Grasmere via Easedale Road up Helm Crag: route map, distance and time
405 m · Lake District C&W · OS grid NY326093
Helm Crag is the craggy little fell above Grasmere known for its summit rocks, the Lion and the Lamb and the Howitzer, a short steep climb from the village.
You leave Grasmere along Easedale Road and climb a steep stepped path up the south-east nose to the summit ridge.
Grasmere via Easedale Road at a glance
| Distance | 3.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 327 m |
| Time up | 1h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Grasmere village |
| Start grid reference | NY 336 075 |
| Summit grid reference | NY326093 |
Grasmere via Easedale Road 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
- 1769 Bar & Restaurant0.1 km
- Tweedies Bar0.2 km
- The Distiller’s Arms0.2 km
- Baldry's0.0 km
- Freda And Ray Cafe0.0 km
- Harleys Bistro Cafe Bar0.0 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.3 km
- Public toilets0.7 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Grasmere via Easedale Road takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 0m | 1h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 10m | 1h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 15m |
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 15:17 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 15:15 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Helm Crag summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Helm Crag right now. The main Helm Crag page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Helm Crag forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Helm Crag
Helm Crag is the craggy little fell above Grasmere known for its summit rocks, the Lion and the Lamb and the Howitzer, a short steep climb from the village. More about Helm Crag, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Gibson Knott (420 m), 1.2 km north-west
- Steel Fell (553 m), 1.9 km north
- Stone Arthur (504 m), 2.1 km east
- Tarn Crag (549 m), 2.3 km west
- Calf Crag (537 m), 2.7 km west
- Silver How (394 m), 2.7 km south
Challenges that include Helm Crag
More walks from Grasmere village
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Blea Rigg
- Grasmere via Helm Crag and Gibson Knott up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Far Easedale up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Fairfield
- Grasmere over Helm Crag up Gibson Knott
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Great Rigg
- Grasmere via Alcock Tarn up Heron Pike
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up High Raise
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Sergeant Man
- Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere up Steel Fell
- Grasmere via Greenhead Gill up Stone Arthur
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Tarn Crag
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 336 075, the summit at NY326093), 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.
Grasmere via Easedale Road: questions and answers
How far is Grasmere via Easedale Road?
Grasmere via Easedale Road is 3.2 km one way to the summit of Helm Crag, with 327 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 6.4 km.
How long does Grasmere via Easedale Road take?
About 1h 10m to the summit of Helm Crag and 1h 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 2h 15m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Grasmere via Easedale Road?
Grasmere via Easedale Road starts from Grasmere village. The grid reference is NY 336 075.
Is Grasmere via Easedale Road 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 Grasmere via Easedale Road today?
By 15:17 at the latest. Sunset on Helm Crag today is 18:07, Grasmere via Easedale Road takes about 1h 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 Grasmere via Easedale Road?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).