Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Wandope: route map, distance and time
774 m · Cumbria
Wandope is a grassy top above Buttermere at the head of the hanging valley of Addacomb Hole, climbed from Buttermere via Whiteless Pike.
Climb the steep path to Whiteless Pike, then follow the narrow ridge north-east to Wandope.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike starts at about 130 m and gains 664 m over 3.8 km to 768 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 165 m (16%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 179 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 2 km at about 35%. It keeps climbing at 15% to the top. About 45% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike at a glance
| Distance | 3.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 670 m |
| Climb on the track | 664 m up, 28 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 130 m to 769 m (summit 774 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 35%, from 2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 45% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 40m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Buttermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ |
| Start grid reference | NY 172 172 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 188 197 |
| Parking | Buttermere village National Trust car park |
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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
- The Buttermere Court Hotel0.4 km
- Syke Farm Tea Room0.4 km
- Croft House Farm Café0.4 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Syke Farm Campsite0.3 km
- Dalegarth Guest House Camp Site1.9 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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 | 295 m | +165 m | 16% | NY 179 177 |
| 2 km | 466 m | +171 m | 17% | NY 180 185 |
| 3 km | 645 m | +179 m | 18% | NY 182 193 |
| 3.8 km | 768 m | +123 m | 15% | NY 188 197 |
How long Buttermere via Whiteless Pike takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 15m |
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 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 14:28 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:26 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Wandope summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Wandope right now. The main Wandope page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Wandope forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Wandope
Wandope is a grassy top above Buttermere at the head of the hanging valley of Addacomb Hole, climbed from Buttermere via Whiteless Pike. More about Wandope, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Crag Hill (839 m), 0.8 km north-east
- Sail (773 m), 1.1 km north-east
- Whiteless Pike (660 m), 1.1 km south-west
- Knott Rigg (556 m), 1.3 km south-east
- Grasmoor (852 m), 1.5 km north-west
- Ard Crags (581 m), 1.9 km east
Challenges that include Wandope
More walks from Buttermere village National Trust car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Crag Hill
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up Fleetwith Pike
- Buttermere via Whiteless Pike up Grasmoor
- Buttermere via Red Pike and the Ennerdale ridge up Great Borne
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Crag
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Crag
- Buttermere via Dodd and Red Pike ridge up High Stile
- Buttermere via Scarth Gap up High Stile
- Buttermere along the ridge up Rannerdale Knotts
- Buttermere via Bleaberry Tarn up Red Pike
- High Stile ridge up Red Pike
- Buttermere via Red Pike up Starling Dodd
Other routes up Wandope
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braithwaite via Coledale Hause | 7.0 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause | 7.2 km one way | 740 m | 2h 40m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 172 172, the summit at NY 188 197), 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.
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike: questions and answers
How far is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike is 3.8 km one way to the summit of Wandope, with 670 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.6 km.
How long does Buttermere via Whiteless Pike take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Wandope and 2h 40m 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 15m for the round trip.
How steep is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
The steepest 500 m averages about 35%, starting 2 km from the start, and 45% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Buttermere via Whiteless Pike climbs 664 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
Buttermere via Whiteless Pike starts from Buttermere village National Trust car park (postcode CA13 9UZ). The grid reference is NY 172 172. Buttermere village National Trust car park
Is Buttermere via Whiteless Pike 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 Buttermere via Whiteless Pike today?
By 14:28 at the latest. Sunset on Wandope today is 18:08, Buttermere via Whiteless Pike takes about 2h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Buttermere via Whiteless Pike?
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.