Kentmere western horseshoe arm up Froswick: route map, distance and time
720 m · Cumbria
Froswick is a 720m peak on the Kentmere horseshoe, the conical top between Ill Bell and Thornthwaite Crag above the Troutbeck and Kentmere valleys.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Kentmere village hall parking area.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm starts at about 174 m and gains 678 m over 6.1 km to 711 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 78 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 180 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.7 km at about 31%. It keeps climbing at 15% to the top. About 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm at a glance
| Distance | 6.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 690 m |
| Climb on the track | 678 m up, 141 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 174 m to 727 m (summit 720 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 1.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 22% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Kentmere village hall parking area, LA8 9JL |
| Start grid reference | NY 455 041 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 435 085 |
| Parking | Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate |
Kentmere western 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
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Kentmere western 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.
Kentmere western 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 | 252 m | +78 m | 8% | NY 449 044 |
| 2 km | 432 m | +180 m | 18% | NY 441 048 |
| 3 km | 547 m | +115 m | 11% | NY 437 056 |
| 4 km | 695 m | +148 m | 15% | NY 437 066 |
| 5 km | 702 m | +7 m | 1% | NY 436 075 |
| 6 km | 697 m | -5 m | 0% | NY 435 084 |
| 6.1 km | 711 m | +14 m | 15% | NY 435 085 |
How long Kentmere western horseshoe arm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 25m |
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 07:48, sunset 18:04. Start by 13:29 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:02. Start by 13:27 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Froswick summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Froswick right now. The main Froswick page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Froswick forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Froswick
Froswick is a 720m peak on the Kentmere horseshoe, the conical top between Ill Bell and Thornthwaite Crag above the Troutbeck and Kentmere valleys. More about Froswick, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Ill Bell (757 m), 0.8 km south
- Thornthwaite Crag (784 m), 1.6 km north
- Yoke (707 m), 1.8 km south
- Mardale Ill Bell (760 m), 2 km north-east
- Stony Cove Pike (764 m), 2.3 km north-west
- Troutbeck Tongue (364 m), 2.5 km south-west
Challenges that include Froswick
More walks from Kentmere village hall parking area
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm up Harter Fell
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass and Yoke up Ill Bell
- Kentmere via Shipman Knotts up Kentmere Pike
- Kentmere via the Garburn Pass up Sallows
- Kentmere via Stile End up Shipman Knotts
- Kentmere western horseshoe arm up Thornthwaite Crag
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass up Yoke
Other routes up Froswick
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentmere horseshoe | 7.2 km one way | 582 m | 2h 25m | Moderate |
| Troutbeck via Garburn Pass | 8.4 km one way | 636 m | 2h 45m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 455 041, the summit at NY 435 085), 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.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm: questions and answers
How far is Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
Kentmere western horseshoe arm is 6.1 km one way to the summit of Froswick, with 690 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.2 km.
How long does Kentmere western horseshoe arm take?
About 2h 20m to the summit of Froswick and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 31%, starting 1.7 km from the start, and 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Kentmere western horseshoe arm climbs 678 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
Kentmere western horseshoe arm starts from Kentmere village hall parking area (postcode LA8 9JL). The grid reference is NY 455 041. Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate
Is Kentmere western 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 the Kentmere horseshoe.
What time should I start Kentmere western horseshoe arm today?
By 13:29 at the latest. Sunset on Froswick today is 18:04, Kentmere western horseshoe arm takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Kentmere western 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.