Routes up
Harter Fell routes: 2 ways to the top
Eskdale via Spothow GillHiking · 3.4 km one way · 545 m ascent · ~1h 35m · from Jubilee Bridge, foot of the Hardknott PassModerate
Dunnerdale from Birks BridgeHiking · 2.2 km one way · 465 m ascent · ~1h 15m · from Birks Bridge, Duddon valleyModerate
Summit today
Is it safe to climb Harter Fell today?
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Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Harter Fell each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 653m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Harter Fell each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:46
9h 40m of daylight. Golden hour ends 07:59 and starts 15:53. From the summit you see the sun 07:01 to 16:51.
Nearby summits
Close to Harter Fell
About Harter Fell
Harter Fell rises between Eskdale and Dunnerdale, south-west of the Hardknott Pass. Its top is a cluster of rock towers, and the trig pillar sits on one of them. Hard Knott lies 3.0km to the north-east on the far side of the pass, and Grey Friar, the nearest higher fell, stands 4.2km east beyond the Duddon.
From Eskdale, walkers start at Jubilee Bridge near the foot of the Hardknott Pass, cross the beck and climb past Spothow Gill on a rough, wet path to the summit rocks. From Dunnerdale, a path leaves Birks Bridge and climbs through the forestry on the south-east side before breaking out onto open fell. Both routes cross boggy ground on the lower slopes.
Reaching the highest rock needs a few moves of easy scrambling, which you can skip if you prefer. The view north looks across upper Eskdale to the Scafell range and Bowfell.
Harter Fell is 653 m (2,143 ft) high with 274 m of prominence. It is in Cumbria, England. It is the 206th highest of the 273 summits Peakify lists in Cumbria. The nearest summits are Demming Crag (0.6 km), Border End (2.4 km) and Hard Knott South Top (2.5 km).
Is Harter Fell hard to climb?
The paths are rough and boggy in places but not technical. The final summit rock needs hands, and you can stand beside it instead.
Which Harter Fell is this?
This is the Harter Fell between Eskdale and Dunnerdale. A different Harter Fell stands above Haweswater in the far eastern fells.
Can you climb Harter Fell and Hard Knott together?
Yes. The road summit of the Hardknott Pass lies between them, so walkers link the two, with Hard Knott 3.0km north-east of Harter Fell.
Is Harter Fell a Wainwright?
Yes. It is a Wainwright, a Hewitt, a Nuttall, a Marilyn and a Birkett.
How high is Harter Fell?
Harter Fell is 653 metres high with 274 metres of prominence.
Where is Harter Fell?
Harter Fell is listed in Cumbria, England.
Are there routes for Harter Fell?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Harter Fell, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Eskdale via Spothow Gill (3.4 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb Harter Fell today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Harter Fell?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
