Raise routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
883 m ยท Cumbria
Raise is a broad fell on the Helvellyn range north of Helvellyn, known for the ski tows on its eastern slopes above Glenridding.
Peakify lists 3 measured routes up Raise, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Raise routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenridding via Sticks Pass | Glenridding main car park | 6.3 km one way | 830 m | 2h 40m | 3h 55m | Moderate |
| Stanah via Sticks Pass | Stanah, Thirlmere | 3.4 km one way | 682 m | 1h 50m | 2h 30m | Moderate |
| Swirls via Lower Man and White Side | Swirls car park, Thirlmere | 5.3 km one way | 810 m | 2h 25m | 3h 30m | Hard |
Raise route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Raise route
Glenridding via Sticks Pass
Walk up past Greenside Mine to Sticks Pass, then climb south along the stony ridge to the summit. It starts from Glenridding main car park. 6.3 km one way with 830 m of ascent. About 2h 40m to the summit and 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Stanah via Sticks Pass
Climb the steep path from the Thirlmere side to Sticks Pass, then follow the ridge south. It starts from Stanah, Thirlmere. 3.4 km one way with 682 m of ascent. About 1h 50m to the summit and 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Swirls car park, Thirlmere. It starts from Swirls car park, Thirlmere. 5.3 km one way with 810 m of ascent. About 2h 25m to the summit and 3h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Raise route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Glenridding via Sticks Pass, Swirls via Lower Man and White Side. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Raise today and the Raise 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Raise routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Raise, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Raise
What is the easiest route up Raise?
From Glenridding, follow the track past Greenside Mine to Sticks Pass and climb south along the ridge.
How much time does each Raise route take?
Glenridding via Sticks Pass: about 2h 40m up and 3h 55m there and back. Stanah via Sticks Pass: about 1h 50m up and 2h 30m there and back. Swirls via Lower Man and White Side: about 2h 25m up and 3h 30m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Raise route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.