Grasmoor - the broad stony summit plateau with three walkers and a dog heading off along it, the fells of the north-west and the Solway plain beyond under towering cumulus

Collection · 29 fells

Walking the North Western Fells

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The Wainwright and Outlying fells we group as the North Western area of the Lake District — each with its height, a typical round time, the bus where there’s one, and today’s predicted conditions. Grouped by our own area tag (a practical guide, not a fixed authored canon). Check the live conditions and the mountain forecast before the tops.

fells

from 1.5 hr

shortest day

The count is of the list on this page. How we check →

3 of these are rated good to climb on 27 October — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score (clear summits, wind, rain, visibility), not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab).

Too windy for the topsGrasmoor852 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberGrasmoor at 852m (2,794ft) is the highest and most massive of the North Western Fells, a great dome of a mountain above Crummock Water that Wainwright described as one of the finest viewpoints in the district — the panorama from Grasmoor's summit takes in the full sweep of the northern and western fells, with the two great lakes of Crummock Water and Buttermere gleaming in the valley far below.
Too windy for the topsCrag Hill (Eel Crag)839 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberCrag Hill at 839m (2,753ft), also known as Eel Crag, is the highest point of the Coledale Horseshoe ridge in the North Western Fells, a broad, rocky summit connecting Grasmoor to Sail and Hopegill Head.
Too windy for the topsGrisedale Pike790 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberGrisedale Pike at 790m (2,593ft) is the most conspicuous of the North Western Fells, a fine, sharp pyramid above Braithwaite that Wainwright described as the dominant feature of the Coledale skyline.
Too windy for the topsWandope774 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberWandope at 774m (2,539ft) is a southern arm of the Grasmoor massif, a high ridge with outstanding views of Crummock Water and the coastal plain beyond.
Too windy for the topsSail773 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberSail at 773m (2,536ft) is a rounded summit on the Coledale Horseshoe between Eel Crag and Causey Pike, its attractive profile one of the defining features of the skyline above Braithwaite.
Too windy for the topsHopegill Head770 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberHopegill Head at 770m (2,525ft) is a pointed, airy summit above the head of the Hobcarton valley, its steep sides giving it a dramatic profile from the Whinlatter direction.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Hopegill Head (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsDale Head754 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberDale Head at 754m (2,474ft) is the highest summit of the Newlands Horseshoe, a broad, rocky top above the head of the Newlands valley giving outstanding views of the full horseshoe circuit and south to the Borrowdale fells.
Too windy for the topsRobinson738 m~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberRobinson at 738m (2,420ft) is the north-western bastion of the Newlands Horseshoe — the great classic ridge walk that circuits the Newlands valley.
Too windy for the topsHindscarth727 m~3½–4½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberHindscarth at 727m (2,385ft) is an elegant summit on the Newlands Horseshoe between Dale Head and Robinson, its pointed profile visible from the Newlands valley below.
Too windy for the topsWhiteside (Whiteside West Top)707 m~2½–3¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberWhiteside at 707m (2,320ft) is a long, narrow ridge above Crummock Water, its steep southern flank, Gasgale Crags, falling to Gasgale Gill.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Whiteside (Whiteside West Top) (14 June 2026); they draw on Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsScar Crags672 m~3¾–5¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberScar Crags at 672m (2,205ft) is a craggy ridge summit above Coledale between Causey Pike and Sail, its rocky profile one of the features of the Coledale Horseshoe.
Too windy for the topsWhiteless Pike660 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberWhiteless Pike at 660m (2,165ft) is the southern sentinel of the Grasmoor ridge above Buttermere, a sharp, pointed summit giving excellent views of the Buttermere valley and Crummock Water.
Too windy for the topsHigh Spy653 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberHigh Spy at 653m (2,143ft) is the high point of the Newlands Horseshoe ridge above Maiden Moor, its summit giving excellent views of Derwent Water to the north and the Dale Head group to the south.
Too windy for the topsCausey Pike637 m~3–3¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberCausey Pike at 637m (2,090ft) is one of the most attractive North Western summits — a pointed, rocky knob visible from across Derwent Water that Wainwright regarded as giving one of the finest low-level views of the lake.
