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Planning a day out on the Lakeland fells can be an enjoyable but sometimes time-consuming task. For newcomers to the area it can be daunting. A series of walks is presented here in outline, giving distances covered and heights ascended. More detailed information on the walks is available by following the links. It is not my intention for these pages to replace the available guidebooks, more to present interesting routes, for those who wish to enjoy a full day's walking on the fells, and to give the flavour of them. As the routes are all circular, starting and finishing at the same points, it's as well to remember that all the height gained has sooner or later to be lost. My own preference is to get the steepest parts of the routes over earlier in the day as steep descents can be unexpectedly arduous and time-consuming at the end of the day when one's legs are tired. The direction of the routes have sometimes been chosen on this basis. For example, the Fairfield horseshoe starts with the steep ascent of Nab Scar and has the gradual descent down from Dove Crag to Ambleside left to the end of the walk. Those chosing to do the walks in the opposite direction might bear this in mind. At the end of each route I've shown an equivalent distance. This comprises the total distance in miles plus an allowance of an extra mile for each 500 feet ascended, for example, a walk of 10 miles plus 3000 feet of ascent has an equivalent distance of 16 miles (any minor inconsistancies are due to rounding errors). This is the figure one should keep in mind when estimating the time needed for a walk. Strong walkers, enjoying a mimimum of stops, will probably manage three miles per hour of equivalent distance over the day. Those out of condition might only manage two. The Escape Routes show how the length of the walk can be reduced, either by returning to base by a more direct route or omitting a section of the walk. The walks are organised into eight sections following the points of the compass:- North - which includes the Skiddaw and Blencathra massifs North East - Helvellyn ridge, from Dollywagon Pike to Clough Head, and eastern spurs East - from Fairfield south to Red Screes, and from High Street north and east including Place Fell South East - south and east of High Street, including the fells around Kentmere and Longsleddale Howgills - the Howgill Fells, to the east of the M6 between Sedbergh and Tebay South - the foothills including Scout Scar and Claife Heights South West - including the Coniston Fells West - the large area to the west of Ambleside and Grasmere, including the fells around Langdale and Wasdale North West - the area to the north and west of Dale Head, including Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike and High Stile
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Blencathra (Hall's Fell) Details
Threlkeld - Hall's Fell ridge - Blencathra - Blease Fell - Threlkeld (Grid ref. NY 318257)
Total Distance 4.3 miles, Total Ascent 2500 feet, Equivalent Distance 9.3 miles
Blencathra (Sharp Edge) Details
Threlkeld - Scales - Sharp Edge - Blencathra - Blease Fell - Threlkeld (Grid ref. NY 318257)
Total Distance 6.6 miles, Total Ascent 2500 feet, Equivalent Distance 11.6 miles
Skiddaw from Millbeck Details
Millbeck - Skiddaw Little Man (via SW arete - Wainwright's route) - Skiddaw - Carl Side - Millbeck (Grid ref. NY 255262)
Total Distance 4.2 miles, Total Ascent 3000 feet, Equivalent Distance 10.2 miles
Skiddaw via Longside Edge Details
High Side - Ullock Pike - Long Side - Carl Side - Skiddaw - Bakestall - Whitewater Dash - High Side (Grid ref. NY 237311)
Total Distance 8.5 miles, Total Ascent 3000 feet, Equivalent Distance 14.5 miles
Skiddaw via Lonscale Fell Details
Gale Road CP - Lonscale Fell - Jenkin Hill - Skiddaw Little Man - Skiddaw (High Man) - Sale How - Skiddaw House - Gale Road CP - Latrigg - Gale Road CP (Grid ref. NY 281253)
