Buttertubs Pass can be found on the road between Thwaite and Hawes in North Yorkshire. If that sounds a little vague for a location, that is because roads in the area are unclassified, so if you want to travel the pass, we’ll have to give a few directions. The easiest place to start you off is at the famous Tan Hill Inn.
From the front door of the inn, you need only go a few yards west before picking up a single track road to head south. The views on this road a great in their own right and you will have six miles ahead of you before reaching Thwaite. You will pass Ravenseat to your right, with farm buildings appearing like small matchboxes and West Stonesdale to your left with its higher grassy peak. Much of the road is single track so keep your speed down and be prepared to meet oncoming traffic. In fact, you even drive through a farmyard (actually the farm has been built either side of the road) before reaching Thwaite.
Once at Thwaite, pass the holiday cottages and tearoom heading towards Muker through the village. However, before you reach Muker you need to take the right turn up the hill, this is Cliff Gate Road and will take you up to the pass.
Half way up the hill, you will see a cairn with parking spaces. This is an ideal spot to stop, get out and savour the view over the junction of three dales. The air is also incredibly clean here due to the sparse population and altitude.
Once past the cairn, it is only half a mile or so, before you reach the section of road show in the picture at the top. There are a number of places to pull over and admire the view from, but do watch out for the steep drop into the dale below and do not be tempted to go beyond the crash barriers to get that special ‘angle’. They are there for a reason and if you fall, it could be quite some time for a rescue team finds you!
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