Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 Glenridding main car park.
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause starts at about 157 m and gains 802 m over 8.8 km to 869 m on the track. The first 5 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 8.8 km, which climbs 228 m at an average of 27%, with a 500 m stretch from 8 km at about 36%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause at a glance
| Distance | 8.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 820 m |
| Climb on the track | 802 m up, 94 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 156 m to 869 m (summit 873 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 8 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 16% of the way |
| Time up | 3h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Glenridding main car park, CA11 0PD |
| Start grid reference | NY 386 169 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 358 117 |
| Parking | Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate |
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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
- Travellers Rest0.3 km
- Patterdale Hotel1.4 km
- White Lion Inn1.5 km
- Fairlight Cafe & Restaurant0.0 km
- Fellbites0.0 km
- Helvellyn Country Kitchen0.1 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.6 km
- Gillside Camping0.5 km
- Side Farm Campsite1.0 km
- Patterdale Youth Hostel camp site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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.
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 | 205 m | +48 m | 5% | NY 379 166 |
| 2 km | 252 m | +48 m | 5% | NY 379 158 |
| 3 km | 234 m | -19 m | -2% | NY 371 153 |
| 4 km | 230 m | -4 m | 0% | NY 364 147 |
| 5 km | 293 m | +63 m | 6% | NY 359 139 |
| 6 km | 411 m | +118 m | 12% | NY 354 131 |
| 7 km | 539 m | +129 m | 13% | NY 351 122 |
| 8 km | 641 m | +102 m | 10% | NY 351 117 |
| 8.8 km | 869 m | +228 m | 27% steep | NY 358 117 |
How long Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 50m | 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 Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause: 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 Glenridding main car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Glenridding via Mires Beck up Birkhouse Moor
- Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks
- Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Dollywaggon Pike
- Glenridding via the Sheffield Pike col up Glenridding Dodd
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Great Dodd
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Hart Side
- Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths up Helvellyn
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Helvellyn
- Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Raise
- Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Seat Sandal
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 |
| Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass | 8.9 km one way | 830 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 386 169, 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.
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause: questions and answers
How far is Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause is 8.9 km one way to the summit of Fairfield, with 820 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 17.8 km.
How long does Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 8 km from the start, and 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause climbs 802 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause starts from Glenridding main car park (postcode CA11 0PD). The grid reference is NY 386 169. Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate
Is Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause today?
By 12:12 at the latest. Sunset on Fairfield today is 18:07, Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause 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 Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause?
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.