Total Distance 11.2 miles, Total Ascent 2900 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.1 miles
Carrock Fell to Great Calva Details
Mosedale - Carrock Fell - High Pike - Knott - Great Calva - Mosedale (Grid ref. NY 356323)
Total Distance 11.4 miles, Total Ascent 2800 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.0 miles
Hart Side and Great Dodd Details
Car park near Dockray - Hart Side - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson's Dodd - Great Dodd - Aira Force - Car park (Grid ref. NY 398205)
Total Distance 10.2 miles, Total Ascent 2400 feet, Equivalent Distance 15.0 miles
Helvellyn to Great Dodd Details
Swirls car park - Helvellyn - Lower Man - White Side - Raise - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson's Dodd - Great Dodd - Legburthwaite - Swirls car park (Grid ref. NY 316169)
Total Distance 9.6 miles, Total Ascent 3700 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.0 miles
Catstye Cam to Dollywagon Pike Details
Glenridding - Catstye Cam (via North West Ridge) - Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - Dollywagon Pike - Grisedale Tarn - Lanty's Tarn - Glenridding (Grid ref. NY 386170)
Total Distance 9.7 miles, Total Ascent 3300 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.3 miles
Helvellyn and Sheffield Pike Details
Glenridding - Birkhouse Moor - Helvellyn (via Striding Edge) - Lower Man - Whiteside - Raise - Stybarrow Dodd - Green Side - Sheffield Pike - Glenridding (Grid ref. NY 386170)
Total Distance 9.6 miles, Total Ascent 4000 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.5 miles
Dollywagon Pike and St. Sunday Crag Details
Patterdale - Ruthwaite Lodge - Dollywagon Pike (via The Tongue) - Seat Sandal - St. Sunday Crag - Birks - Patterdale (Grid ref. NY 396159)
Total Distance 10.1 miles, Total Ascent 4100 feet, Equivalent Distance 18.2 miles
Mardale Ill Bell to Wether Hill Details
Mardale Head - Mardale Ill Bell (via North Ridge) - High Street - Kidsty Pike - Rampsgill Head - High Raise - Wether Hill - The Forces (Measand Beck) - Mardale Head (via shore path) (Grid ref. NY 469107)
Total Distance 12.4 miles, Total Ascent 2700 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.9 miles
The Knott to Place Fell Details
Cow Bridge, Hartsop - The Knott - Rest Dodd - Angletarn Pikes - Place Fell - Scalehow Force - Cow Bridge ( via shore path, Beckstones and Deepdale Bridge) (Grid ref. NY 403134)
Total Distance 13.6 miles, Total Ascent 3300 feet, Equivalent Distance 20.1 miles
Beda Fell and The Nab Details
St Martin's Church, Martindale - Beda Head - Angle Tarn - Rest Dodd - The Nab - St Martin's Church, Martindale (Grid ref. NY 434184)
Total Distance 8.4 miles, Total Ascent 2400 feet, Equivalent Distance 13.2 miles
Kidsty Pike and Caudale Moor Details
Cow Bridge, Hartsop - The Knott - Rampsgill Head - Kidsty Pike - High Street - Thornthwaite Crag - Caudale Moor - Hartsop Dodd - Cow Bridge (Grid ref. NY 403134)
Total Distance 9.6 miles, Total Ascent 3200 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.1 miles
Red Screes and Hart Crag Details
Cow Bridge, Hartsop - Red Screes - Little Hart Crag - Dove Crag - Hart Crag - Hartsop above How - Cow Bridge (Grid ref. NY 403134)
Total Distance 10.0 miles, Total Ascent 3800 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.7 miles
Deepdale Round Details
Cow Bridge, Hartsop - Patterdale - St. Sunday Crag - Fairfield - Hart Crag -Dove Crag - Cow Bridge (Grid ref. NY 403134)
Total Distance 10.4 miles, Total Ascent 3500 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.3 miles
Alcock Tarn - A Short Walk from Grasmere Details
Stock Lane Car Park, Grasmere - Town End - How Top - Grey Crag - Alcock Tarn - Forestside - Swan Hotel - Stock Lane Car Park, Grasmere (Grid ref. NY 339072)
Total Distance 3.4 miles, Total Ascent 1050 feet, Equivalent Distance 5.5 miles
Red Screes and Dove Crag Details
Ambleside - Red Screes - Little Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike - Ambleside (Grid ref. NY 377046)
