Glenridding via Keppel Cove up White Side: route map, distance and time

863 m · Cumbria

White Side is a grassy summit on the Helvellyn ridge between Raise and Helvellyn Lower Man, reached by old pony paths from Glenridding or Thirlspot.

Walk up past the Greenside mine workings into Keppel Cove, then climb the zigzag path onto the ridge.

Glenridding via Keppel Cove at a glance

Distance	8.0 km one way, to the top
Ascent	790 m
Time up	2h 55m by Naismith's rule
There and back	4h 30m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Glenridding village car park
Start grid reference	NY 386 169
Summit grid reference	NY 337 166

Glenridding via Keppel Cove 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

Start grid ref NY 386 169 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Glenridding via Keppel Cove takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 25m	3h 45m
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 35m

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 18:05. Start by 12:35 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 12:33 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.

White Side summit weather for this route

Marginal Today Monday 19 October

Slight rain, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 38 mph gusting 47 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

Slight rain, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 2°C, summit wind 25 mph gusting 31 mph, 86% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03.

Best day of the next seven for Glenridding via Keppel Cove: Tuesday 20 October, with summit gusts around 31 mph and a 86% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour White Side forecast

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -2°C on top.
Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 59% chance of rain.
A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 47 mph.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About White Side

White Side is a grassy summit on the Helvellyn ridge between Raise and Helvellyn Lower Man, reached by old pony paths from Glenridding or Thirlspot. More about White Side, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Raise (883 m), 0.9 km north-east
Helvellyn Lower Man (925 m), 1.1 km south
Catstye Cam (890 m), 1.3 km south-east
Helvellyn (950 m), 1.6 km south
Striding Edge (863 m), 2.2 km south-east
Stybarrow Dodd (844 m), 2.3 km north

Challenges that include White Side

More walks from Glenridding village car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Glenridding via Mires Beck up Birkhouse Moor
Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks
Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Dollywaggon Pike
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Fairfield
Glenridding via the Sheffield Pike col up Glenridding Dodd
Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Great Dodd
Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Hart Side
Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths up Helvellyn
Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Helvellyn
Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Raise

Other routes up White Side

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Thirlspot via the White Side path	3.2 km one way	676 m	1h 45m	Moderate
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side	4.4 km one way	750 m	2h 10m	Hard
Glenridding via Sticks Pass	7.2 km one way	860 m	2h 50m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 386 169, the summit at NY 337 166), 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.

Glenridding via Keppel Cove: questions and answers

How far is Glenridding via Keppel Cove?

Glenridding via Keppel Cove is 8.0 km one way to the summit of White Side, with 790 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.0 km.

How long does Glenridding via Keppel Cove take?

About 2h 55m to the summit of White Side and 4h 30m 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 35m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Glenridding via Keppel Cove?

Glenridding via Keppel Cove starts from Glenridding village car park. The grid reference is NY 386 169.

Is Glenridding via Keppel Cove 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 Glenridding via Keppel Cove today?

By 12:35 at the latest. Sunset on White Side today is 18:05, Glenridding via Keppel Cove takes about 4h 30m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Glenridding via Keppel Cove?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).