Swirls via Lower Man and White Side 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.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Swirls car park, Thirlmere.
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side starts at about 222 m and gains 765 m over 4.4 km to 861 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 241 m (24%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 323 m at an average of 32%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.6 km at about 36%. It keeps climbing at 15% to the top. About 42% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side at a glance
| Distance | 4.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 750 m |
| Climb on the track | 765 m up, 126 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 221 m to 919 m (summit 863 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 1.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 42% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Swirls car park, Thirlmere |
| Start grid reference | NY 317 168 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 337 166 |
| Parking | Swirls car park, Thirlmere |
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side 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 Swirls via Lower Man and White Side 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.
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side 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 | 463 m | +241 m | 24% steep | NY 324 164 |
| 2 km | 786 m | +323 m | 32% steep | NY 329 158 |
| 3 km | 904 m | +118 m | 12% | NY 337 153 |
| 4 km | 809 m | -94 m | -9% | NY 338 163 |
| 4.4 km | 861 m | +52 m | 15% | NY 337 166 |
How long Swirls via Lower Man and White Side takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:07 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:05 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
White Side summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 21 mph gusting 27 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Marginal Tomorrow 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.
Best day of the next seven for Swirls via Lower Man and White Side: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 27 mph and a 0% 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 -5°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- 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 Swirls car park, Thirlmere
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge up Dollywaggon Pike
- Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge up Helvellyn
- Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge up Nethermost Pike
- Swirls via Lower Man and White Side up Raise
- Swirls via the Helvellyn summit ridge up Helvellyn Lower Man
Other routes up White Side
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenridding via Keppel Cove | 8.0 km one way | 790 m | 2h 55m | Moderate |
| Thirlspot via the White Side path | 3.2 km one way | 676 m | 1h 45m | Moderate |
| 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 317 168, 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.
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side: questions and answers
How far is Swirls via Lower Man and White Side?
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side is 4.4 km one way to the summit of White Side, with 750 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.8 km.
How long does Swirls via Lower Man and White Side take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of White Side and 3h 0m 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 Swirls via Lower Man and White Side?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 1.6 km from the start, and 42% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Swirls via Lower Man and White Side climbs 765 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Swirls via Lower Man and White Side?
Swirls via Lower Man and White Side starts from Swirls car park, Thirlmere. The grid reference is NY 317 168. Swirls car park, Thirlmere
Is Swirls via Lower Man and White Side 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 Swirls via Lower Man and White Side today?
By 14:07 at the latest. Sunset on White Side today is 18:07, Swirls via Lower Man and White Side takes about 3h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Swirls via Lower Man and White Side?
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.