Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Crag Hill: route map, distance and time
839 m · Cumbria
Crag Hill is the highest point of the Coledale fells, a rocky summit with a trig point at the hub of ridges between Braithwaite and Buttermere.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Buttermere village National Trust car park.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike starts at about 130 m and gains 743 m over 4.7 km to 822 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 165 m (16%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 179 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 2 km at about 35%. It keeps climbing at 11% to the top. About 43% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike at a glance
| Distance | 4.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 750 m |
| Climb on the track | 743 m up, 52 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 130 m to 824 m (summit 839 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 35%, from 2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 43% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Buttermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 172 172 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 192 203 |
| Parking | Buttermere village National Trust car park |
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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
- The Buttermere Court Hotel0.4 km
- Syke Farm Tea Room0.4 km
- Croft House Farm Café0.4 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Syke Farm Campsite0.3 km
- Dalegarth Guest House Camp Site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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 | 295 m | +165 m | 16% | NY 179 177 |
| 2 km | 466 m | +171 m | 17% | NY 180 185 |
| 3 km | 645 m | +179 m | 18% | NY 182 193 |
| 4 km | 744 m | +100 m | 10% | NY 187 199 |
| 4.7 km | 822 m | +78 m | 11% | NY 192 203 |
How long Buttermere via Whiteless Pike takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 50m |
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 18:08. Start by 13:58 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:56 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Crag Hill summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Mainly clear, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 15 mph gusting 20 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 34 mph gusting 43 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
Best day of the next seven for Buttermere via Whiteless Pike: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 20 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Crag Hill forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Crag Hill?
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 -5°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 Crag Hill
Crag Hill is the highest point of the Coledale fells, a rocky summit with a trig point at the hub of ridges between Braithwaite and Buttermere. More about Crag Hill, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Sail (773 m), 0.5 km east
- Wandope (774 m), 0.8 km south-west
- Ard Crags (581 m), 1.5 km east
- Knott Rigg (556 m), 1.5 km south
- Sand Hill (756 m), 1.6 km north
- Scar Crags (672 m), 1.6 km east
Challenges that include Crag Hill
More walks from Buttermere village National Trust car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up Fleetwith Pike
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Grasmoor
- Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge up Great Borne
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Crag
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Crag
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Stile
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Stile
- Buttermere along the ridge up Rannerdale Knotts
- Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn up Red Pike
- High Stile ridge up Red Pike
- Buttermere via Red Pike up Starling Dodd
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Wandope
Other routes up Crag Hill
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braithwaite via Coledale Hause | 6.4 km one way | — | — | Moderate |
| Stair via Causey Pike and Sail | 5.8 km one way | 854 m | 2h 35m | Moderate |
| Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause | 6.7 km one way | 800 m | 2h 40m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 172 172, the summit at NY 192 203), 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.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike: questions and answers
How far is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike is 4.7 km one way to the summit of Crag Hill, with 750 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.4 km.
How long does Buttermere via Whiteless Pike take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Crag Hill and 3h 10m 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 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
The steepest 500 m averages about 35%, starting 2 km from the start, and 43% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Buttermere via Whiteless Pike climbs 743 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike starts from Buttermere village National Trust car park (postcode CA13 9UZ). The grid reference is NY 172 172. Buttermere village National Trust car park
Is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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 Braithwaite via Coledale Hause.
What time should I start Buttermere via Whiteless Pike today?
By 13:58 at the latest. Sunset on Crag Hill today is 18:08, Buttermere via Whiteless Pike takes about 3h 10m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
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.