Buttertubs Pass facts for kids
The Buttertubs Pass is a famous road located in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales area of England. This winding road travels north from a village called Simonstone, close to Hawes. It then continues towards Thwaite and Muker. Along the way, you'll see some very deep holes in the ground called the Buttertubs. These holes are about 20 metres (65 feet) deep and are made of limestone.
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What Makes Buttertubs Pass Special?
The Amazing Buttertubs
The road gets its unusual name from these special limestone potholes. People say that farmers used to stop here when they were taking their butter to market. On hot days, they would lower their freshly made butter into the cool, deep potholes. This clever trick helped to keep the butter from melting before they reached the market!
A Challenge for Cyclists
The Buttertubs Pass is very well-known among cyclists. It is considered a tough climb, making it a popular challenge. In 2014, this road was part of the famous 2014 Tour de France cycling race. It was the second and highest of three big climbs in the first stage of the race. A German cyclist named Jens Voigt was the first to cross the top of the pass. Because of this, he became the first person in the 2014 race to wear the polka dot jersey. This special jersey is given to the leader of the mountains classification, which means they are the best climber. The pass was also planned for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships, but the race had to change its route because of heavy rain.
On TV and in Music
The Buttertubs Pass has also appeared on television. Jeremy Clarkson featured the road in an episode of his British TV series, Clarkson's Car Years. It has also been used many times in the popular BBC show Top Gear. On Top Gear, the presenters often test drive cars on this exciting road. The Buttertubs Pass is even mentioned in a folk-rock song from 1971 called "The Gipsy" by the band Mr. Fox.
