Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn up Red Pike: route map, distance and time
755 m · Cumbria
Red Pike is the reddish-topped fell above Buttermere, climbed from the village past Bleaberry Tarn and the first top on the High Stile ridge.
Climb through the woods beside Sourmilk Gill to Bleaberry Tarn, then up the steep red scree path to the top.
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn starts at about 130 m and gains 661 m over 4.6 km to 748 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging -1%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 327 m at an average of 33%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.1 km at about 37%. It keeps climbing at 20% to the top. About 40% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn at a glance
| Distance | 4.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 670 m |
| Climb on the track | 661 m up, 43 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 100 m to 748 m (summit 755 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 37%, from 3.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 40% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 0m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Buttermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 172 172 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 160 154 |
| Parking | Buttermere village National Trust car park |
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn 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 Buttermere Court Hotel0.4 km
- Syke Farm Tea Room0.4 km
- Croft House Farm Café0.4 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Syke Farm Campsite0.3 km
- Dalegarth Guest House Camp Site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn 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.
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn 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 | 110 m | -20 m | -2% | NY 173 169 |
| 2 km | 106 m | -4 m | 0% | NY 167 165 |
| 3 km | 302 m | +197 m | 20% steep | NY 162 164 |
| 4 km | 630 m | +327 m | 33% steep | NY 163 156 |
| 4.6 km | 748 m | +119 m | 20% steep | NY 160 154 |
How long Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 40m |
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 14:13 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:11 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Red Pike summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Red Pike right now. The main Red Pike page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Red Pike forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Red Pike
Red Pike is the reddish-topped fell above Buttermere, climbed from the village past Bleaberry Tarn and the first top on the High Stile ridge. More about Red Pike, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Dodd (641 m), 0.4 km north-east
- High Stile (806 m), 1 km south-east
- High Stile (807 m), 1.1 km south-east
- Starling Dodd (633 m), 1.9 km west
- High Crag (745 m), 2.5 km south-east
- Rannerdale Knotts (355 m), 2.9 km north
More walks from Buttermere village 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.
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Crag Hill
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up Fleetwith Pike
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Grasmoor
- Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge up Great Borne
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Crag
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Crag
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Stile
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Stile
- Buttermere along the ridge up Rannerdale Knotts
- Buttermere via Red Pike up Starling Dodd
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Wandope
- Buttermere via Whiteless Breast up Whiteless Pike
Other routes up Red Pike
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Stile ridge | 3.4 km one way | 649 m | 1h 45m | Hard |
| Bowness Knott via Great Borne and Starling Dodd | 6.5 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 172 172, the summit at NY 160 154), 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.
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn: questions and answers
How far is Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn?
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn is 4.6 km one way to the summit of Red Pike, with 670 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.2 km.
How long does Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn take?
About 2h 0m to the summit of Red Pike and 2h 55m 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 40m for the round trip.
How steep is Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn?
The steepest 500 m averages about 37%, starting 3.1 km from the start, and 40% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn climbs 661 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn?
Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn starts from Buttermere village National Trust car park (postcode CA13 9UZ). The grid reference is NY 172 172. Buttermere village National Trust car park
Is Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn 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 Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn today?
By 14:13 at the latest. Sunset on Red Pike today is 18:08, Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn takes about 2h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn?
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.