Fairfield routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 6 measured routes up Fairfield, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Fairfield routes, easiest to hardest

Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.

Fairfield route times by Naismith's rule

The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.

Each Fairfield route

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal

Climb over Nab Scar, Heron Pike and Great Rigg to Fairfield, then return over Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Pike. It starts from Rydal (by Rydal Hall). 6.7 km one way with 846 m of ascent. About 2h 45m to the summit and 4h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Patterdale via St Sunday Crag

Climb St Sunday Crag above Grisedale, drop to Deepdale Hause and climb the rocky crest of Cofa Pike to the summit. It starts from Patterdale village. 7.0 km one way with 888 m of ascent. About 2h 55m to the summit and 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal. It starts from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal. 9.2 km one way. Grade: Hard.

Grasmere via Stone Arthur

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere. It starts from Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere. 6.4 km one way with 830 m of ascent. About 2h 40m to the summit and 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park. It starts from Glenridding main car park. 8.9 km one way with 820 m of ascent. About 3h 10m to the summit and 4h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water. It starts from Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water. 8.9 km one way with 830 m of ascent. About 3h 10m to the summit and 4h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Fairfield route GPX

Download a GPX for each route with a track: Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm, Grasmere via Stone Arthur, Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause, Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.

Before you pick a route

The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Fairfield today and the Fairfield 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Fairfield routes

The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.

Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

If you are new to Fairfield, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.

Questions about Fairfield

What is the easiest route up Fairfield?

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal has the easiest grade of the 6 routes listed here (Moderate).

How much time does each Fairfield route take?

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal: about 2h 45m up and 4h 5m there and back. Patterdale via St Sunday Crag: about 2h 55m up and 4h 15m there and back. Grasmere via Stone Arthur: about 2h 40m up and 3h 55m there and back. Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause: about 3h 10m up and 4h 55m there and back. Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass: about 3h 10m up and 4h 55m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.

Can I get a GPX file for a Fairfield route?

Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.