Honister via Dale Head ridge 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.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Honister Pass National Trust car park.
The Honister via Dale Head ridge starts at about 361 m and gains 373 m over 1.9 km to 730 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 243 m (24%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 243 m at an average of 24%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.2 km at about 29%. It keeps climbing at 14% to the top. About 53% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Honister via Dale Head ridge at a glance
| Distance | 1.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 400 m |
| Climb on the track | 373 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 362 m to 738 m (summit 754 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 29%, from 0.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 53% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Honister Pass National Trust car park, CA12 5XN |
| Start grid reference | NY 225 135 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 222 153 |
| Parking | Honister Pass National Trust car park |
Honister via Dale Head ridge 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 Yew Tree Pub1.9 km
- Sky Hi Cafe0.1 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.1 km
- Public toilets0.1 km
- Seathwaite Farm Campsite1.6 km
- Seatoller Farm1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Honister via Dale Head ridge 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.
Honister via Dale Head ridge 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 | 604 m | +243 m | 24% steep | NY 225 144 |
| 1.9 km | 730 m | +126 m | 14% | NY 222 153 |
How long the Honister via Dale Head ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 50m | 1h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 5m | 1h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 15m | 1h 45m |
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 15:43 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 15:41 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 25m 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 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.
- Honister Pass via Grey Knotts up Brandreth
- Honister Pass via the Drum House up Brandreth
- Honister Pass up Fleetwith Pike
- Honister Pass via Green Gable up Great Gable
- Honister Pass via Brandreth up Green Gable
- Honister Pass direct up Grey Knotts
- Honister via Dale Head ridge up Hindscarth
- Honister via Dale Head ridge up Robinson
- Honister mapped summit walking paths up Honister Crag
Other routes up Dale Head
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honister Pass | 3.4 km one way | 577 m | 1h 40m | Moderate |
| Little Town via Newlands and Dalehead Tarn | 5.6 km one way | 618 m | 2h 10m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 225 135, 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 via Dale Head ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Honister via Dale Head ridge?
The Honister via Dale Head ridge is 1.9 km one way to the summit of Dale Head, with 400 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 3.8 km.
How long does the Honister via Dale Head ridge take?
About 1h 5m to the summit of Dale Head and 1h 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 1h 45m for the round trip.
How steep is the Honister via Dale Head ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 29%, starting 0.2 km from the start, and 53% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Honister via Dale Head ridge climbs 373 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Honister via Dale Head ridge?
The Honister via Dale Head ridge starts from Honister Pass National Trust car park (postcode CA12 5XN). The grid reference is NY 225 135. Honister Pass National Trust car park
Is the Honister via Dale Head ridge 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 Honister Pass.
What time should I start the Honister via Dale Head ridge today?
By 15:43 at the latest. Sunset on Dale Head today is 18:08, The Honister via Dale Head ridge takes about 1h 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 the Honister via Dale Head ridge?
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.