Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike: route map, distance and time

826 m · Cumbria

Red Pike is a high fell on the Mosedale Horseshoe above Wasdale Head, with a steep drop into Mosedale on its eastern side.

Climb from the valley to Dore Head between Yewbarrow and Red Pike, then follow the ridge north to the summit.

Wasdale Head via Dore Head at a glance

Distance	3.9 km one way, to the top
Ascent	742 m
Time up	2h 0m by Naismith's rule
There and back	2h 50m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 165 106

Wasdale Head via Dore Head map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 186 087 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Wasdale Head via Dore Head takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 40m	2h 15m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 0m	2h 50m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 30m	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 18:08. Start by 14:18 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:16 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Red Pike summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 12 mph gusting 15 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 43 mph gusting 54 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Dore Head: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 15 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Red Pike forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Red Pike?

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 Red Pike

Red Pike is a high fell on the Mosedale Horseshoe above Wasdale Head, with a steep drop into Mosedale on its eastern side. More about Red Pike, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Scoat Fell (841 m), 1 km north-west
Black Crag (828 m), 1.1 km north
Steeple (819 m), 1.3 km north-west
Pillar (892 m), 1.6 km north
Yewbarrow North Top (617 m), 1.8 km south-east
Pillar Rock (780 m), 1.9 km north

Challenges that include Red Pike

More walks from Wasdale Head

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
High Level Route up Pillar
Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow

Other routes up Red Pike

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head	4.8 km one way	760 m	2h 15m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 165 106), 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.

Wasdale Head via Dore Head: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Dore Head?

Wasdale Head via Dore Head is 3.9 km one way to the summit of Red Pike, with 742 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.8 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Dore Head take?

About 2h 0m to the summit of Red Pike and 2h 50m 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.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Dore Head?

Wasdale Head via Dore Head starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.

Is Wasdale Head via Dore Head 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 Wasdale Head via Dore Head today?

By 14:18 at the latest. Sunset on Red Pike today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Dore Head takes about 2h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via Dore Head?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).