Braithwaite via Coledale Hause up Sand Hill (Cumbria): route map, distance and time

756 m · Cumbria

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park.

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause starts at about 130 m and gains 797 m over 6.0 km to 737 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 214 m (21%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 214 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 3 km at about 37%. It keeps climbing at 12% to the top. About 32% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause at a glance

Distance6.0 km one way, to the top
Climb on the track797 m up, 194 m down on the way
Start and top of the track130 m to 765 m (summit 756 m)
Steepest 500 mAbout 37%, from 3 km
Steeper than 1 in 532% of the way
GradeHard
StartBraithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park
Start grid referenceNY 227 237
Summit grid referenceNY 187 218
ParkingBraithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 130 m6.0 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 227 237 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

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

Download the Braithwaite via Coledale Hause 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.

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause 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.

AtHeightClimbGradientGrid ref
1 km344 m+214 m21% steepNY 221 234
2 km381 m+37 m4%NY 213 228
3 km566 m+185 m18%NY 204 226
4 km698 m+132 m13%NY 196 222
5 km621 m-77 m-8%NY 190 214
6 km737 m+116 m12%NY 186 218

How long Braithwaite via Coledale Hause takes

PaceTo the topThere and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up2h 5m3h 5m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up2h 30m3h 45m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up3h 5m4h 35m

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.

Sand Hill summit weather for this route

There is no recent summit forecast cached for Sand Hill right now. The main Sand Hill page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Sand Hill forecast.

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

About Sand Hill

More about Sand Hill, with the live forecast.

Challenges that include Sand Hill

More walks from Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park

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

Other routes up Sand Hill

RouteDistanceAscentTime upGrade
Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause6.2 km one way710 m2h 25mHard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 227 237, the summit at NY 187 218), 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.

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause: questions and answers

How far is Braithwaite via Coledale Hause?

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause is 6.0 km one way to the summit of Sand Hill. There and back by the same way is about 12.0 km.

How steep is Braithwaite via Coledale Hause?

The steepest 500 m averages about 37%, starting 3 km from the start, and 32% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Braithwaite via Coledale Hause climbs 797 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Braithwaite via Coledale Hause?

Braithwaite via Coledale Hause starts from Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park. The grid reference is NY 227 237. Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park

Is Braithwaite via Coledale Hause suitable for beginners?

Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.

Is there a GPX for Braithwaite via Coledale Hause?

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.