Rydal via Heron Pike 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 Nab Scar from Rydal and follow the ridge north over Heron Pike to Great Rigg.
Rydal via Heron Pike starts at about 57 m and gains 802 m over 7.7 km to 763 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 2%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 233 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.9 km at about 33%. It keeps climbing at 21% to the top. About 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rydal via Heron Pike at a glance
| Distance | 7.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 802 m up, 96 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 55 m to 763 m (summit 766 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 4.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 23% of the way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
| Start grid reference | NY 364 059 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 355 104 |
| Parking | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
Rydal via Heron Pike 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
- Badger Bar & Restaurant0.3 km
- Golden Rule1.7 km
- The Flying Fleece1.7 km
- The Old School Room Tea Shop0.4 km
- The Barn Cafe1.5 km
- Bellis1.8 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Public toilets1.7 km
- Public toilets1.8 km
- Rydal Hall Campsite0.6 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Rydal via Heron Pike 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.
Rydal via Heron Pike 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 | 55 m | -2 m | 0% | NY 355 060 |
| 2 km | 60 m | +4 m | 0% | NY 348 062 |
| 3 km | 115 m | +55 m | 6% | NY 344 068 |
| 4 km | 348 m | +233 m | 23% steep | NY 349 076 |
| 5 km | 450 m | +102 m | 10% | NY 351 083 |
| 6 km | 606 m | +156 m | 16% | NY 357 087 |
| 7 km | 607 m | +1 m | 0% | NY 355 097 |
| 7.7 km | 763 m | +156 m | 21% steep | NY 355 104 |
How long Rydal via Heron Pike takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 35m | 5h 30m |
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 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 Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal up Fairfield
- Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm up Fairfield
- Rydal via Nab Scar up Heron Pike
- Rydal via Rydal Mount up Nab Scar
- Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm up Heron Pike North Top
Other routes up Great Rigg
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasmere via Stone Arthur | 5.0 km one way | 700 m | 2h 10m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 364 059, 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.
Rydal via Heron Pike: questions and answers
How far is Rydal via Heron Pike?
Rydal via Heron Pike is 7.8 km one way to the summit of Great Rigg. There and back by the same way is about 15.6 km.
How steep is Rydal via Heron Pike?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 4.9 km from the start, and 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Rydal via Heron Pike climbs 802 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Rydal via Heron Pike?
Rydal via Heron Pike starts from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal. The grid reference is NY 364 059. Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Is Rydal via Heron Pike 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.
Is there a GPX for Rydal via Heron Pike?
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.