Hartsop via Hayeswater 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.
Walk up to Hayeswater, climb to the ridge and follow it south to the beacon.
Hartsop via Hayeswater at a glance
| Distance | 7.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 722 m |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Hartsop village car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 410 130 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 431 100 |
Hartsop via Hayeswater 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
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Hartsop via Hayeswater takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 5h 0m |
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 12:59 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:02. Start by 12:57 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m 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 Threshthwaite Mouth | 4.4 km one way | 619 m | 1h 55m | Hard |
| Hartsop via Gray Crag and Thornthwaite | 4.5 km one way | 610 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 410 130, 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 Hayeswater: questions and answers
How far is Hartsop via Hayeswater?
Hartsop via Hayeswater is 7.1 km one way to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag, with 722 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.2 km.
How long does Hartsop via Hayeswater take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag and 4h 5m 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 0m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Hartsop via Hayeswater?
Hartsop via Hayeswater starts from Hartsop village car park. The grid reference is NY 410 130.
Is Hartsop via Hayeswater 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 Hartsop via Hayeswater today?
By 12:59 at the latest. Sunset on Thornthwaite Crag today is 18:04, Hartsop via Hayeswater takes about 4h 5m 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 Hayeswater?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).