Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn up Dollywaggon Pike: route map, distance and time

859 m · Cumbria

Dollywaggon Pike is the southern end of the Helvellyn ridge, rising above Grisedale Tarn, and most walkers climb it on the way to Helvellyn.

Climb Tongue Gill to Grisedale Hause and the tarn, then follow the pitched zigzag path to the summit.

Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn at a glance

Distance	5.4 km one way, to the top
Ascent	938 m
Time up	2h 40m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 45m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Mill Bridge, north of Grasmere
Start grid reference	NY 336 091
Summit grid reference	NY 346 130

Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale 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

Start grid ref NY 336 091 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 10m	3h 5m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 40m	3h 45m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 15m	4h 35m

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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 13:22 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:20 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Dollywaggon Pike summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Mainly clear, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 22 mph gusting 27 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
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 42 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

Best day of the next seven for Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 27 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Dollywaggon Pike forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Dollywaggon Pike?

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 Dollywaggon Pike

Dollywaggon Pike is the southern end of the Helvellyn ridge, rising above Grisedale Tarn, and most walkers climb it on the way to Helvellyn. More about Dollywaggon Pike, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Nethermost Pike (891 m), 1.2 km north
Seat Sandal (737 m), 1.5 km south
Fairfield (873 m), 1.8 km south-east
Striding Edge (863 m), 1.9 km north
Helvellyn (950 m), 2.1 km north
St Sunday Crag (841 m), 2.3 km east

Challenges that include Dollywaggon Pike

More walks from Mill Bridge, north of Grasmere

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Grasmere via Grisedale Tarn up Nethermost Pike
Mill Bridge via Tongue Gill up Seat Sandal

Other routes up Dollywaggon Pike

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Patterdale via Grisedale	8.7 km one way	729 m	2h 55m	Moderate
Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge	6.3 km one way	820 m	2h 40m	Hard
Wythburn western walking ascent	4.7 km one way	760 m	2h 10m	Hard
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause	9.4 km one way	820 m	3h 15m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 336 091, the summit at NY 346 130), 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.

Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn: questions and answers

How far is Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn?

Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn is 5.4 km one way to the summit of Dollywaggon Pike, with 938 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.8 km.

How long does Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn take?

About 2h 40m to the summit of Dollywaggon Pike and 3h 45m 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 4h 35m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn?

Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn starts from Mill Bridge, north of Grasmere. The grid reference is NY 336 091.

Is Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale 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 Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn today?

By 13:22 at the latest. Sunset on Dollywaggon Pike today is 18:07, Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn takes about 3h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Grasmere via Tongue Gill and Grisedale Tarn?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).