Too windy for the topsArd Crags581 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberArd Crags at 581m (1,906ft) is a craggy ridge summit above the head of the Newlands valley, its rocky west face giving the fell its name.
Too windy for the topsMaiden Moor575 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberMaiden Moor at 575m (1,886ft) is the broad ridge south of Cat Bells on the Newlands Horseshoe, giving outstanding views of Derwent Water from its open summit plateau.
Too windy for the topsOuterside568 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberOuterside at 568m (1,864ft) is a small, grassy summit between Causey Pike and the Coledale valley, giving pleasant views of the surrounding North Western Fells.
Too windy for the topsKnott Rigg556 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberKnott Rigg at 556m (1,824ft) is a pleasant, grassy ridge summit above the Newlands valley between Ard Crags and the Buttermere road, giving fine views of the Grasmoor and Newlands Horseshoe ranges.
Too windy for the topsLord's Seat552 m~3¾–4¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberLord's Seat at 552m (1,811ft) is the highest point of the Whinlatter Forest fells, a broad, grassy summit giving outstanding views of Bassenthwaite Lake and the Skiddaw massif.
Too windy for the topsWhinlatter (Brown How)517 m~3¾–4¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberWhinlatter, whose Wainwright summit Brown How stands at 517m (1,696ft), is the fell above Whinlatter Pass — the broad, wooded ridge between Braithwaite and Lorton — its open summit giving views west to the coast and north to Bassenthwaite Lake.
Too windy for the topsBroom Fell510 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberBroom Fell at 510m (1,674ft) is a grassy summit above Lorton Vale in the north-western corner of the Lake District, giving wide views across Bassenthwaite Lake and north towards the Solway.
DryBarf469 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusDecent · 60 · rated on 27 OctoberBarf at 469m (1,539ft) is one of the most distinctive fells in the North Western group, rising steeply above Bassenthwaite Lake.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Barf (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsBarrow455 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberBarrow at 455m (1,493ft) is a small, grassy summit above Braithwaite, giving one of the finest views of the Coledale valley and the Causey Pike ridge for its modest height.
Too windy for the topsCat Bells (Catbells)451 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberCat Bells is one of Alfred Wainwright's great favourites, and his fondness for it shines through in The North-Western Fells — he saw it as a family fell, approachable enough for grandparents and young children to climb together, yet rewarding with shapely, sun-warmed slopes and a genuinely striking position above Derwent Water.
Too windy for the topsGraystones (Graystones North Top)450 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberGraystones North Top at 450m (1,478ft) is the Wainwright summit of Graystones, above Lorton Vale in the North Western Fells.
Too windy for the topsLing Fell374 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberLing Fell at 374m (1,227ft) is a small, heathery summit above Wythop Mill near Bassenthwaite Lake, its modest top giving pleasant views across the lake and north to the Solway.
DrySale Fell359 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusDecent · 61 · rated on 27 OctoberSale Fell at 359m (1,178ft) is a pleasant little summit above Bassenthwaite Lake, its low summit giving fine views of the lake and across to Skiddaw above.
Too windy for the topsRannerdale Knotts355 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberRannerdale Knotts at 355m (1,165ft) is a small, delightful ridge of rocky knolls above Crummock Water, giving some of the finest views of the lake from any fell in the North Western Fells.
Dry, firm underfootCastle Crag290 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusDecent · 64 · rated on 27 OctoberCastle Crag at 290m (951ft) is the lowest of all the Wainwright fells, yet one of the most dramatic — a rocky prow standing sentinel in the narrowest part of the Borrowdale gorge between Grange and Rosthwaite.

Walks in the North Western Fells

Every walk we offer that starts in this area, by our own area tag. All walks has each one with its distance, climb and time.

Map

● fells within ~5 km

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Classic horseshoes & roundsLakeland ridge rounds — circular routes that link four or more summits and finish near where they started.103 walks Dog-friendly walksWalks where our gate-by-gate census found no stiles blocking a dog's way round — honest verdicts, lead advice included.26 walks Easy & family walksLow-level lakeshores, waterfalls, tarns and gentle viewpoints under 500 m of climb and graded no harder than Moderate on any measure — with honest pushchair, young-kids, view and underfoot flags.31 walks