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Walks from Glenridding

21 routes and 16 fells within about 5 km of Glenridding, nearest first. Three walks start within 1 km of the village, among them Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor (15.58 km) and Lanty's Tarn and Glenridding Beck (3.11 km). Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Glenridding guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Starting in Glenridding

Three routes start within 1 km of the centre of Glenridding in a straight line, nearer Glenridding than any other village.

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.

• Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor →Start 0.1 km away15.58 km~1269 m~5–7 hSevere effort Hard: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposureWalked September 2023Park: Beckside Car Park (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA hard round above Glenridding by every measure the site records — 1,269 m of ascent in 15.6 km. A steep pull straight out of the valley leads over Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike, then the notoriously wet ground at Nick Head, the fine cone of Catstye Cam, and a long 558 m descent that tells on tired knees.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 34%; the steepest descent, about 32% over 250 m. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Lanty's Tarn and Glenridding Beck →Start 0.1 km away3.11 km~126 m~¾–1¼ hEasy effort Moderate: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Beckside Car Park (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA short circular of about 3.1 km from Glenridding: a short way up the valley of Glenridding Beck on a public bridleway, up a public footpath and a short path to Lanty’s Tarn, then down public footpaths by Mires Beck and back along the bridleway, with about 130 m of climbing.
• Helvellyn via Striding Edge & Swirral Edge →Start 0.1 km away12.71 km~948 m~4–5½ hHard 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.