Total Distance 9.5 miles, Total Ascent 3500 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.6 miles
Fairfield Horseshoe Details
Ambleside - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike - Ambleside (Grid ref. NY 377046)
Total Distance 10.5 miles, Total Ascent 3450 feet, Equivalent Distance 17.4 miles
A Kentmere Horseshoe Details
Kentmere - Shipman Knotts - Kentmere Pike - Harter Fell (plus diversion to see Haweswater) - Mardale Ill Bell - Thornthwaite Crag - Froswick - Ill Bell - Yoke - Kentmere (Grid ref. NY 456041)
Total Distance 12.2 miles, Total Ascent 3700 feet, Equivalent Distance 19.7 miles
Yoke Spur and Caudale Moor Details
Troutbeck - Yoke - Ill Bell - Froswick - Thornthwaite Crag - Caudale Moor - Troutbeck (Grid ref. NY 412027)
Total Distance 11.7 miles, Total Ascent 3700 feet, Equivalent Distance 19.1 miles
A Longsleddale Round Details
Stockdale, near Sadgill - Grey Crag - Tarn Crag - Branstree - Harter Fell - Kentmere Pike - Shipman Knotts - Stockdale (Grid ref. NY 491053)
Total Distance 9.6 miles, Total Ascent 3400 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.4 miles
Swindale Circuit Details
Rosgill Moor - Scalebarow Knott - Hare Shaw - Swinside Pike - High Howes - Howes - Swindale Head - Rosgill Moor (Grid ref. NY 528157)
Total Distance 10.1 miles, Total Ascent 1950 feet, Equivalent Distance 14.0 miles
Whinfell Ridge and Borrowdale Details
Huck's Bridge - Ashstead Fell - Mabbin Crag - Castle Fell - Whinfell Beacon - Repeater Station - Borrowdale - Huck's Bridge (Grid ref. NY 552038)
Total Distance 8.5 miles, Total Ascent 1250 feet, Equivalent Distance 11.0 miles
Langdale and The Calf (Howgills) Details
Gaisgill - Rispa Pike - Uldale Head - The Calf - Hazelgill Knott - Langdale Knott - Gaisgill (Grid ref. NY 640054)
Total Distance 13.4 miles, Total Ascent 3000 feet, Equivalent Distance 19.4 miles
The Calf from Sedbergh (Howgills) Details
Sedbergh - Crook - Calders - The Calf - Calders - Arant Haw - Winder - Sedbergh (Grid ref. SD 658920)
Total Distance 8.5 miles, Total Ascent 2550 feet, Equivalent Distance 13.6 miles
Cunswick and Scout Scars Details
Kendal - Golf Course - Cunswick Scar - Scout Scar - "Pile of Stones" - Racecourse - Kendal (Grid ref. SD 515926)
Total Distance 6.3 miles, Total Ascent 800 feet, Equivalent Distance 7.9 miles
Morecambe Bay Crossing Details
Arnside Promenade (Grid ref. SD 456787) to Kents Bank Station (Grid ref. 397757)
Total Distance about 6.3 miles
Coniston Fells I Details
Coniston - Wetherlam - Swirl How - Great Carrs - Brim Fell - Coniston Old Man - Dow Crag - Coniston (Grid ref. SD 303976)
Total Distance 10.3 miles, Total Ascent 3900 feet, Equivalent Distance 18.1 miles
Coniston Fells II Details
Troutal - Grey Friar - Great Carrs - Swirl How - Brim Fell - Coniston Old Man - Dow Crag - Troutal (Grid ref. SD 231975) (Grid ref. SD 231975)
Total Distance 11.3 miles, Total Ascent 3300 feet, Equivalent Distance 18.0 miles
Eskdale and the Scafells Details
Brotherilkeld - Esk Hause - Great End - Scafell Pike - Scafell - Slightside - Brotherilkeld (Grid ref. NY 212012)
Total Distance 12.5 miles, Total Ascent 4300 feet, Equivalent Distance 21.1 miles
Bowfell and the Scafells Details
Brotherilkeld - Bowfell - Esk Pike - Esk Hause - Great End - Scafell Pike - Scafell - Slightside - Brotherilkeld (Grid ref. NY 212012)
Total Distance 13.1 miles, Total Ascent 5200 feet, Equivalent Distance 23.4 miles
Scafell Pike from Seathwaite (Borrowdale) Details
Seathwaite (Borrowdale) - Stockley Bridge - Sty Head - Lingmell (via Corridor Route) - Scafell Pike - Great End - Esk Hause - Grains Gill - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite (Grid ref. NY 236122)
Total Distance 9.0 miles, Total Ascent 3600 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.2 miles
Netherbeck Round Details
Overbeck Bridge - Yewbarrow - Red Pike - Scoat Fell - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Seatallan - Middle Fell - Greenside - Overbeck Bridge (Grid ref. NY 168068)
