Mickleden via Stake Pass up High Raise: route map, distance and time
763 m · Cumbria
High Raise is the 763m summit of the central fells, a broad grassy top between Langdale and Borrowdale with a trig pillar, a shelter and a wide panorama.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park.
Mickleden via Stake Pass starts at about 97 m and gains 691 m over 7.1 km to 752 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 211 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.4 km at about 26%. It keeps climbing at 14% to the top. About 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Mickleden via Stake Pass at a glance
| Distance | 7.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 700 m |
| Climb on the track | 691 m up, 37 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 752 m (summit 763 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 26%, from 3.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 21% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 286 061 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 280 095 |
| Parking | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
Mickleden via Stake 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
Near the start
- Old Dungeon Ghyll Climbers Bar0.1 km
- Sticklebarn0.9 km
- Walker's Bar1.0 km
- Public toilets0.9 km
- Great Langdale Campsite0.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Mickleden via Stake 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.
Mickleden via Stake 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 | 119 m | +22 m | 2% | NY 276 061 |
| 2 km | 129 m | +10 m | 1% | NY 268 066 |
| 3 km | 169 m | +40 m | 4% | NY 261 073 |
| 4 km | 380 m | +211 m | 21% steep | NY 259 079 |
| 5 km | 477 m | +96 m | 10% | NY 265 086 |
| 6 km | 526 m | +50 m | 5% | NY 271 090 |
| 7 km | 733 m | +206 m | 21% steep | NY 279 094 |
| 7.1 km | 752 m | +19 m | 14% | NY 280 095 |
How long Mickleden via Stake Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 55m |
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 18:08. Start by 13:08 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:05 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
High Raise summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 15 mph gusting 18 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 33 mph gusting 41 mph, 56% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for Mickleden via Stake Pass: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 18 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour High Raise forecast
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About High Raise
High Raise is the 763m summit of the central fells, a broad grassy top between Langdale and Borrowdale with a trig pillar, a shelter and a wide panorama. More about High Raise, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Sergeant Man (736 m), 0.8 km south-east
- Codale Head (732 m), 0.9 km south-east
- Thunacar Knott (723 m), 1.5 km south
- Pavey Ark (702 m), 1.7 km south
- Sergeant's Crag (571 m), 2 km north
- Sergeants Crag (571 m), 2 km north
Challenges that include High Raise
More walks from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill up Allen Crags
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band up Bowfell
- Climbers' Traverse up Bowfell
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Cold Pike
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via Oxendale and Red Tarn up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill and Esk Hause up Esk Pike
- Langdale via Rossett Ghyll and Angle Tarn up Glaramara
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Harrison Stickle
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Loft Crag
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Pike of Blisco
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Pike of Stickle
Other routes up High Raise
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Langdale via Stickle Tarn and Sergeant Man | 4.7 km one way | 696 m | 2h 5m | Moderate |
| Grasmere via Easedale Tarn | 7.5 km one way | 707 m | 2h 40m | Moderate |
| Stonethwaite via Greenup Edge | 6.0 km one way | 661 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Rosthwaite via Greenup Gill and Greenup Edge | 7.4 km one way | 690 m | 2h 40m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 286 061, the summit at NY 280 095), 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.
Mickleden via Stake Pass: questions and answers
How far is Mickleden via Stake Pass?
Mickleden via Stake Pass is 7.1 km one way to the summit of High Raise, with 700 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.2 km.
How long does Mickleden via Stake Pass take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of High Raise and 4h 0m 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 55m for the round trip.
How steep is Mickleden via Stake Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 26%, starting 3.4 km from the start, and 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Mickleden via Stake Pass climbs 691 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Mickleden via Stake Pass?
Mickleden via Stake Pass starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. The grid reference is NY 286 061. Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Is Mickleden via Stake Pass 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 Great Langdale via Stickle Tarn and Sergeant Man.
What time should I start Mickleden via Stake Pass today?
By 13:08 at the latest. Sunset on High Raise today is 18:08, Mickleden via Stake Pass takes about 4h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Mickleden via Stake 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.