Kentmere western horseshoe arm 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 Kentmere village hall parking area.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm starts at about 174 m and gains 814 m over 7.8 km to 771 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 78 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 180 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.7 km at about 31%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top. About 19% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm at a glance
| Distance | 7.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 814 m up, 221 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 174 m to 771 m (summit 784 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 1.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 19% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Kentmere village hall parking area, LA8 9JL |
| Start grid reference | NY 455 041 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 431 100 |
| Parking | Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate |
Kentmere western horseshoe arm 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 Kentmere western horseshoe arm 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.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm 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 | 252 m | +78 m | 8% | NY 449 044 |
| 2 km | 432 m | +180 m | 18% | NY 441 048 |
| 3 km | 547 m | +115 m | 11% | NY 437 056 |
| 4 km | 695 m | +148 m | 15% | NY 437 066 |
| 5 km | 702 m | +7 m | 1% | NY 436 075 |
| 6 km | 697 m | -5 m | 0% | NY 435 084 |
| 7 km | 697 m | -1 m | 0% | NY 433 092 |
| 7.8 km | 771 m | +74 m | 9% | NY 431 100 |
How long Kentmere western horseshoe arm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 30m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 35m | 5h 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.
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 Kentmere village hall parking area
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Kentmere horseshoe up Froswick
- Kentmere western horseshoe arm up Froswick
- Kentmere eastern horseshoe arm up Harter Fell
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass and Yoke up Ill Bell
- Kentmere via Shipman Knotts up Kentmere Pike
- Kentmere via the Garburn Pass up Sallows
- Kentmere via Stile End up Shipman Knotts
- Kentmere via Garburn Pass up Yoke
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 |
| 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 |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 455 041, 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.
Kentmere western horseshoe arm: questions and answers
How far is Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
Kentmere western horseshoe arm is 7.8 km one way to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag. There and back by the same way is about 15.6 km.
How steep is Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 31%, starting 1.7 km from the start, and 19% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Kentmere western horseshoe arm climbs 814 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
Kentmere western horseshoe arm starts from Kentmere village hall parking area (postcode LA8 9JL). The grid reference is NY 455 041. Kentmere village hall parking area; the postcode is approximate
Is Kentmere western horseshoe arm 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.
Is there a GPX for Kentmere western horseshoe arm?
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.