Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm up Heron Pike North Top: route map, distance and time
621 m · Cumbria
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm starts at about 57 m and gains 628 m over 5.9 km to 616 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 2%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 233 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.9 km at about 33%. It keeps climbing at 18% to the top. About 24% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm at a glance
| Distance | 5.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 628 m up, 69 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 55 m to 616 m (summit 621 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 4.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 24% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
| Start grid reference | NY 364 059 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 357 086 |
| Parking | Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal |
Rydal western Fairfield 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
- Badger Bar & Restaurant0.3 km
- Golden Rule1.7 km
- The Flying Fleece1.7 km
- The Old School Room Tea Shop0.4 km
- The Barn Cafe1.5 km
- Bellis1.8 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Public toilets1.7 km
- Public toilets1.8 km
- Rydal Hall Campsite0.6 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Rydal western Fairfield 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.
Rydal western Fairfield 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 | 55 m | -2 m | 0% | NY 355 060 |
| 2 km | 60 m | +4 m | 0% | NY 348 062 |
| 3 km | 115 m | +55 m | 6% | NY 344 068 |
| 4 km | 348 m | +233 m | 23% steep | NY 349 076 |
| 5 km | 450 m | +102 m | 10% | NY 351 083 |
| 5.9 km | 616 m | +166 m | 18% | NY 357 086 |
How long Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 10m |
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.
Heron Pike North Top summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Heron Pike North Top right now. The main Heron Pike North Top page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Heron Pike North Top forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Heron Pike North Top
More about Heron Pike North Top, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Heron Pike North Top
More walks from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal up Fairfield
- Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm up Fairfield
- Rydal via Heron Pike up Great Rigg
- Rydal via Nab Scar up Heron Pike
- Rydal via Rydal Mount up Nab Scar
Other routes up Heron Pike North Top
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasmere via Stone Arthur | 6.3 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 364 059, the summit at NY 357 086), 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.
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm: questions and answers
How far is Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm is 5.9 km one way to the summit of Heron Pike North Top. There and back by the same way is about 11.8 km.
How steep is Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 4.9 km from the start, and 24% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm climbs 628 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm?
Rydal western Fairfield Horseshoe arm starts from Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal. The grid reference is NY 364 059. Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal
Is Rydal western Fairfield 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.
Is there a GPX for Rydal western Fairfield 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.