Buttermere via Whiteless Breast up Whiteless Pike: route map, distance and time

660 m · Cumbria

Whiteless Pike is a 660 m pointed fell above Buttermere village, climbed by a steep path and leading on to Wandope and Grasmoor along Whiteless Edge.

Climb out of Buttermere onto Whiteless Breast, then take the steep path up the final cone to the summit.

Buttermere via Whiteless Breast starts at about 130 m and gains 518 m over 2.6 km to 651 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 2.6 km, which climbs 185 m at an average of 32%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 52% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Buttermere via Whiteless Breast at a glance

Distance2.6 km one way, to the top
Ascent530 m
Climb on the track518 m up, 0 m down on the way
Start and top of the track130 m to 651 m (summit 660 m)
Steepest 500 mAbout 35%, from 2 km
Steeper than 1 in 552% of the way
Time up1h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back1h 55m, down the same way
GradeModerate
StartButtermere village National Trust car park, CA13 9UZ
Start grid referenceNY 172 172
Summit grid referenceNY 180 189
ParkingButtermere village National Trust car park

Buttermere via Whiteless Breast map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 130 m2.6 km to the top
Start grid ref NY 172 172 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

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

Download the Buttermere via Whiteless Breast 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 Breast 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.

AtHeightClimbGradientGrid ref
1 km295 m+165 m16%NY 179 177
2 km466 m+171 m17%NY 180 185
2.6 km651 m+185 m32% steepNY 180 189

How long Buttermere via Whiteless Breast takes

PaceTo the topThere and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up1h 10m1h 35m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up1h 25m1h 55m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up1h 45m2h 20m

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 15:13 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
  • Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 15:11 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Whiteless Pike summit weather for this route

There is no recent summit forecast cached for Whiteless Pike right now. The main Whiteless Pike page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Whiteless Pike forecast.

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

About Whiteless Pike

Whiteless Pike is a 660 m pointed fell above Buttermere village, climbed by a steep path and leading on to Wandope and Grasmoor along Whiteless Edge. More about Whiteless Pike, with the live forecast.

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

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Challenges that include Whiteless Pike

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.

Other routes up Whiteless Pike

RouteDistanceAscentTime upGrade
Rannerdale and Whiteless Edge round5.7 km one way715 m2h 20mModerate

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 180 189), 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 Breast: questions and answers

How far is Buttermere via Whiteless Breast?

Buttermere via Whiteless Breast is 2.6 km one way to the summit of Whiteless Pike, with 530 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 5.2 km.

How long does Buttermere via Whiteless Breast take?

About 1h 25m to the summit of Whiteless Pike and 1h 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 2h 20m for the round trip.

How steep is Buttermere via Whiteless Breast?

The steepest 500 m averages about 35%, starting 2 km from the start, and 52% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Buttermere via Whiteless Breast climbs 518 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Buttermere via Whiteless Breast?

Buttermere via Whiteless Breast 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 Breast 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 Breast today?

By 15:13 at the latest. Sunset on Whiteless Pike today is 18:08, Buttermere via Whiteless Breast takes about 1h 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 Buttermere via Whiteless Breast?

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.