Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside up Hart Crag: route map, distance and time

823 m · Cumbria

Hart Crag is a stony top between Fairfield and Dove Crag on the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, with a long ridge running down to Patterdale.

Follow the eastern arm of the horseshoe over Low Pike, High Pike and Dove Crag to Hart Crag.

Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside at a glance

Distance	7.6 km one way, to the top
Ascent	809 m
Time up	2h 50m by Naismith's rule
There and back	4h 25m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Ambleside (Rydal Road car park)
Start grid reference	NY 376 044
Summit grid reference	NY 368 112

Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 376 044 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 20m	3h 35m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 50m	4h 25m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 30m	5h 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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 12:42 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 12:40 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Hart Crag summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 22 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Slight rain, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 33 mph gusting 42 mph, 67% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

Best day of the next seven for Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Hart Crag forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Hart Crag?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -4°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Hart Crag

Hart Crag is a stony top between Fairfield and Dove Crag on the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe, with a long ridge running down to Patterdale. More about Hart Crag, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Dove Crag (792 m), 1 km south-east
Fairfield (873 m), 1.1 km north-west
Great Rigg (766 m), 1.5 km south-west
Hartsop Above How (586 m), 1.7 km north-east
St Sunday Crag (841 m), 2.1 km north
Little Hart Crag (637 m), 2.3 km south-east

Challenges that include Hart Crag

More walks from Ambleside

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Ambleside via Stock Ghyll and Wansfell Pike up Baystones
Ambleside via Low Pike and High Pike up Dove Crag
Ambleside via Low Sweden Bridge and Low Pike up High Pike
Ambleside via Scandale Pass up Little Hart Crag
Ambleside via Rothay Park up Loughrigg Fell
Ambleside via Low Sweden Bridge up Low Pike
Ambleside via the south ridge up Red Screes

Other routes up Hart Crag

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Deepdale Bridge via Hartsop above How	5.2 km one way	684 m	2h 10m	Moderate
Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass	7.6 km one way	740 m	2h 45m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 376 044, the summit at NY 368 112), 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.

Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside: questions and answers

How far is Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside?

Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside is 7.6 km one way to the summit of Hart Crag, with 809 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 15.2 km.

How long does Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside take?

About 2h 50m to the summit of Hart Crag and 4h 25m 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 5h 25m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside?

Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside starts from Ambleside (Rydal Road car park). The grid reference is NY 376 044.

Is Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside 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 Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside today?

By 12:42 at the latest. Sunset on Hart Crag today is 18:07, Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside takes about 4h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).