Kentmere via Shipman Knotts up Kentmere Pike: route map, distance and time
731 m · Cumbria
Kentmere Pike is a broad, grassy top on the eastern arm of the Kentmere Horseshoe, with a trig pillar set beside the ridge wall.
Climb onto the ridge at Shipman Knotts, then follow the wall north over grass to the summit.
Kentmere via Shipman Knotts starts at about 175 m and gains 548 m over 4.5 km to 722 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%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top. About 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Kentmere via Shipman Knotts at a glance
| Distance | 4.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 580 m |
| Climb on the track | 548 m up, 5 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 175 m to 723 m (summit 731 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 2.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 18% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Kentmere village hall parking area, LA8 9JL |
| Start grid reference | NY 455 041 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 465 077 |
| Parking | Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate |
Kentmere via Shipman Knotts 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 via Shipman Knotts 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 via Shipman Knotts 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 |
| 4.5 km | 722 m | +51 m | 10% | NY 465 077 |
How long Kentmere via Shipman Knotts takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 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 14:19 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:17 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Kentmere Pike summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Kentmere Pike right now. The main Kentmere Pike page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Kentmere Pike forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Kentmere Pike
Kentmere Pike is a broad, grassy top on the eastern arm of the Kentmere Horseshoe, with a trig pillar set beside the ridge wall. More about Kentmere Pike, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Harter Fell (779 m), 1.6 km north
- Shipman Knotts (587 m), 1.7 km south-east
- Tarn Crag (664 m), 2.2 km east
- Branstree (712 m), 2.5 km north-east
- Mardale Ill Bell (760 m), 2.9 km north-west
- Ill Bell (757 m), 2.9 km west
Challenges that include Kentmere Pike
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 eastern horseshoe arm up Harter Fell
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass and Yoke up Ill Bell
- 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
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 465 077), 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 via Shipman Knotts: questions and answers
How far is Kentmere via Shipman Knotts?
Kentmere via Shipman Knotts is 4.5 km one way to the summit of Kentmere Pike, with 580 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.0 km.
How long does Kentmere via Shipman Knotts take?
About 1h 50m to the summit of Kentmere Pike and 2h 45m 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 3h 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Kentmere via Shipman Knotts?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 2.1 km from the start, and 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Kentmere via Shipman Knotts climbs 548 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Kentmere via Shipman Knotts?
Kentmere via Shipman Knotts 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 via Shipman Knotts 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 Kentmere via Shipman Knotts today?
By 14:19 at the latest. Sunset on Kentmere Pike today is 18:04, Kentmere via Shipman Knotts takes about 2h 45m 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 via Shipman Knotts?
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.