Collection · 11 walks
Scrambles & the edges
Serious routes for experienced walkers with a head for heights. Every walk we grade an easy scramble or a graded scramble on our hands scale, where a slip has consequences. They're wonderful in the right conditions and dangerous in the wrong ones: never in high wind, wet rock or winter without the skills and kit, and turn back if it doesn't feel right. Check the live conditions and the mountain forecast first.
11
walks
7–26.6 km
distance range
from 2.5 hr
shortest day
The count is of the list on this page. Distances are measured from each route’s GPX track. Times are worked from distance and climb by Naismith’s rule. How we check →
Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.
- Too windy for the topsBirketts around Grisedale Pike11.7 km~750 m climb~3½–5 hExposure not assessedModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startSeven tops on and around Grisedale Pike, taking in Hobcarton End, Hobcarton Crag and Sand Hill — 11.7 km and 750 m over eight stages, rated hard for steepness. About 3½–5 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsBlencathra by Sharp Edge7 km~669 m climb~2½–3½ h⚠ Exposure: SevereModerate effort Severe: steepness, terrain and exposurePlannedPark: The White Horse (free) · Bus: X5, 2.6 km walk from Threlkeld, opposite Blencathra Centre turnA narrow, airy arete of polished rock above Scales Tarn — a Grade 1 scramble with serious exposure on both sides — followed by a steep pull onto Blencathra and a fine descent over Doddick and Scales Fell. It is a magnificent line. It is also a serious scramble, and we are not going to soften that.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 38%; the steepest descent, about 37% over 250 m. Exposure: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag) (27 September 2026) and Blencathra - Hallsfell Top (15 July 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsExtended Mosedale Horseshoe17.75 km~1236 m climb~5½–7½ hExposure: HardSevere effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Wasdale Head village green car park (free)Pillar, Scoat Fell, Steeple and Red Pike around the head of Mosedale, with Yewbarrow to finish — 1,236 m of ascent packed into 17.8 km, rated severe for steepness and hard for exposure. About 5½–7½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 47%. Exposure: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsHelvellyn via Striding Edge & Swirral Edge12.71 km~948 m climb~4–5½ h⚠ Exposure: SevereHard effort Severe: terrain, navigation and exposureWalked in partPark: Beckside Car Park (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startThe most famous — and most serious — way up England's third-highest mountain, over the knife-edge arêtes of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, taking in shapely Catstye Cam. I've walked the summit and Catstye Cam, but not Striding Edge or Swirral Edge, and it's a genuinely dangerous route that demands a head for heights, sure footing and settled conditions; it sees accidents every year. If the edges aren't for you, the far safer walkers' option is to climb via White Side from Thirlmere. In winter the edges become full mountaineering terrain needing an ice axe, crampons and the experience to use them.Exposure and terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Helvellyn (17 July 2026) and Catstye Cam (13 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team and Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsLangdale Horseshoe20.9 km~1770 m climb~7–9½ hExposure: HardSevere effort Severe: distance and steepnessPlannedPark: Stickle Ghyll (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startThe full Langdale Horseshoe — fifteen tops and 1,770 m of ascent. The Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, the whole Crinkle Crags ridge and Pike of Blisco in a single round. It is long, rough, and the Crinkles will try to lead you down the wrong side. Do not start it late.Terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
Too windy for the topsLangdale Pikes Round12.12 km~884 m climb~3¾–5¼ hExposure: ModerateModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked June 2024Park: New Dungeon Ghyll (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA grand round of the Langdale Pikes and the fells behind them. From Great Langdale it climbs past Stickle Tarn to Sergeant Man, loops over High Raise and Thunacar Knott, then takes in Pavey Ark (by the walkers' line, not Jack's Rake), Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag before dropping back to the valley. It's a simpler line than my previous version, which added Blea Rigg — boggy on the approach from Sergeant Man. Handily, there are toilets at the car park at the end.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Sergeant Man (14 June 2026), High Raise (High White Stones) (14 June 2026), Thunacar Knott (14 June 2026) and 4 more; they draw on Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsScafell Pike via the Corridor Route15.84 km~949 m climb~4¾–6½ h⚠ Exposure: SevereHard effortPlannedPark: Seathwaite Farm, Borrowdale (farm field, paid) · Bus: 78, 2.2 km walk from Seatoller, at National Trust car parkA grander, more interesting way up England's highest mountain than the Wasdale tourist path — the Corridor Route threads beneath the crags from Seathwaite in Borrowdale, with Lingmell a worthwhile detour for the finest view of the Scafell face. I haven't walked this exact line myself, and there are plenty of accounts of people struggling on certain sections, so read up or watch a route video first. Whatever you do, never be tempted onto Broad Stand. It's a long, rough and serious day on the highest ground in England.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Lingmell (14 June 2026) and Scafell Pike (13 October 2026); they draw on Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsSlight Side & Sca Fell15.03 km~948 m climb~4½–6¼ hExposure: HardHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Wha House, Eskdale (NT, free)The long southern approach to Scafell over Slight Side — two tops, 15 km and 948 m, hard for terrain, navigation and exposure and severe for steepness. About 4½–6¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 35%. Exposure, terrain and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsThe Grasmoor Round16.17 km~1304 m climb~5¼–7¼ hExposure: HardSevere effort Severe: steepnessWalked August 2026Park: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startOne of the hardest starts in the Lakes — a gruelling climb averaging 27% over loose scree onto Whiteside — followed by superb high ridge walking over Hopegill Head and Grasmoor. There is a short, hands-on scramble onto Hopegill Head, a broad plateau that disorients in fog, and a narrow descent along Whiteless Edge.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 39%; the steepest descent, about 40% over 250 m. Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsThe Grasmoor round: Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Whiteless Pike16.17 km~1161 m climb~5–7 hExposure: HardHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked August 2026Park: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startTen tops and the finest ridge walking in the North Western Fells — up Whiteside, along the narrow crest of Gasgale Crags to Hopegill Head, over the great whaleback of Grasmoor, then out along Wandope and down the elegant cone of Whiteless Pike to Rannerdale. Sixteen kilometres, a thousand metres of climbing, and views over Crummock Water all the way round.- Too windy for the topsVery Long Day Out26.63 km~1810 m climb~8¼–11¼ hExposure: ModerateSevere effort Severe: distance and steepnessPlannedPark: Overbeck Bridge, Wastwater (NT, paid)The Wasdale head round at its longest — 26.6 km and 1,810 m over twelve tops, from Yewbarrow out to Steeple, Haycock and Caw Fell and back over Seatallan and Middle Fell. One stage climbs 556 m in 2.1 km, averaging 26%, and the whole day is rated severe for both length and steepness: about 8¼–11¼ hours of walking.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 49%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
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Map
● routes
An interactive map of the walks and fells in this collection. Each marker links to its page; the same walks and fells are listed on this page.
Common questions
How is this list chosen?
By the hands grade on each route, which says how much of the line needs your hands, in three levels: hands for a few steps, as on Catbells; an easy scramble, a longer stretch of hands or a short step with a drop beside it; and a graded scramble, sustained and exposed, as on Sharp Edge. This list holds the easy and graded scrambles. A walk with only a few rocky steps is left off it, and its own page says where the steps are.
Can I do these in any weather?
No. Exposed rock and edges are far more dangerous in high wind, rain, or when wet or icy, and the navigation off the tops can be serious in cloud. Pick a settled, dry day, start early, have the experience (and in winter the skills and kit) for the conditions, and check the mountain forecast. There's no shame in turning back.
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