Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Fairfield: route map, distance and time
873 m · Cumbria
Fairfield is the high point of the Fairfield Horseshoe above Ambleside, a broad stony summit with crags falling away on its northern side.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water.
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass starts at about 167 m and gains 808 m over 8.8 km to 869 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 2%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 186 m at an average of 19%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.5 km at about 23%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top. About 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass at a glance
| Distance | 8.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 830 m |
| Climb on the track | 808 m up, 108 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 164 m to 871 m (summit 873 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 23%, from 5.5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 13% of the way |
| Time up | 3h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water, CA11 0NS |
| Start grid reference | NY 402 133 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 358 117 |
| Parking | Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water |
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass 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
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass 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.
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass 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 | 171 m | +4 m | 0% | NY 399 124 |
| 2 km | 170 m | -1 m | 0% | NY 398 115 |
| 3 km | 242 m | +71 m | 7% | NY 397 105 |
| 4 km | 428 m | +186 m | 19% | NY 391 098 |
| 5 km | 600 m | +173 m | 17% | NY 385 099 |
| 6 km | 735 m | +134 m | 13% | NY 377 101 |
| 7 km | 739 m | +5 m | 0% | NY 371 107 |
| 8 km | 800 m | +60 m | 6% | NY 365 115 |
| 8.8 km | 869 m | +70 m | 8% | NY 358 117 |
How long Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 55m | 6h 5m |
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 12:12 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 12:10 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Fairfield summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Mainly clear, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 29 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Dense drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 40 mph gusting 49 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 29 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Fairfield forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Fairfield?
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 -4°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 Fairfield
Fairfield is the high point of the Fairfield Horseshoe above Ambleside, a broad stony summit with crags falling away on its northern side. More about Fairfield, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Hart Crag (823 m), 1.1 km south-east
- Great Rigg (766 m), 1.4 km south
- Seat Sandal (737 m), 1.5 km west
- Dollywaggon Pike (859 m), 1.8 km north-west
- St Sunday Crag (841 m), 1.9 km north-east
- Dove Crag (792 m), 2.1 km south-east
Challenges that include Fairfield
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Fairfield Horseshoe · 9
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Cow Bridge via Dovedale up Dove Crag
- Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Dove Crag
- Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Hart Crag
- Cow Bridge via Hartsop Hall up High Hartsop Dodd
- Brothers Water via High Hartsop Dodd up Little Hart Crag
- Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Little Hart Crag
- Brothers Water by the north ridge up Middle Dodd
- Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Middle Dodd
- Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass up Red Screes
Other routes up Fairfield
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal | 6.7 km one way | 846 m | 2h 45m | Moderate |
| Patterdale via St Sunday Crag | 7.0 km one way | 888 m | 2h 55m | Moderate |
| Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm | 9.2 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Grasmere via Stone Arthur | 6.4 km one way | 830 m | 2h 40m | Hard |
| Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause | 8.9 km one way | 820 m | 3h 10m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 402 133, the summit at NY 358 117), 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.
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass: questions and answers
How far is Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass?
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass is 8.9 km one way to the summit of Fairfield, with 830 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 17.8 km.
How long does Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass take?
About 3h 10m to the summit of Fairfield and 4h 55m 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 6h 5m for the round trip.
How steep is Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 23%, starting 5.5 km from the start, and 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass climbs 808 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass?
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass starts from Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water (postcode CA11 0NS). The grid reference is NY 402 133. Cow Bridge car park, Brothers Water
Is Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass 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 Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal.
What time should I start Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass today?
By 12:12 at the latest. Sunset on Fairfield today is 18:07, Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass takes about 4h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass?
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.