Fleetwith Pike routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 3 measured routes up Fleetwith Pike, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Fleetwith Pike 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.

Fleetwith Pike 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 Fleetwith Pike route

Honister Pass

Follow the quarry tracks west from the pass and climb grassy slopes along the top of Honister Crag to the summit. It starts from Honister Pass National Trust car park. 2.4 km one way with 300 m of ascent. About 1h 0m to the summit and 1h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Easy.

Gatesgarth via Fleetwith Edge

Climb the steep north-west ridge from the valley floor past the white cross, on a rocky path with a few hands-down moments. It starts from Gatesgarth Farm car park, Buttermere. 2.1 km one way with 531 m of ascent. About 1h 20m to the summit and 1h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Buttermere via Scarth Gap

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Buttermere village National Trust car park. It starts from Buttermere village National Trust car park. 9.2 km one way. Grade: Hard.

Fleetwith Pike route GPX

Download a GPX for each route with a track: Honister Pass, Buttermere via Scarth Gap. 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 Fleetwith Pike today and the Fleetwith Pike 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Fleetwith Pike 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 Fleetwith Pike, 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 Fleetwith Pike

What is the easiest route up Fleetwith Pike?

Start at Honister Pass and follow the quarry tracks west, which keep the climb short and gentle.

How much time does each Fleetwith Pike route take?

Honister Pass: about 1h 0m up and 1h 30m there and back. Gatesgarth via Fleetwith Edge: about 1h 20m up and 1h 45m 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 Fleetwith Pike route?

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