Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up Looking Steads: route map, distance and time
775 m · Cumbria
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rosthwaite National Trust car park.
The Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge starts at about 88 m and gains 700 m over 5.9 km to 763 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 247 m at an average of 25%. The final 0.9 km eases to the top. About 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge at a glance
| Distance | 5.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 730 m |
| Climb on the track | 700 m up, 29 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 88 m to 768 m (summit 775 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 3.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 22% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Rosthwaite National Trust car park, CA12 5XB |
| Start grid reference | NY 257 148 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 245 101 |
| Parking | Rosthwaite National Trust car park |
Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge 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
- The Langstrath Inn1.3 km
- The Yew Tree Pub1.7 km
- The Flock-in0.1 km
- Borrowdale YHA0.7 km
- Peathouse Tea & Coffee Shop1.3 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets1.7 km
- Chapel House Farm Campsite0.9 km
- National Trust Campsite1.8 km
- Seatoller Farm1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge 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.
Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge 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 | 101 m | +13 m | 1% | NY 254 140 |
| 2 km | 144 m | +43 m | 4% | NY 251 134 |
| 3 km | 320 m | +176 m | 18% | NY 249 125 |
| 4 km | 567 m | +247 m | 25% steep | NY 245 118 |
| 5 km | 677 m | +110 m | 11% | NY 247 109 |
| 5.9 km | 763 m | +86 m | 9% | NY 245 101 |
How long the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 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 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:31 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:28 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Looking Steads summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Looking Steads right now. The main Looking Steads page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Looking Steads forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Looking Steads
More about Looking Steads, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Looking Steads
More walks from Rosthwaite 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.
- Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up Allen Crags
- Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up Glaramara
- Rosthwaite via the Watendlath path up Grange Fell
- Rosthwaite via Greenup Gill and Greenup Edge up High Raise
- Rosthwaite via Dalehead Tarn up High Spy
- Rosthwaite via Greenup Gill and Greenup Edge up Sergeant Man
- Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up Rosthwaite Fell
- Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up Red Beck Top
- Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge up High House Tarn Top
Other routes up Looking Steads
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langdale via Rossett Ghyll and Angle Tarn | 9.1 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 257 148, the summit at NY 245 101), 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.
Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge?
The Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge is 5.9 km one way to the summit of Looking Steads, with 730 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.8 km.
How long does the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Looking Steads and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 3.4 km from the start, and 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge climbs 700 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge?
The Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge starts from Rosthwaite National Trust car park (postcode CA12 5XB). The grid reference is NY 257 148. Rosthwaite National Trust car park
Is the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge 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.
What time should I start the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge today?
By 13:31 at the latest. Sunset on Looking Steads today is 18:06, The Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Rosthwaite and the Glaramara ridge?
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.