Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite up Thornthwaite Crag: route map, distance and time
784 m · Cumbria
Thornthwaite Crag is the fell with the tall stone beacon at the meeting of ridges in the Far Eastern Fells, between High Street and the Kentmere valley.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Hartsop village car park.
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite starts at about 184 m and gains 601 m over 4.5 km to 771 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 103 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 287 m at an average of 29%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.1 km at about 33%. It keeps climbing at 13% to the top. About 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite at a glance
| Distance | 4.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 610 m |
| Climb on the track | 601 m up, 17 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 185 m to 771 m (summit 784 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 1.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 30% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 410 129 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 431 100 |
| Parking | Hartsop village car park |
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite 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.
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite 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.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 287 m | +103 m | 10% | NY 419 129 |
| 2 km | 575 m | +287 m | 29% steep | NY 424 123 |
| 3 km | 672 m | +98 m | 10% | NY 428 114 |
| 4 km | 707 m | +34 m | 3% | NY 431 105 |
| 4.5 km | 771 m | +64 m | 13% | NY 431 100 |
How long Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 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 07:48, sunset 18:04. Start by 14:14 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:12 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Thornthwaite Crag summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Thornthwaite Crag right now. The main Thornthwaite Crag page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Thornthwaite Crag forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Thornthwaite Crag
Thornthwaite Crag is the fell with the tall stone beacon at the meeting of ridges in the Far Eastern Fells, between High Street and the Kentmere valley. More about Thornthwaite Crag, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Stony Cove Pike (764 m), 1.4 km west
- High Street (829 m), 1.5 km north-east
- Mardale Ill Bell (760 m), 1.6 km east
- Froswick (720 m), 1.6 km south
- Gray Crag (698 m), 1.7 km north
- Ill Bell (757 m), 2.3 km south
Challenges that include Thornthwaite Crag
More walks from Hartsop village car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Hartsop towards Angle Tarn up Brock Crags
- Hartsop by the north ridge up Gray Crag
- Hartsop north ridge up Hartsop Dodd
- Hartsop via Hayeswater and The Knott up High Raise
- Hartsop via Hayeswater up High Street
- Hartsop via Hayeswater up Kidsty Pike
- Hartsop via Hayeswater up Mardale Ill Bell
- Hartsop via Hayeswater and The Knott up Rampsgill Head
- Hartsop via Hayeswater up Rest Dodd
- Hartsop via Threshthwaite Mouth up Stony Cove Pike
- Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite up Stony Cove Pike
- Hartsop via Hayeswater up The Knott
Other routes up Thornthwaite Crag
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsop via Hayeswater | 7.1 km one way | 722 m | 2h 35m | Moderate |
| Hartsop via Threshthwaite Mouth | 4.4 km one way | 619 m | 1h 55m | Hard |
| Mardale via Nan Bield Pass | 5.1 km one way | 550 m | 1h 55m | Hard |
| Kentmere western horseshoe arm | 7.8 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 410 129, the summit at NY 431 100), 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.
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite: questions and answers
How far is Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite?
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite is 4.5 km one way to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag, with 610 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.0 km.
How long does Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag and 2h 50m 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 3h 30m for the round trip.
How steep is Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 1.1 km from the start, and 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite climbs 601 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite?
Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite starts from Hartsop village car park (postcode CA11 0NZ). The grid reference is NY 410 129. Hartsop village car park
Is Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite 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, such as Hartsop via Hayeswater.
What time should I start Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite today?
By 14:14 at the latest. Sunset on Thornthwaite Crag today is 18:04, Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite takes about 2h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite?
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.