Kirkstone Pass up Red Screes: route map, distance and time
779 m · Cumbria
Red Screes is the big fell above Kirkstone Pass and Ambleside, with a short, steep climb from the pass to a summit with a trig point and a small tarn.
Climb the steep, rocky path up the eastern face from the top of the pass to the summit.
Kirkstone Pass starts at about 455 m and gains 302 m over 1.1 km to 756 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 298 m (30%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 298 m at an average of 30%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.3 km at about 36%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top. About 70% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Kirkstone Pass at a glance
| Distance | 1.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 320 m |
| Climb on the track | 302 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 455 m to 757 m (summit 779 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 0.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 70% of the way |
| Time up | 0h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Kirkstone Pass summit car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 401 081 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 396 087 |
| Parking | Kirkstone Pass summit car park |
Kirkstone Pass map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Kirkstone Pass 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.
Kirkstone Pass 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 | 753 m | +298 m | 30% steep | NY 397 087 |
| 1.1 km | 756 m | +2 m | 3% | NY 396 087 |
How long Kirkstone Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 35m | 0h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 0h 45m | 1h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 0h 55m | 1h 10m |
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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 16:07 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 16:05 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Red Screes summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Red Screes right now. The main Red Screes page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Red Screes forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Red Screes
Red Screes is the big fell above Kirkstone Pass and Ambleside, with a short, steep climb from the pass to a summit with a trig point and a small tarn. More about Red Screes, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Middle Dodd (654 m), 0.8 km north
- Little Hart Crag (637 m), 1.6 km north-west
- High Hartsop Dodd (519 m), 2 km north
- High Pike (657 m), 2.2 km west
- Stony Cove Pike (764 m), 2.5 km north-east
- Low Pike (508 m), 2.5 km west
Challenges that include Red Screes
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Kirkstone Pass summit car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Kirkstone via St Raven's Edge walking paths up Hartsop Dodd
- Kirkstone via Red Screes up Middle Dodd
- Kirkstone via St Raven's Edge walking paths up Stony Cove Pike
Other routes up Red Screes
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambleside via the south ridge | 5.8 km one way | 717 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Cow Bridge via Caiston Glen and Scandale Pass | 5.8 km one way | 640 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 401 081, the summit at NY 396 087), 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.
Kirkstone Pass: questions and answers
How far is Kirkstone Pass?
Kirkstone Pass is 1.1 km one way to the summit of Red Screes, with 320 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 2.2 km.
How long does Kirkstone Pass take?
About 0h 45m to the summit of Red Screes and 1h 0m 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 1h 10m for the round trip.
How steep is Kirkstone Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 0.3 km from the start, and 70% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Kirkstone Pass climbs 302 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Kirkstone Pass?
Kirkstone Pass starts from Kirkstone Pass summit car park. The grid reference is NY 401 081. Kirkstone Pass summit car park
Is Kirkstone Pass 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 Kirkstone Pass today?
By 16:07 at the latest. Sunset on Red Screes today is 18:07, Kirkstone Pass takes about 1h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Kirkstone Pass?
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.