Buttermere via Scarth Gap up Fleetwith Pike: route map, distance and time
649 m · Cumbria
Fleetwith Pike is the steep, pointed fell at the head of Buttermere, climbed by its sharp north-west ridge from Gatesgarth or by a short walk from Honister Pass.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Buttermere village National Trust car park.
Buttermere via Scarth Gap starts at about 130 m and gains 661 m over 9.2 km to 615 m on the track. The first 4 km are the easy part, averaging 0%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 199 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.1 km at about 24%. The final 0.2 km eases to the top. About 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Buttermere via Scarth Gap at a glance
| Distance | 9.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 661 m up, 176 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 101 m to 621 m (summit 649 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 24%, from 4.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 15% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Buttermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 172 172 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 205 141 |
| Parking | Buttermere village National Trust car park |
Buttermere via Scarth Gap 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
- The Buttermere Court Hotel0.4 km
- Syke Farm Tea Room0.4 km
- Croft House Farm Café0.4 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Syke Farm Campsite0.3 km
- Dalegarth Guest House Camp Site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Buttermere via Scarth Gap 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.
Buttermere via Scarth Gap 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 | 110 m | -20 m | -2% | NY 173 169 |
| 2 km | 107 m | -3 m | 0% | NY 173 161 |
| 3 km | 115 m | +8 m | 1% | NY 181 155 |
| 4 km | 139 m | +24 m | 2% | NY 187 148 |
| 5 km | 338 m | +199 m | 20% steep | NY 187 138 |
| 6 km | 503 m | +165 m | 16% | NY 191 131 |
| 7 km | 489 m | -13 m | -1% | NY 200 129 |
| 8 km | 458 m | -31 m | -3% | NY 208 133 |
| 9 km | 595 m | +137 m | 14% | NY 206 139 |
| 9.2 km | 615 m | +19 m | 9% | NY 205 141 |
How long Buttermere via Scarth Gap takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 35m | 5h 55m |
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.
Fleetwith Pike summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Fleetwith Pike right now. The main Fleetwith Pike page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Fleetwith Pike forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Fleetwith Pike
Fleetwith Pike is the steep, pointed fell at the head of Buttermere, climbed by its sharp north-west ridge from Gatesgarth or by a short walk from Honister Pass. More about Fleetwith Pike, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Honister Crag (634 m), 0.7 km east
- Haystacks (597 m), 1.6 km south-west
- Dale Head (754 m), 2 km north-east
- Grey Knotts (697 m), 2 km south-east
- Brandreth (715 m), 2.4 km south
- High Crag (745 m), 2.5 km west
Challenges that include Fleetwith Pike
More walks from Buttermere village National Trust car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Crag Hill
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Grasmoor
- Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge up Great Borne
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Crag
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Crag
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Stile
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Stile
- Buttermere along the ridge up Rannerdale Knotts
- Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn up Red Pike
- High Stile ridge up Red Pike
- Buttermere via Red Pike up Starling Dodd
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Wandope
Other routes up Fleetwith Pike
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honister Pass | 2.4 km one way | 300 m | 1h 0m | Easy |
| Gatesgarth via Fleetwith Edge | 2.1 km one way | 531 m | 1h 20m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 172 172, the summit at NY 205 141), 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.
Buttermere via Scarth Gap: questions and answers
How far is Buttermere via Scarth Gap?
Buttermere via Scarth Gap is 9.2 km one way to the summit of Fleetwith Pike. There and back by the same way is about 18.4 km.
How steep is Buttermere via Scarth Gap?
The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 4.1 km from the start, and 15% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Buttermere via Scarth Gap climbs 661 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Buttermere via Scarth Gap?
Buttermere via Scarth Gap starts from Buttermere village National Trust car park (postcode CA13 9UZ). The grid reference is NY 172 172. Buttermere village National Trust car park
Is Buttermere via Scarth Gap 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 Honister Pass.
Is there a GPX for Buttermere via Scarth Gap?
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.