Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass 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.
Climb past Small Water to the shelter on Nan Bield Pass, then follow the ridge east to the summit.
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass starts at about 250 m and gains 519 m over 3.6 km to 770 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 96 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3.6 km, which climbs 99 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 2 km at about 22%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass at a glance
| Distance | 3.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 530 m |
| Climb on the track | 519 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 250 m to 770 m (summit 779 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 22%, from 2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 29% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater |
| Start grid reference | NY 469 107 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 459 093 |
| Parking | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater |
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass 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.
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass 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 | 346 m | +96 m | 10% | NY 460 103 |
| 2 km | 499 m | +153 m | 15% | NY 453 100 |
| 3 km | 672 m | +173 m | 17% | NY 455 094 |
| 3.6 km | 770 m | +99 m | 18% | NY 459 093 |
How long Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 1h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 50m |
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 14:44 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:42 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m 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 Mardale Head car park, Haweswater
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass up Branstree
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Pike up High Raise
- Mardale Head via Rough Crag and Long Stile up High Street
- Mardale via Nan Bield Pass up High Street
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Howes up Kidsty Pike
- Mardale Head via Small Water and Nan Bield Pass up Mardale Ill Bell
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Pike up Rampsgill Head
- Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass and Branstree up Selside Pike
- Mardale via Nan Bield Pass up Thornthwaite Crag
- Mardale via Rough Crag and Long Stile up Rough Crag
- Mardale via Gatescarth Pass and Branstree up Branstree NE Top
Other routes up Harter Fell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass | 3.7 km one way | 529 m | 1h 35m | Moderate |
| Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm | 6.3 km one way | 650 m | 2h 20m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 469 107, 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.
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass: questions and answers
How far is Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass?
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass is 3.6 km one way to the summit of Harter Fell, with 530 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.2 km.
How long does Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass take?
About 1h 35m to the summit of Harter Fell and 2h 20m 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 2h 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 22%, starting 2 km from the start, and 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass climbs 519 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass?
Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass starts from Mardale Head car park, Haweswater. The grid reference is NY 469 107. Mardale Head car park, Haweswater
Is Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass 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 Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass today?
By 14:44 at the latest. Sunset on Harter Fell today is 18:04, Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass takes about 2h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass?
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.