Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm 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 Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm starts at about 57 m and gains 950 m over 9.2 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 233 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.9 km at about 33%. The final 0.2 km eases to the top. About 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm at a glance
| Distance | 9.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 950 m up, 138 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 55 m to 871 m (summit 873 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 4.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 21% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
| Start grid reference | NY 364 059 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 358 117 |
| Parking | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm 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
- Badger Bar & Restaurant0.3 km
- Golden Rule1.7 km
- The Flying Fleece1.7 km
- The Old School Room Tea Shop0.4 km
- The Barn Cafe1.5 km
- Bellis1.8 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Public toilets1.7 km
- Public toilets1.8 km
- Rydal Hall Campsite0.6 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm 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.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm 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 | 55 m | -2 m | 0% | NY 355 060 |
| 2 km | 60 m | +4 m | 0% | NY 348 062 |
| 3 km | 115 m | +55 m | 6% | NY 344 068 |
| 4 km | 348 m | +233 m | 23% steep | NY 349 076 |
| 5 km | 450 m | +102 m | 10% | NY 351 083 |
| 6 km | 606 m | +156 m | 16% | NY 357 087 |
| 7 km | 607 m | +1 m | 0% | NY 355 097 |
| 8 km | 733 m | +127 m | 13% | NY 356 106 |
| 9 km | 861 m | +128 m | 13% | NY 358 115 |
| 9.2 km | 869 m | +8 m | 5% | NY 358 117 |
How long Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 4h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 25m | 5h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 10m | 6h 30m |
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.
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 Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm: 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 Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Rydal via Heron Pike up Great Rigg
- Rydal via Nab Scar up Heron Pike
- Rydal via Rydal Mount up Nab Scar
- Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm up Heron Pike North Top
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 364 059, 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.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm: questions and answers
How far is Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm is 9.2 km one way to the summit of Fairfield. There and back by the same way is about 18.4 km.
How steep is Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 4.9 km from the start, and 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm climbs 950 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm starts from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal. The grid reference is NY 364 059. Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Is Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm 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.
Is there a GPX for Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
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.