Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Great Rigg: route map, distance and time
766 m · Cumbria
Great Rigg is a grassy top on the western arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, climbed from Grasmere via Stone Arthur or crossed on the full horseshoe.
Climb the steep path beside Greenhead Gill to Stone Arthur, then follow the grassy ridge north to the summit.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur starts at about 68 m and gains 694 m over 5.0 km to 763 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 4%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 262 m at an average of 26%. It keeps climbing at 18% to the top. About 33% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur at a glance
| Distance | 5.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 700 m |
| Climb on the track | 694 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 66 m to 763 m (summit 766 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 1.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 33% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere |
| Start grid reference | NY 338 077 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 355 104 |
| Parking | Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere |
Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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
- 1769 Bar & Restaurant0.3 km
- Tweedies Bar0.4 km
- The Distiller’s Arms0.4 km
- Lewis's Cafe & Bistro0.1 km
- Lucia's Takeaway Coffee Shop0.2 km
- Mathilde's0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.5 km
- Public toilets0.8 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur 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 | 69 m | +1 m | 0% | NY 340 078 |
| 2 km | 135 m | +66 m | 7% | NY 343 085 |
| 3 km | 397 m | +262 m | 26% steep | NY 348 088 |
| 4 km | 589 m | +192 m | 19% | NY 350 096 |
| 5 km | 763 m | +174 m | 18% | NY 355 104 |
How long Grasmere via Stone Arthur takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 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.
- Today: sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 13:57 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:55 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Great Rigg summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Great Rigg right now. The main Great Rigg page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Great Rigg forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Great Rigg
Great Rigg is a grassy top on the western arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, climbed from Grasmere via Stone Arthur or crossed on the full horseshoe. More about Great Rigg, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Fairfield (873 m), 1.4 km north
- Stone Arthur (504 m), 1.4 km south-west
- Hart Crag (823 m), 1.5 km north-east
- Seat Sandal (737 m), 1.6 km north-west
- Heron Pike North Top (621 m), 1.7 km south
- Dove Crag (792 m), 1.9 km east
Challenges that include Great Rigg
More walks from Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Blea Rigg
- Grasmere via Helm Crag and Gibson Knott up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Far Easedale up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Fairfield
- Grasmere over Helm Crag up Gibson Knott
- Grasmere via Easedale Road up Helm Crag
- Grasmere via Alcock Tarn up Heron Pike
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up High Raise
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Sergeant Man
- Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere up Steel Fell
- Grasmere via Greenhead Gill up Stone Arthur
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Tarn Crag
Other routes up Great Rigg
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rydal via Heron Pike | 7.8 km one way | — | — | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 338 077, the summit at NY 355 104), 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.
Grasmere via Stone Arthur: questions and answers
How far is Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
Grasmere via Stone Arthur is 5.0 km one way to the summit of Great Rigg, with 700 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.0 km.
How long does Grasmere via Stone Arthur take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Great Rigg and 3h 10m 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 3h 55m for the round trip.
How steep is Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 1.9 km from the start, and 33% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Grasmere via Stone Arthur climbs 694 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
Grasmere via Stone Arthur starts from Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere. The grid reference is NY 338 077. Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere
Is Grasmere via Stone Arthur suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Grasmere via Stone Arthur today?
By 13:57 at the latest. Sunset on Great Rigg today is 18:07, Grasmere via Stone Arthur takes about 3h 10m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Grasmere via Stone Arthur?
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.