Delivering England’s Longest Zip Wire at One of the UK’s Most Iconic Adventure Destinations
When Honister Slate Mine set out to realise its vision for a new zip wire attraction, it wasn’t simply adding another adventure activity.
This was the culmination of more than 15 years of ambition, planning, design development and determination. After multiple applications, revisions and technical refinements, the project finally received approval, paving the way for what has been described as England’s longest zip wire.
Working alongside the wider project team, trusted specialist consultants and the Honister team, 7×19 was appointed to help turn that vision into reality.
The result is a spectacular 1.2km zip wire experience launching from Honister Crag high above Borrowdale, delivering a world-class ride through one of the most dramatic landscapes in the UK.
The Challenge
Building a zip wire is one thing.
Building a zip wire on the side of a mountain is something entirely different.
Located within the Lake District National Park and operating as England’s last working slate mine, Honister presented a unique combination of environmental, logistical, operational and construction challenges.
The attraction needed to:
- Deliver a world-class visitor experience.
- Integrate with Honister’s existing adventure activities.
- Respect the site’s heritage and landscape.
- Operate reliably in a harsh mountain environment.
- Be practical to maintain and manage long-term.
- Be constructed safely in a remote and challenging location.
Every design decision and construction activity needed to account for the realities of working hundreds of metres above the valley floor.
Our Solution
Working alongside a trusted consulting designer and engineer, 7×19 brought decades of experience in zip wire construction, aerial adventure operations and mountain-based installations to the project.
The project included:
- Delivery of a 1.2km zip wire installation.
- Mountain-top connection infrastructure
- Specialist cable installation.
- Adventure attraction operational planning.
- Construction logistics for a remote mountain location.
- Integration with the existing Honister Classic Via Ferrata experience.
- Testing, commissioning and operational handover.
Drawing on years of experience designing, constructing and operating adventure attractions, 7×19 helped refine key operational considerations to ensure the attraction would not only function technically but perform successfully as a long-term visitor experience.
More Than a Zip Wire
What makes the Honister experience unique is that the adventure begins long before participants leave the platform.
Guests first complete the famous Honister Classic Via Ferrata, navigating historic miners’ routes across the mountainside and experiencing the landscape that has shaped the mine’s story for centuries. The zip wire then provides a dramatic conclusion to the experience, transporting participants back to the visitor centre via an unforgettable aerial descent. Access to the zip wire is integrated with the Via Ferrata route.
The result is a complete adventure journey that combines heritage, physical challenge, engineering and thrilling aerial experiences.
Building in One of the UK’s Most Challenging Environments
Some of the biggest challenges were not found in the drawings.
They were found on the mountain.
Transporting more than 1,200 metres of wire rope, specialist equipment, tools and structural components to the top of Honister Crag required significant logistical planning and coordination.
Steep terrain, changing weather conditions, restricted access routes and the realities of mountain construction meant every phase of the build required flexibility, experience and meticulous attention to detail.
Projects of this scale demand more than technical expertise.
They require practical problem solving, collaboration and a team capable of adapting to constantly changing site conditions.
This is where 7×19 thrives.
Built on Heritage
Honister’s history stretches back almost 400 years, and the zip wire project creates a direct link between the site’s industrial past and its future as a leading adventure destination.
The attraction takes inspiration from the historic aerial ropeway systems once used within the slate industry, creating a modern interpretation of the technologies that helped shape the mountain landscape. The approved scheme was also designed to support slate transportation, creating a rare blend of industrial heritage and modern adventure engineering.
Few attractions combine history, tourism, engineering and adventure in quite the same way.
The Result
Today, visitors can experience what has been described as England’s longest zip wire, soaring over one of the UK’s most spectacular landscapes.
For Honister, the attraction represents the realisation of a vision more than fifteen years in the making.
For visitors, it delivers a truly unique adventure experience.
For 7×19, it demonstrates exactly what is possible when specialist adventure construction expertise meets ambitious client vision.
From remote mountain environments and complex logistics to large-scale cable installations and operationally focused design, the Honister Zip Wire showcases the capabilities that have made 7×19 a trusted partner for adventure attraction development across the UK and beyond.
Project Highlights
Client: Honister Slate Mine
Location: Cumbria, UK
Sector: Adventure Tourism & Visitor Attractions
Scope: Zip Wire Delivery, Adventure Construction & Operational Development
Features
- England’s Longest Zip Wire
- Approx. 1.2km Ride Length
- Mountain-Top Connections
- Integrated Via Ferrata Experience
- Remote Location Installation
- Specialist Wire Rope Systems
- Adventure Attraction Operations Planning
- Heritage-Inspired Visitor Experience
- National Park Environment Construction
Why This Project Matters
At 7×19, we specialise in delivering adventure experiences in challenging environments.
Whether it’s a mountain-top zip wire, an accessible aerial attraction, a resort adventure experience or a bespoke visitor attraction, our focus is always the same: combining practical expertise, innovative thinking and exceptional delivery to create unforgettable experiences.
The Honister Zip Wire is a perfect example of that approach.
A bold vision. A challenging site. A complex build.
And an extraordinary result.