Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge up Great Borne: route map, distance and time
616 m · Cumbria
Great Borne is the 616m western end of the High Stile ridge, a steep, heathery fell above Ennerdale Water and the Floutern Pass.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Buttermere village National Trust car park.
The Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge starts at about 130 m and gains 803 m over 8.4 km to 612 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 1%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 275 m at an average of 28%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.7 km at about 41%. It keeps climbing at 15% to the top. About 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge at a glance
| Distance | 8.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 803 m up, 325 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 101 m to 750 m (summit 616 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 41%, from 3.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 23% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Buttermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 172 172 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 123 163 |
| Parking | Buttermere village National Trust car park |
Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge 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 Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge 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 Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge 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 | 146 m | +36 m | 4% | NY 172 161 |
| 3 km | 421 m | +275 m | 28% steep | NY 169 158 |
| 4 km | 660 m | +239 m | 24% steep | NY 162 155 |
| 5 km | 590 m | -70 m | -7% | NY 153 156 |
| 6 km | 589 m | -1 m | 0% | NY 143 157 |
| 7 km | 513 m | -76 m | -8% | NY 136 161 |
| 8 km | 556 m | +43 m | 4% | NY 126 162 |
| 8.4 km | 612 m | +56 m | 15% | NY 123 163 |
How long the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 40m | 5h 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.
Great Borne summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Great Borne right now. The main Great Borne page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Great Borne forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Great Borne
Great Borne is the 616m western end of the High Stile ridge, a steep, heathery fell above Ennerdale Water and the Floutern Pass. More about Great Borne, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Starling Dodd (633 m), 1.9 km east
- Hen Comb (506 m), 1.9 km north-east
- Gavel Fell (524 m), 2.3 km north
Challenges that include Great Borne
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 Scarth Gap up Fleetwith Pike
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Grasmoor
- 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 Great Borne
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loweswater via Floutern Tarn | 5.4 km one way | 587 m | 2h 5m | Moderate |
| Bowness Knott via Great Borne and Starling Dodd | 2.4 km one way | 490 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 123 163), 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 Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge?
The Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge is 8.4 km one way to the summit of Great Borne. There and back by the same way is about 16.8 km.
How steep is the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 41%, starting 3.7 km from the start, and 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge climbs 803 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge?
The Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge 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 the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge 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 Loweswater via Floutern Tarn.
Is there a GPX for the Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge?
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.