Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks: route map, distance and time
624 m · Cumbria
Birks is a grassy shoulder on the north-east ridge of St Sunday Crag above Patterdale, often crossed on the way up the bigger fell.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.
Patterdale walking approach via Birks starts at about 157 m and gains 582 m over 4.6 km to 618 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 323 m at an average of 32%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.2 km at about 38%. The final 0.6 km eases to the top. About 31% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Patterdale walking approach via Birks at a glance
| Distance | 4.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 570 m |
| Climb on the track | 582 m up, 124 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 156 m to 620 m (summit 624 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 38%, from 3.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 31% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Glenridding main car park, CA11 0PD |
| Start grid reference | NY 386 169 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 380 143 |
| Parking | Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate |
Patterdale walking approach via Birks map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Travellers Rest0.3 km
- Patterdale Hotel1.4 km
- White Lion Inn1.5 km
- Fairlight Cafe & Restaurant0.0 km
- Fellbites0.0 km
- Helvellyn Country Kitchen0.1 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.6 km
- Gillside Camping0.5 km
- Side Farm Campsite1.0 km
- Patterdale Youth Hostel camp site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Patterdale walking approach via Birks GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Patterdale walking approach via Birks kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 205 m | +48 m | 5% | NY 379 166 |
| 2 km | 249 m | +44 m | 4% | NY 380 159 |
| 3 km | 255 m | +7 m | 1% | NY 386 155 |
| 4 km | 578 m | +323 m | 32% steep | NY 383 147 |
| 4.6 km | 618 m | +39 m | 7% | NY 380 143 |
How long Patterdale walking approach via Birks takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 25m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:22 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:20 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Birks summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Birks right now. The main Birks page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Birks forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Birks
Birks is a grassy shoulder on the north-east ridge of St Sunday Crag above Patterdale, often crossed on the way up the bigger fell. More about Birks, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- St Sunday Crag (841 m), 1.5 km south-west
- Arnison Crag (433 m), 1.5 km north-east
- Birkhouse Moor (718 m), 2.3 km north-west
- Hartsop Above How (586 m), 2.4 km south
Challenges that include Birks
More walks from Glenridding main car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Glenridding via Mires Beck up Birkhouse Moor
- Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Dollywaggon Pike
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Fairfield
- Glenridding via the Sheffield Pike col up Glenridding Dodd
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Great Dodd
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Hart Side
- Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths up Helvellyn
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Helvellyn
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Raise
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Seat Sandal
Other routes up Birks
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patterdale via Thornhow End | 3.2 km one way | 475 m | 1h 25m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 386 169, the summit at NY 380 143), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Patterdale walking approach via Birks: questions and answers
How far is Patterdale walking approach via Birks?
Patterdale walking approach via Birks is 4.6 km one way to the summit of Birks, with 570 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.2 km.
How long does Patterdale walking approach via Birks take?
About 1h 50m to the summit of Birks and 2h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Patterdale walking approach via Birks?
The steepest 500 m averages about 38%, starting 3.2 km from the start, and 31% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Patterdale walking approach via Birks climbs 582 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Patterdale walking approach via Birks?
Patterdale walking approach via Birks starts from Glenridding main car park (postcode CA11 0PD). The grid reference is NY 386 169. Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate
Is Patterdale walking approach via Birks suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Patterdale via Thornhow End.
What time should I start Patterdale walking approach via Birks today?
By 14:22 at the latest. Sunset on Birks today is 18:07, Patterdale walking approach via Birks takes about 2h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Patterdale walking approach via Birks?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.