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

756 m · Cumbria

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park.

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause starts at about 98 m and gains 704 m over 6.2 km to 737 m on the track. The first 4 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6 km, which climbs 197 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.6 km at about 24%. It keeps climbing at 18% to the top. About 20% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause at a glance

Distance6.2 km one way, to the top
Ascent710 m
Climb on the track704 m up, 68 m down on the way
Start and top of the track98 m to 737 m (summit 756 m)
Steepest 500 mAbout 24%, from 5.6 km
Steeper than 1 in 520% of the way
Time up2h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back3h 40m, down the same way
GradeHard
StartLanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, CA13 0RT
Start grid referenceNY 148 214
Summit grid referenceNY 187 218
ParkingLanthwaite Wood National Trust car park

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and 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 98 m6.2 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 148 214 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

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

Download the Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and 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.

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and 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 km118 m+20 m2%NY 155 218
2 km180 m+62 m6%NY 161 216
3 km287 m+107 m11%NY 166 211
4 km379 m+92 m9%NY 174 215
5 km504 m+125 m12%NY 184 213
6 km700 m+197 m20% steepNY 187 217
6.2 km737 m+36 m18%NY 186 218

How long Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause takes

PaceTo the topThere and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up2h 0m3h 0m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up2h 25m3h 40m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up3h 0m4h 30m

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 13:26 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
  • Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:23 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.

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 Lanthwaite Wood 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.

Other routes up Sand Hill

RouteDistanceAscentTime upGrade
Braithwaite via Coledale Hause6.0 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 148 214, 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.

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause: questions and answers

How far is Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause?

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause is 6.2 km one way to the summit of Sand Hill, with 710 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.4 km.

How long does Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause take?

About 2h 25m to the summit of Sand Hill and 3h 40m 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 30m for the round trip.

How steep is Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause?

The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 5.6 km from the start, and 20% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause climbs 704 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause?

Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause starts from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park (postcode CA13 0RT). The grid reference is NY 148 214. Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park

Is Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and 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.

What time should I start Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause today?

By 13:26 at the latest. Sunset on Sand Hill today is 18:06, Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause takes about 3h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and 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.