Dockray route up Hart Side (Cumbria): route map, distance and time
756 m · Cumbria
Hart Side is a 756 m grassy fell on the eastern spur of the Helvellyn Dodds, above Glencoyne and Ullswater.
Cross open fell south-west from Dockray over grass and peat to the summit.
Dockray route at a glance
| Distance | 5.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 467 m |
| Time up | 1h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Dockray village |
| Start grid reference | NY 392 215 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 359 197 |
Dockray route 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
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long the Dockray route takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 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.
- Today: sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:17 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:15 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Hart Side summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 16 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 10°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 36 mph, 31% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for the Dockray route: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Hart Side forecast
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 Side
Hart Side is a 756 m grassy fell on the eastern spur of the Helvellyn Dodds, above Glencoyne and Ullswater. More about Hart Side, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Green Side (794 m), 1.2 km south-west
- Stybarrow Dodd (844 m), 1.8 km south-west
- Sheffield Pike (676 m), 1.8 km south-east
- Great Dodd (857 m), 1.9 km north-west
- Watson's Dodd (789 m), 2.3 km west
- Raise (883 m), 2.8 km south-west
Challenges that include Hart Side
More walks from Dockray village
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Dockray up Great Dodd
Other routes up Hart Side
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenridding via Sticks Pass | 7.9 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 392 215, the summit at NY 359 197), 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.
Dockray route: questions and answers
How far is the Dockray route?
The Dockray route is 5.1 km one way to the summit of Hart Side, with 467 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.2 km.
How long does the Dockray route take?
About 1h 50m to the summit of Hart Side and 2h 50m 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 30m for the round trip.
Where do you park for the Dockray route?
The Dockray route starts from Dockray village. The grid reference is NY 392 215.
Is the Dockray route 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 the Dockray route today?
By 14:17 at the latest. Sunset on Hart Side today is 18:07, The Dockray route takes about 2h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Dockray route?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).