobile signal around Honister is limited, so don't rely on being able to load directions once you're in the mountains.
The roads through Borrowdale and Honister Pass are spectacular but can be narrow and winding in places, so leave yourself plenty of time.
For activities, you should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. This gives you time for check-in, kit fitting and the safety briefing.
Turning up early is considerably less stressful than racing along a mountain road wondering whether you're going to miss your zip wire.
Ready to experience a Lake District zip wire?
There are plenty of ways to experience the Lake District.
You can walk the fells, explore Keswick, visit the lakes, discover historic villages or simply find a good viewpoint and take it all in.
Or you can see part of it at up to 65mph.
With 1.2km of wire, a launch high on Honister Crag and a route inspired by the mine's historic aerial flight, this isn't simply another Lake District viewpoint.
It's one you'll fly through.
Ready to take it on?
Lake District Zip Wire FAQs
You can experience the Honister Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine, on Honister Pass in Borrowdale, near Keswick. The Aerial Flight runs for 1.2km down Honister Crag and can reach speeds of up to 65mph.
The Honister Aerial Flight is England's longest zip wire, with 1.2km of wire running down Honister Crag in the Lake District.
No. Honister's Aerial Flight holds the England distinction rather than the overall UK record.
Some of the UK's longest zip-wire experiences are found in Wales
The K3 Zipline in Caledon, South Africa, is currently described as the world's longest zip line. Opened in 2024, it stretches around 2 miles on a single cable and can reach speeds of up to 75mph. It surpassed the 2.83km Jebel Jais Flight in the UAE, which previously held the record.
Velocity at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales is promoted as the world's fastest zip line, with riders reaching speeds of over 100mph (160km/h). The experience runs above the historic slate quarry near Bethesda in North Wales.
Participation requirements apply to the Aerial Flight. Check the current age, height and weight requirements on the official Aerial Flight page before booking, as operational requirements can change.
Rain doesn't automatically mean the Aerial Flight can't operate. However, certain mountain weather conditions, including strong winds and electrical storms, can affect operations. Check your booking information before travelling.