Steeple routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
819 m · Cumbria
Steeple is a pointed rocky top beside Scoat Fell, rising from Ennerdale with a narrow ridge linking it to the main fell.
Peakify lists 4 measured routes up Steeple, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Steeple routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell | Wasdale Head (National Trust car park) | 5.5 km one way | 808 m | 2h 25m | 3h 35m | Moderate |
| Ennerdale via the north ridge | Bowness Knott car park, Ennerdale | 7.7 km one way | 727 m | 2h 45m | 4h 20m | Hard |
| Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head | Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park | 6.2 km one way | — | — | — | Hard |
| Ennerdale western fell walking paths | Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale | 9.1 km one way | — | — | — | Hard |
Steeple route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Steeple route
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell
Climb Mosedale to Wind Gap and Scoat Fell, then cross the short narrow ridge to Steeple. It starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). 5.5 km one way with 808 m of ascent. About 2h 25m to the summit and 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Ennerdale via the north ridge
Walk through the forest along Ennerdale and climb the steep north ridge on rough ground to the summit. It starts from Bowness Knott car park, Ennerdale. 7.7 km one way with 727 m of ascent. About 2h 45m to the summit and 4h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park. It starts from Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park. 6.2 km one way. Grade: Hard.
Ennerdale western fell walking paths
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale. It starts from Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale. 9.1 km one way. Grade: Hard.
Steeple route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head, Ennerdale western fell walking paths. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Steeple today and the Steeple 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Steeple routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Steeple, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Steeple
What is the easiest route up Steeple?
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell has the easiest grade of the 4 routes listed here (Moderate).
How much time does each Steeple route take?
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell: about 2h 25m up and 3h 35m there and back. Ennerdale via the north ridge: about 2h 45m up and 4h 20m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Steeple route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.