Glenridding via Sticks Pass up White Side: route map, distance and time

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass starts at about 156 m and gains 878 m over 7.2 km to 861 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 180 m (18%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 266 m at an average of 27%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.7 km at about 36%. It keeps climbing at 17% to the top. About 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass at a glance

Glenridding via Sticks 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 Glenridding via Sticks 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.

Glenridding via Sticks 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.

How long Glenridding via Sticks Pass takes

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 12:45 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
• Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 12:43 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 20m 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 Sticks Pass: 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

• Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
• Bob Graham Round · 42
• Hewitts · 523
• Nuttalls · 442
• Wainwrights · 214

More walks from Glenridding main 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

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 Sticks Pass: questions and answers

How far is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

Glenridding via Sticks Pass is 7.2 km one way to the summit of White Side, with 860 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.4 km.

How long does Glenridding via Sticks Pass take?

About 2h 50m to the summit of White Side and 4h 20m 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 20m for the round trip.

How steep is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 0.7 km from the start, and 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via Sticks Pass climbs 878 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

Glenridding via Sticks Pass starts from Glenridding main car park (postcode CA11 0PD). The grid reference is NY 386 169. Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate

Is Glenridding via Sticks 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 Glenridding via Keppel Cove.

What time should I start Glenridding via Sticks Pass today?

By 12:45 at the latest. Sunset on White Side today is 18:05, Glenridding via Sticks Pass takes about 4h 20m 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 Sticks 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.