Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm up Harter Fell: route map, distance and time
779 m · 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.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Kentmere village hall parking area.
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm starts at about 175 m and gains 624 m over 6.3 km to 770 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 6%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 228 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.1 km at about 28%. The final 0.3 km eases to the top. About 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm at a glance
| Distance | 6.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 650 m |
| Climb on the track | 624 m up, 28 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 175 m to 771 m (summit 779 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 2.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 13% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Kentmere village hall parking area, LA8 9JL |
| Start grid reference | NY 455 041 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 459 093 |
| Parking | Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate |
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm 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
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm 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.
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm 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 | 246 m | +71 m | 7% | NY 462 046 |
| 2 km | 288 m | +42 m | 4% | NY 466 055 |
| 3 km | 516 m | +228 m | 23% steep | NY 469 064 |
| 4 km | 672 m | +156 m | 16% | NY 468 073 |
| 5 km | 702 m | +31 m | 3% | NY 462 081 |
| 6 km | 760 m | +58 m | 6% | NY 458 090 |
| 6.3 km | 770 m | +10 m | 3% | NY 459 093 |
How long Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 3h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 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 07:47, sunset 18:04. Start by 13:29 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:02. Start by 13:27 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Harter Fell summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Harter Fell right now. The main Harter Fell page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Harter Fell forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Harter Fell
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. More about Harter Fell, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Mardale Ill Bell (760 m), 1.4 km north-west
- Kentmere Pike (731 m), 1.6 km south
- Branstree (712 m), 1.9 km east
- Rough Crag (628 m), 2 km north
- High Street (829 m), 2.6 km north-west
- Froswick (720 m), 2.6 km west
More walks from Kentmere village hall parking area
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Kentmere horseshoe up Froswick
- Kentmere western horseshoe arm up Froswick
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass and Yoke up Ill Bell
- Kentmere via Shipman Knotts up Kentmere Pike
- Kentmere via the Garburn Pass up Sallows
- Kentmere via Stile End up Shipman Knotts
- Kentmere western horseshoe arm up Thornthwaite Crag
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass up Yoke
Other routes up Harter Fell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass | 3.6 km one way | 530 m | 1h 35m | Moderate |
| Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass | 3.7 km one way | 529 m | 1h 35m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 455 041, the summit at NY 459 093), 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.
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm: questions and answers
How far is Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm?
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm is 6.3 km one way to the summit of Harter Fell, with 650 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.6 km.
How long does Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm take?
About 2h 20m to the summit of Harter Fell and 3h 35m 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 4h 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 2.1 km from the start, and 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm climbs 624 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm?
Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm starts from Kentmere village hall parking area (postcode LA8 9JL). The grid reference is NY 455 041. Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate
Is Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass.
What time should I start Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm today?
By 13:29 at the latest. Sunset on Harter Fell today is 18:04, Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm?
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.