Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn up Bowscale Fell: route map, distance and time
702 m · Cumbria
Bowscale Fell is a 702m fell in the Northern Fells above Mungrisdale, best known for Bowscale Tarn in the corrie on its northern side.
A track leads to Bowscale Tarn, then a path climbs the rim of the corrie to the summit.
Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn at a glance
| Distance | 4.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 474 m |
| Time up | 1h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Bowscale hamlet |
| Start grid reference | NY 358 316 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 333 305 |
Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 2h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 0m |
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 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:40 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:37 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Bowscale Fell summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 34 mph, 20% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Slight rain, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 30 mph gusting 38 mph, 71% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:02.
Best day of the next seven for Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 34 mph and a 20% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Bowscale Fell forecast
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 -1°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 34 mph.
- 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 Bowscale Fell
Bowscale Fell is a 702m fell in the Northern Fells above Mungrisdale, best known for Bowscale Tarn in the corrie on its northern side. More about Bowscale Fell, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Bannerdale Crags (684 m), 1.5 km south
- Atkinson Pike (845 m), 2.4 km south
- Mungrisdale Common (632 m), 2.5 km south-west
- Souther Fell (522 m), 2.5 km south-east
- Blencathra (868 m), 3 km south
Challenges that include Bowscale Fell
Other routes up Bowscale Fell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mungrisdale round via Bannerdale Crags | 5.2 km one way | 506 m | 1h 55m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 358 316, the summit at NY 333 305), 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.
Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn: questions and answers
How far is Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn?
Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn is 4.1 km one way to the summit of Bowscale Fell, with 474 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.2 km.
How long does Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn take?
About 1h 35m to the summit of Bowscale Fell and 2h 25m 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 0m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn?
Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn starts from Bowscale hamlet. The grid reference is NY 358 316.
Is Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn today?
By 14:40 at the latest. Sunset on Bowscale Fell today is 18:05, Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn takes about 2h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Bowscale via Bowscale Tarn?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).