Honister Pass up Dale Head: route map, distance and time
754 m · Cumbria
Dale Head is the highest point of the Newlands Horseshoe, with a summit cairn looking down the Newlands valley and a short climb from Honister Pass.
Follow the line of fence posts up the grassy southern slope to the summit cairn.
Honister Pass at a glance
| Distance | 3.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 577 m |
| Time up | 1h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Honister Pass car park (Honister Slate Mine) |
| Start grid reference | NY 214 145 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 222 153 |
Honister Pass 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 Honister Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 1h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 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 14:48 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:46 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Dale Head summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Dale Head right now. The main Dale Head page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Dale Head forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Dale Head
Dale Head is the highest point of the Newlands Horseshoe, with a summit cairn looking down the Newlands valley and a short climb from Honister Pass. More about Dale Head, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Hindscarth (727 m), 1.4 km north-west
- High Spy (653 m), 1.4 km north-east
- Honister Crag (634 m), 1.6 km south-west
- Fleetwith Pike (649 m), 2 km south-west
- High Spy North Top (634 m), 2.3 km north-east
- Robinson (738 m), 2.6 km north-west
Challenges that include Dale Head
More walks from Honister Pass car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Honister Pass via Dale Head up Hindscarth
Other routes up Dale Head
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Town via Newlands and Dalehead Tarn | 5.6 km one way | 618 m | 2h 10m | Moderate |
| Honister via Dale Head ridge | 1.9 km one way | 400 m | 1h 5m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 214 145, the summit at NY 222 153), 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.
Honister Pass: questions and answers
How far is Honister Pass?
Honister Pass is 3.4 km one way to the summit of Dale Head, with 577 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 6.8 km.
How long does Honister Pass take?
About 1h 40m to the summit of Dale Head and 2h 20m 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 50m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Honister Pass?
Honister Pass starts from Honister Pass car park (Honister Slate Mine). The grid reference is NY 214 145.
Is Honister Pass 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 Honister Pass today?
By 14:48 at the latest. Sunset on Dale Head today is 18:08, Honister Pass takes about 2h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Honister Pass?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).