Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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 Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur starts at about 68 m and gains 842 m over 6.4 km to 869 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 4%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 262 m at an average of 26%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top. About 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur at a glance
| Distance | 6.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 830 m |
| Climb on the track | 842 m up, 42 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 66 m to 871 m (summit 873 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 1.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 27% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere |
| Start grid reference | NY 338 077 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 358 117 |
| Parking | Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere |
Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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
- 1769 Bar & Restaurant0.3 km
- Tweedies Bar0.4 km
- The Distiller’s Arms0.4 km
- Lewis's Cafe & Bistro0.1 km
- Lucia's Takeaway Coffee Shop0.2 km
- Mathilde's0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.5 km
- Public toilets0.8 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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 | 69 m | +1 m | 0% | NY 340 078 |
| 2 km | 135 m | +66 m | 7% | NY 343 085 |
| 3 km | 397 m | +262 m | 26% steep | NY 348 088 |
| 4 km | 589 m | +192 m | 19% | NY 350 096 |
| 5 km | 761 m | +172 m | 17% | NY 355 104 |
| 6 km | 835 m | +74 m | 7% | NY 358 114 |
| 6.4 km | 869 m | +34 m | 9% | NY 358 117 |
How long Grasmere via Stone Arthur takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 4h 50m |
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 13:12 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:10 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 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 Grasmere via Stone Arthur: 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 Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Blea Rigg
- Grasmere via Helm Crag and Gibson Knott up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Far Easedale up Calf Crag
- Grasmere over Helm Crag up Gibson Knott
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Great Rigg
- Grasmere via Easedale Road up Helm Crag
- Grasmere via Alcock Tarn up Heron Pike
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up High Raise
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Sergeant Man
- Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere up Steel Fell
- Grasmere via Greenhead Gill up Stone Arthur
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Tarn Crag
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 |
| Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause | 8.9 km one way | 820 m | 3h 10m | 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 338 077, 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.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur: questions and answers
How far is Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
Grasmere via Stone Arthur is 6.4 km one way to the summit of Fairfield, with 830 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.8 km.
How long does Grasmere via Stone Arthur take?
About 2h 40m to the summit of Fairfield and 3h 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 4h 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 1.9 km from the start, and 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Grasmere via Stone Arthur climbs 842 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
Grasmere via Stone Arthur starts from Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere. The grid reference is NY 338 077. Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere
Is Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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 Grasmere via Stone Arthur today?
By 13:12 at the latest. Sunset on Fairfield today is 18:07, Grasmere via Stone Arthur takes about 3h 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 Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
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.