Total Distance 10.7 miles, Total Ascent 5100 feet, Equivalent Distance 21.0 miles
Great Gable, Pillar and Red Pike Details
Wasdale Head - Sty Head - Great Gable - Kirk Fell - Pillar - Scoat Fell - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Red Pike - Dore Head - Wasdale Head (Grid ref. NY 187085)
Total Distance 11.0 miles, Total Ascent 5300 feet, Equivalent Distance 21.6 miles
Loughrigg, Sergeant Man and Tarn Crag Details
White Moss - Loughrigg (via caves) - Silver How - Blea Rigg - Sergeant Man - Tarn Crag - Grasmere - White Moss (Grid ref. NY 348066)
Total Distance 12.1 miles, Total Ascent 3300 feet, Equivalent Distance 18.8 miles
Scafell Pike from Langdale Details
Old Dungeon Ghyll - Rossett Gill - Esk Hause - Scafell Pike - Great End - Esk Pike - Bowfell - Three Tarns - Old Dungeon Ghyll (Grid ref. NY 286060)
Total Distance 11.2 miles, Total Ascent 4600 feet, Equivalent Distance 20.4 miles
Pike o'Blisco to Esk Pike Details
Old Dungeon Ghyll - Pike o'Blisco - Cold Pike - Crinkle Crags - Bowfell - Esk Pike - Esk Hause - Rossett Gill - Old Dungeon Ghyll (Grid ref. NY 286060)
Total Distance 11.3 miles, Total Ascent 4800 feet, Equivalent Distance 20.9 miles
Langdale Pikes Details
New Dungeon Ghyll - Loft Crag - Pike o'Stickle - Harrison Stickle - Pavey Ark - Thunacar Knott - High Raise - Sergeant Man - Blea Rigg - New Dungeon Ghyll (Grid ref. NY 296064)
Total Distance 6.5 miles, Total Ascent 3400 feet, Equivalent Distance 13.2 miles
Peak-bagging from Langdale Details
New Dungeon Ghyll - Pavey Ark - Harrison Stickle - Loft Crag - Pike o'Stickle - Rossett Pike - Allen Crags - Scafell Pike - Great End - Esk Pike - Bowfell - Crinkle Crags - Three Tarns - New Dungeon Ghyll (Grid ref. NY 296064)
Total Distance 15.3 miles, Total Ascent 6700 feet, Equivalent Distance 28.7 miles
A Coledale Round Details
Braithwaite - Grisedale Pike - Hopegill Head - Grasmoor - Eel Crags - Sail - Scar Crags - Causey Pike - Barrow Door - Braithwaite (Grid ref. NY 227238)
Total Distance 10.9 miles, Total Ascent 4400 feet, Equivalent Distance 20.3 miles
Dale Head and Robinson Details
Honister Hause - Dale Head - Hindscarth - Robinson - Dale Head - Honister Hause (Grid ref. NY 225135)
Total Distance 6.5 miles, Total Ascent 2700 feet, Equivalent Distance 11.9 miles
Robinson and Dale Head Details
Little Town - High Snab Bank - Robinson - Hindscarth - Dale Head - High Spy - Maiden Moor - Little Town (Grid ref. NY 232194)
Total Distance 8.7 miles, Total Ascent 3300 feet, Equivalent Distance 15.2 miles
A Gasgale Round Details
Lanthwaite Green - Whiteside - Hopegill Head - Eel Crag - Wandope - Grasmoor - Coledale Hause - Lanthwaite Green (Grid ref. NY 159209)
Total Distance 8.0 miles, Total Ascent 3600 feet, Equivalent Distance 15.2 miles
Glaramara and Langstrath Details
Stonethwaite - Bessyboot - Rosthwaite Cam - Combe Head - Glaramara - Allen Crags - Angle Tarn - Langstrath - Stonethwaite (Grid ref. NY 260139)
Total Distance 10.4 miles, Total Ascent 3000 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.4 miles
High Stile Ridge Details
Buttermere - Scale Force - Red Pike - High Stile - High Crag - Haystacks - Warnscale Bottom - Buttermere (Grid ref. NY 173169)
Total Distance 9.7 miles, Total Ascent 3100 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.0 miles
Blake Fell and Mellbreak Details
Maggie's Bridge - Burnbank Fell - Carling Knott - Blake Fell - Gavel Fell - Hen Comb - Mellbreak - Maggie's Bridge (Grid ref. NY 134210)
Total Distance 11.5 miles, Total Ascent 4050 feet, Equivalent Distance 19.6 miles
An Ennerdale Round (two days perhaps) Details
Broadmoor car park - Great Borne - Starling Dodd - Red Pike - High Stile - High Crag - Haystacks - Brandreth - Green Gable - Great Gable - Kirk Fell - Pillar - Scoat Fell - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Broadmoor car park (Grid ref. NY 086153)
Total Distance 22.4 miles, Total Ascent 8200 feet, Equivalent Distance 38.8 miles
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