Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head: route map, distance and time
726 m · Cumbria
Clough Head is a 726m fell at the northern end of the Helvellyn Dodds, rising in steep crags above St John's in the Vale and Threlkeld.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.
Glenridding via Sticks Pass starts at about 156 m and gains 933 m over 10.6 km to 710 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 180 m (18%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 266 m at an average of 27%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.7 km at about 36%. It keeps climbing at 11% to the top. About 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Glenridding via Sticks Pass at a glance
| Distance | 10.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 933 m up, 379 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 156 m to 842 m (summit 726 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 0.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 15% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Glenridding main car park, CA11 0PD |
| Start grid reference | NY 386 169 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 333 225 |
| Parking | Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate |
Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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 Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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.
Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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 | 336 m | +180 m | 18% | NY 379 173 |
| 2 km | 602 m | +266 m | 27% steep | NY 372 177 |
| 3 km | 618 m | +16 m | 2% | NY 365 181 |
| 4 km | 559 m | -59 m | -6% | NY 356 183 |
| 5 km | 665 m | +106 m | 11% | NY 346 181 |
| 6 km | 826 m | +162 m | 16% | NY 342 187 |
| 7 km | 769 m | -58 m | -6% | NY 338 195 |
| 8 km | 793 m | +25 m | 2% | NY 339 203 |
| 9 km | 650 m | -143 m | -14% | NY 332 210 |
| 10 km | 648 m | -2 m | 0% | NY 332 219 |
| 10.6 km | 710 m | +63 m | 11% | NY 333 225 |
How long Glenridding via Sticks Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 40m | 5h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 30m | 7h 10m |
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.
Clough Head summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Clough Head right now. The main Clough Head page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Clough Head forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Clough Head
Clough Head is a 726m fell at the northern end of the Helvellyn Dodds, rising in steep crags above St John's in the Vale and Threlkeld. More about Clough Head, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Great Dodd (857 m), 2.2 km south-east
- High Rigg (356 m), 2.6 km west
- Watson's Dodd (789 m), 3 km south
Challenges that include Clough Head
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
- Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks
- Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
- 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 Clough Head
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's in the Vale via White Pike | 3.9 km one way | 654 m | 1h 50m | 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 333 225), 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.
Glenridding via Sticks Pass: questions and answers
How far is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?
Glenridding via Sticks Pass is 10.6 km one way to the summit of Clough Head. There and back by the same way is about 21.2 km.
How steep is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 0.7 km from the start, and 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via Sticks Pass climbs 933 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Glenridding via Sticks Pass?
Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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 Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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 St John's in the Vale via White Pike.
Is there a GPX for Glenridding via Sticks Pass?
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.