Harter Fell routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
779 m ยท Cumbria
Harter Fell stands at the head of Haweswater above Mardale Head, with a summit of old iron fence posts and a view down the length of the reservoir.
Peakify lists 3 measured routes up Harter Fell, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Harter Fell routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater | 3.6 km one way | 530 m | 1h 35m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater | 3.7 km one way | 529 m | 1h 35m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm | Kentmere village hall parking area | 6.3 km one way | 650 m | 2h 20m | 3h 35m | Hard |
Harter Fell route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Harter Fell route
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass
Climb past Small Water to the shelter on Nan Bield Pass, then follow the ridge east to the summit. It starts from Mardale Head car park, Haweswater. 3.6 km one way with 530 m of ascent. About 1h 35m to the summit and 2h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass
Follow the old packhorse track to Gatescarth Pass and climb the grassy slopes west to the top. It starts from Mardale Head car park, Haweswater. 3.7 km one way with 529 m of ascent. About 1h 35m to the summit and 2h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Kentmere village hall parking area. It starts from Kentmere village hall parking area. 6.3 km one way with 650 m of ascent. About 2h 20m to the summit and 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Harter Fell route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass, Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Harter Fell today and the Harter Fell 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Harter Fell routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Harter Fell, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Harter Fell
What is the easiest route up Harter Fell?
From Mardale Head, follow the track to Gatescarth Pass and climb grassy slopes to the summit.
How much time does each Harter Fell route take?
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass: about 1h 35m up and 2h 20m there and back. Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass: about 1h 35m up and 2h 20m there and back. Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm: about 2h 20m up and 3h 35m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Harter Fell route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.