Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths up Blencathra: route map, distance and time

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Threlkeld public car park.

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths starts at about 187 m and gains 658 m over 2.7 km to 844 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 302 m (30%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 313 m at an average of 31%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.7 km at about 49%. The final 0.7 km eases to the top. About 54% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths at a glance

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Download the Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths 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.

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths 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.

How long Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths takes

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 07:47, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:52 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
• Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:50 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Blencathra summit weather for this route

• Good Today Sunday 18 October

  Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 15 mph gusting 19 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:07.

• Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

  Dense drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 44 mph gusting 55 mph, 32% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.

Best day of the next seven for Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 19 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Blencathra forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Blencathra?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

• An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -7°C on top.
• A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
• Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
• Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
• A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Blencathra

Blencathra is one of the best-known Lake District fells, a long ridged mountain above Threlkeld climbed by walking paths and by the scrambles of Sharp Edge and Hall's Fell Ridge. More about Blencathra, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

• Atkinson Pike (845 m), 0.6 km north
• Gategill Fell Top (852 m), 0.7 km south-west
• Bannerdale Crags (684 m), 1.8 km north-east
• Mungrisdale Common (632 m), 1.9 km north-west
• Bowscale Fell (702 m), 3 km north

Challenges that include Blencathra

• Bob Graham Round · 42
• Hewitts · 523
• Nuttalls · 442
• Wainwrights · 214
• Marilyns · 1,555

More walks from Threlkeld public car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

• Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths up Gategill Fell Top
• Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths up Atkinson Pike

Other routes up Blencathra

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 318 255, the summit at NY 323 277), 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.

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths: questions and answers

How far is Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths?

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths is 2.7 km one way to the summit of Blencathra, with 680 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 5.4 km.

How long does Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths take?

About 1h 40m to the summit of Blencathra and 2h 15m 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 2h 45m for the round trip.

How steep is Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths?

The steepest 500 m averages about 49%, starting 0.7 km from the start, and 54% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths climbs 658 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths?

Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths starts from Threlkeld public car park. The grid reference is NY 318 255. Threlkeld public car park

Is Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths 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 Scales via Scales Fell.

What time should I start Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths today?

By 14:52 at the latest. Sunset on Blencathra today is 18:07, Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths takes about 2h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Threlkeld via Blease Fell walking paths?

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.