Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike up Dove Crag: route map, distance and time

792 m · Cumbria

Dove Crag is a grassy top on the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, with a steep crag facing Dovedale and a bivvy cave below its edge.

Follow the ridge north from Ambleside beside a long stone wall over Low Pike and High Pike to the summit.

Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike at a glance

Distance	6.5 km one way, to the top
Ascent	738 m
Time up	2h 30m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 50m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Ambleside (Rydal Road car park)
Start grid reference	NY 376 044
Summit grid reference	NY 374 104

Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike 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 376 044 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

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

How long Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 5m	3h 10m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 30m	3h 50m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 5m	4h 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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 13:17 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:15 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Dove Crag summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Slight rain, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 32 mph gusting 40 mph, 67% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

Best day of the next seven for Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Dove Crag forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Dove Crag?

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 -3°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 Dove Crag

Dove Crag is a grassy top on the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, with a steep crag facing Dovedale and a bivvy cave below its edge. More about Dove Crag, with the live forecast.

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

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Hart Crag (823 m), 1 km north-west
Little Hart Crag (637 m), 1.3 km east
High Pike (657 m), 1.6 km south
Hartsop Above How (586 m), 1.8 km north-east
Great Rigg (766 m), 1.9 km west
High Hartsop Dodd (519 m), 1.9 km east

Challenges that include Dove Crag

More walks from Ambleside

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

Ambleside via Stock Ghyll and Wansfell Pike up Baystones
Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside up Hart Crag
Ambleside via Low Sweden Bridge and Low Pike up High Pike
Ambleside via Scandale Pass up Little Hart Crag
Ambleside via Rothay Park up Loughrigg Fell
Ambleside via Low Sweden Bridge up Low Pike
Ambleside via the south ridge up Red Screes

Other routes up Dove Crag

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Cow Bridge via Dovedale	5.4 km one way	730 m	2h 20m	Moderate
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass	6.5 km one way	660 m	2h 25m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 376 044, the summit at NY 374 104), 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.

Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike: questions and answers

How far is Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike?

Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike is 6.5 km one way to the summit of Dove Crag, with 738 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.0 km.

How long does Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike take?

About 2h 30m to the summit of Dove Crag and 3h 50m 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 45m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike?

Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike starts from Ambleside (Rydal Road car park). The grid reference is NY 376 044.

Is Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike 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 Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike today?

By 13:17 at the latest. Sunset on Dove Crag today is 18:07, Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike takes about 3h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike?

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