Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere up Steel Fell: route map, distance and time
553 m · Lake District C&W · OS grid NY319111
Steel Fell is a 553m fell above Dunmail Raise and Grasmere, the northern arm of the Greenburn horseshoe with Helm Crag and Calf Crag.
Climb Helm Crag, follow the ridge over Gibson Knott to Calf Crag, then round the boggy head of Greenburn to Steel Fell.
Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere at a glance
| Distance | 8.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 563 m |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Grasmere village |
| Start grid reference | NY 336 075 |
| Summit grid reference | NY319111 |
Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere 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
Near the start
- 1769 Bar & Restaurant0.1 km
- Tweedies Bar0.2 km
- The Distiller’s Arms0.2 km
- Baldry's0.0 km
- Freda And Ray Cafe0.0 km
- Harleys Bistro Cafe Bar0.0 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.3 km
- Public toilets0.7 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 5h 20m |
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 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 12:45 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 12:43 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Steel Fell summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Monday 19 October
Overcast, up to 11°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 20 mph gusting 26 mph, 47% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Slight rain, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 20 mph gusting 25 mph, 69% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03.
Best day of the next seven for Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 26 mph and a 47% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Steel Fell forecast
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- A warm layer, hat and gloves: it feels like 1°C on top.
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 47% chance of rain.
- 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 Steel Fell
Steel Fell is a 553m fell above Dunmail Raise and Grasmere, the northern arm of the Greenburn horseshoe with Helm Crag and Calf Crag. More about Steel Fell, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Gibson Knott (420 m), 1.1 km south
- Calf Crag (537 m), 1.9 km south-west
- Helm Crag (405 m), 1.9 km south
- Tarn Crag (549 m), 2.4 km south-west
- Seat Sandal (737 m), 2.5 km east
- Ullscarf (723 m), 3 km west
Challenges that include Steel Fell
More walks from Grasmere village
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Blea Rigg
- Grasmere via Helm Crag and Gibson Knott up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Far Easedale up Calf Crag
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Fairfield
- Grasmere over Helm Crag up Gibson Knott
- Grasmere via Stone Arthur up Great Rigg
- Grasmere via Easedale Road up Helm Crag
- Grasmere via Alcock Tarn up Heron Pike
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up High Raise
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Sergeant Man
- Grasmere via Greenhead Gill up Stone Arthur
- Grasmere via Easedale Tarn up Tarn Crag
Other routes up Steel Fell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghyll Foot via the south-east ridge | 2.3 km one way | 446 m | 1h 10m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 336 075, the summit at NY319111), 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.
Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere: questions and answers
How far is Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere?
Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere is 8.4 km one way to the summit of Steel Fell, with 563 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.8 km.
How long does Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Steel Fell and 4h 20m 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 5h 20m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere?
Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere starts from Grasmere village. The grid reference is NY 336 075.
Is Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere 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 Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere today?
By 12:45 at the latest. Sunset on Steel Fell today is 18:05, Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere takes about 4h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Greenburn horseshoe from Grasmere?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).