Dunmail Raise up Seat Sandal: route map, distance and time
737 m · Cumbria
Seat Sandal is a rounded fell above Dunmail Raise and Grisedale Tarn, climbed from Grasmere and often added to walks to Fairfield or Helvellyn.
Climb the steep north-west slope beside Raise Beck and the wall to the summit.
Dunmail Raise at a glance
| Distance | 2.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 512 m |
| Time up | 1h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Dunmail Raise (lay-by) |
| Start grid reference | NY 329 111 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 344 115 |
Dunmail Raise 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
How long Dunmail Raise takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 5m | 1h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 1h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 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 15:22 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 15:20 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Seat Sandal summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 16 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 37 mph, 56% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for Dunmail Raise: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Seat Sandal forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Seat Sandal?
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 -4°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 Seat Sandal
Seat Sandal is a rounded fell above Dunmail Raise and Grisedale Tarn, climbed from Grasmere and often added to walks to Fairfield or Helvellyn. More about Seat Sandal, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Fairfield (873 m), 1.5 km east
- Dollywaggon Pike (859 m), 1.5 km north
- Great Rigg (766 m), 1.6 km south-east
- Stone Arthur (504 m), 2.3 km south
- Hart Crag (823 m), 2.4 km east
- Steel Fell (553 m), 2.5 km west
Challenges that include Seat Sandal
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
- Marilyns · 1,555
Other routes up Seat Sandal
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Bridge via Tongue Gill | 2.9 km one way | 635 m | 1h 40m | Moderate |
| Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause | 8.3 km one way | 680 m | 2h 50m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 329 111, the summit at NY 344 115), 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.
Dunmail Raise: questions and answers
How far is Dunmail Raise?
Dunmail Raise is 2.3 km one way to the summit of Seat Sandal, with 512 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 4.6 km.
How long does Dunmail Raise take?
About 1h 20m to the summit of Seat Sandal and 1h 45m 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 2h 10m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Dunmail Raise?
Dunmail Raise starts from Dunmail Raise (lay-by). The grid reference is NY 329 111.
Is Dunmail Raise 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 Dunmail Raise today?
By 15:22 at the latest. Sunset on Seat Sandal today is 18:07, Dunmail Raise takes about 1h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Dunmail Raise?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).