Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill up Rossett Pike: route map, distance and time
651 m · Cumbria
Rossett Pike stands at the head of Mickleden in Great Langdale, above the Rossett Gill path, and is often added to Bowfell or Esk Pike.
Walk up Mickleden, climb the pony route zigzags beside Rossett Gill to the col, then head north-east to the summit.
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill starts at about 97 m and gains 543 m over 5.7 km to 622 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 2%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 213 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.6 km at about 27%. The final 0.7 km eases to the top. About 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill at a glance
| Distance | 5.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 580 m |
| Climb on the track | 543 m up, 22 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 622 m (summit 651 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 3.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 21% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 286 061 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 249 075 |
| Parking | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill 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
- Old Dungeon Ghyll Climbers Bar0.1 km
- Sticklebarn0.9 km
- Walker's Bar1.0 km
- Public toilets0.9 km
- Great Langdale Campsite0.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill 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.
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill 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 | 119 m | +22 m | 2% | NY 276 061 |
| 2 km | 129 m | +10 m | 1% | NY 268 066 |
| 3 km | 169 m | +40 m | 4% | NY 261 073 |
| 4 km | 372 m | +203 m | 20% steep | NY 252 072 |
| 5 km | 585 m | +213 m | 21% steep | NY 248 074 |
| 5.7 km | 622 m | +37 m | 6% | NY 248 075 |
How long Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 0m |
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 13:51 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:48 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Rossett Pike summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Rossett Pike right now. The main Rossett Pike page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Rossett Pike forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Rossett Pike
Rossett Pike stands at the head of Mickleden in Great Langdale, above the Rossett Gill path, and is often added to Bowfell or Esk Pike. More about Rossett Pike, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Bowfell North Top (866 m), 0.7 km south-west
- Bowfell (903 m), 1.2 km south
- Esk Pike (885 m), 1.3 km west
- Allen Crags (785 m), 1.6 km north-west
- Shelter Crags North Top (776 m), 1.8 km south
- High House Tarn Top (683 m), 1.9 km north-west
Challenges that include Rossett Pike
- 10 Peaks (England – Lake District) · 10
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
More walks from Old Dungeon Ghyll 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.
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill up Allen Crags
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band up Bowfell
- Climbers' Traverse up Bowfell
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Cold Pike
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via Oxendale and Red Tarn up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill and Esk Hause up Esk Pike
- Langdale via Rossett Ghyll and Angle Tarn up Glaramara
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Harrison Stickle
- Mickleden via Stake Pass up High Raise
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Loft Crag
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Pike of Blisco
Other routes up Rossett Pike
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dungeon Ghyll via Stake Pass | 7.3 km one way | 605 m | 2h 30m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 286 061, the summit at NY 249 075), 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.
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill: questions and answers
How far is Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill?
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill is 5.7 km one way to the summit of Rossett Pike, with 580 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.4 km.
How long does Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill take?
About 2h 5m to the summit of Rossett Pike and 3h 15m 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 0m for the round trip.
How steep is Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 3.6 km from the start, and 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill climbs 543 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill?
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. The grid reference is NY 286 061. Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Is Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill 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 Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill today?
By 13:51 at the latest. Sunset on Rossett Pike today is 18:06, Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill takes about 3h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill?
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.