Mardale via Nan Bield Pass 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 Mardale Head car park, Haweswater.
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass starts at about 250 m and gains 529 m over 5.1 km to 771 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 96 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 212 m at an average of 21%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top. About 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass at a glance
| Distance | 5.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 550 m |
| Climb on the track | 529 m up, 6 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 250 m to 773 m (summit 784 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 23%, from 2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 16% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater |
| Start grid reference | NY 469 107 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 431 100 |
| Parking | Mardale Head car park, Haweswater |
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Mardale via Nan Bield Pass 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.
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass 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 | 346 m | +96 m | 10% | NY 460 103 |
| 2 km | 499 m | +153 m | 15% | NY 453 100 |
| 3 km | 712 m | +212 m | 21% steep | NY 448 098 |
| 4 km | 753 m | +41 m | 4% | NY 440 102 |
| 5 km | 772 m | +19 m | 2% | NY 431 100 |
| 5.1 km | 771 m | -1 m | -2% | NY 431 100 |
How long Mardale via Nan Bield Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 40m |
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 14:09 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:07 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m 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 Mardale Head car park, Haweswater
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass up Branstree
- Mardale Head via Nan Bield Pass up Harter Fell
- Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass up Harter Fell
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Pike up High Raise
- Mardale Head via Rough Crag and Long Stile up High Street
- Mardale via Nan Bield Pass up High Street
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Howes up Kidsty Pike
- Mardale Head via Small Water and Nan Bield Pass up Mardale Ill Bell
- Mardale Head via Kidsty Pike up Rampsgill Head
- Mardale Head via Gatescarth Pass and Branstree up Selside Pike
- Mardale via Rough Crag and Long Stile up Rough Crag
- Mardale via Gatescarth Pass and Branstree up Branstree NE Top
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 |
| 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 469 107, 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.
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass: questions and answers
How far is Mardale via Nan Bield Pass?
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass is 5.1 km one way to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag, with 550 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.2 km.
How long does Mardale via Nan Bield Pass take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag and 2h 55m 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 40m for the round trip.
How steep is Mardale via Nan Bield Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 23%, starting 2 km from the start, and 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Mardale via Nan Bield Pass climbs 529 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Mardale via Nan Bield Pass?
Mardale via Nan Bield Pass starts from Mardale Head car park, Haweswater. The grid reference is NY 469 107. Mardale Head car park, Haweswater
Is Mardale via Nan Bield Pass 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 Mardale via Nan Bield Pass today?
By 14:09 at the latest. Sunset on Thornthwaite Crag today is 18:04, Mardale via Nan Bield Pass takes about 2h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Mardale via Nan Bield Pass?
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.