More walking routes within about 5 km

• Grisedale Tarn, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag from Patterdale →Start 1.4 km away15.92 km~983 m~4¾–6½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the start
• St Sunday Crag →Start 1.4 km away10.22 km~838 m~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked January 2025Park: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startThree tops and an outlier on the long Patterdale ridge: Arnison Crag, Birks and St Sunday Crag, with Gavel Pike a short detour off the summit, 10 km and 838 m. The walking line stays clear of the crags, but it is not all grass: the ridge to St Sunday Crag turns rocky, and the way back off Gavel Pike crosses steep grass and small rocky steps that are treacherous when wet or icy. The descent reaches about 45% over 250 m near 8.3 km.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 45% over 250 m. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Arnison Crag (14 June 2026), Birks (14 June 2026) and St Sunday Crag (13 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
• Patterdale to Silver Point and Back →Start 1.4 km away6.5 km~118 m~1½–2 hEasy effort Moderate: navigationPlannedOut and back · Park: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startAn out-and-back of about 6.5 km from Patterdale: over Goldrill Bridge, a public footpath, then north on a public bridleway along the east side of Ullswater to Silver Point, with about 120 m of climbing.
• Patterdale to Hartsop and Brothers Water →Start 1.4 km away11.48 km~169 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Hard: navigationPlannedPark: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA low circular of about 11.5 km from Patterdale: south, mostly on public footpaths and bridleways, on the east side of the valley to Hartsop, along the west shore of Brothers Water on a public footpath and back, then north on a permissive path west of Goldrill Beck to Menneting Bridge and home the way you came, with about 170 m of climbing.
• Place Fell and The Knight →Start 1.4 km away7.28 km~547 m~2¼–3¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startStraight up from Ullswater to Place Fell and The Knight — 7.3 km and 547 m, with a stage averaging 16%. Easy for length but hard for steepness. About 2¼–3¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 35%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Swineside Knott & Gowbarrow →Start 3.3 km away13.27 km~657 m~3¾–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA satisfying loop over the heather tops of Gowbarrow above Ullswater, starting from the Aira Force car park and climbing quickly away from the waterfall onto rolling moorland. The round takes in Brown Hills, Swineside Knott and Common Fell before the open summit of Gowbarrow Fell, a Wainwright with one of the finest views over Ullswater, which stays with you for much of the way. Moderate, with one steep early pull — save it for a clear day and let the lake do the rest.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 29%.
• Aira Force & Gowbarrow Fell →Start 3.3 km away6.88 km~341 m~1¾–2¾ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startAira Force's 65-foot waterfall, then up onto the open top of Gowbarrow Fell (481 m) for the view over Ullswater: 6.9 km and 341 m. The gorge at the falls has sheer sides, slippery rock and stone steps, and the pull above the falls onto Gowbarrow reaches about 31% over 250 m. Keep children and dogs close at the falls.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) (14 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
• Birketts by Gowbarrow →Start 3.4 km away12.03 km~591 m~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startFive tops around Gowbarrow Park above Ullswater, including the Wainwright summit of Gowbarrow Fell — 12 km and 591 m, with one stage averaging 16%. Rated hard to navigate despite the modest scale. Around 3¼–4¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell →Start 3.6 km away15.11 km~713 m~4–5¾ hHard effort Hard: distanceWalked August 2023Park: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508, 470 m walk from Matterdale, opposite Aira ForceA round above Ullswater over Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell — two quite different tops, the first a rocky shoulder over the lake, the second a bare grassy dome. About a fifth of it is pathless.Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Middle Dodd Little Hart Crag and High Hartsop Dodd →Start 4 km away10.42 km~743 m~3¼–4½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked July 2025Park: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA short round with a very long climb in it: 528 m up to Middle Dodd in the first 4.3 km, including a sustained pull of about 56% over 250 m. The way down is just as steep. Off High Hartsop Dodd the descent reaches about 56% over 250 m around 7.9 km, and it is hard on the knees. Hard for terrain, navigation and exposure; 10.4 km and 743 m in all.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 53%; the steepest descent, about 56% over 250 m. Exposure, terrain and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.
• Hartsop Fells and Hart Crag →Start 4 km away11.87 km~837 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked July 2025Park: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startSix tops from Gale Crag over Hartsop Above How to Hart Crag: 11.9 km and 837 m, about 3¾–5¼ hours. Severe for steepness: the push onto Hart Crag is loose and rocky, with simple steps where you may need your hands, and the way down off High Hartsop Dodd is a very steep grass nose, about 43% over 250 m near 9.5 km and slippery when wet. The rest is moderate, though the ridge from Hart Crag to Dove Crag is rocky and hard on the ankles.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 41%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.
• Birketts above Ullswater →Start 4.2 km away16.45 km~766 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distance and navigationPlannedPark: High Cascades (NT, paid) · Bus: 509, 750 m walk from Dockray, outside The Royal HotelTen Birkett tops strung along the Dodds above Ullswater, from Low How and Randerside over Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd — 16.5 km and 766 m across eleven stages. Rated hard to navigate; about 4½–6¼ hours.Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Finishing of the Far Eastern Fells →Start 4.2 km away22.5 km~1294 m~6½–9 hSevere effort Severe: distanceWalked August 2026One-way: finishes 2.9 km from the start in a straight line · Start: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (paid) · Bus: 508 at the startRest Dodd, The Nab, Brock Crags and the Angletarn Pikes — six tops in 22.5 km with 1,294 m of climbing. Severe for length, hard for steepness and to navigate: about 6½–9 hours and a full day out.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 31%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Caudale Moor & St Raven's Edge →Start 4.6 km away12.96 km~732 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Hartsop village (donation) · Bus: 508, 570 m walk from Hartsop, adjacent to road endHartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike and the Caudale Moor tops — four summits in 13 km with 732 m of climbing, and one stage averaging 35%, which ties the steepest on the site. Hard to navigate; about 3¾–5¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 50%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Brock Crags, Angletarn Pikes, Beda Fell & Place Fell →Start 4.7 km away19.71 km~1072 m~5½–7¾ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked in partPark: Hartsop village (donation) · Bus: 508, 580 m walk from Hartsop, adjacent to road endA big, varied Far Eastern round above Patterdale and the Boredale and Bannerdale valleys — over Brock Crags to Angle Tarn, along the grassy whaleback of Beda Fell, and up Place Fell for its view down Ullswater. Nearly 20 km and a proper day out, but rarely hard underfoot.
• Angletarn Pikes and the Martindale round →Start 4.7 km away22.23 km~1402 m~6¾–9¼ hSevere effort Severe: distanceWalked in partPark: Hartsop village (donation) · Bus: 508, 560 m walk from Hartsop, adjacent to road endA long circuit of the Far Eastern fells above Patterdale — over Rest Dodd and out to the remote peak of The Nab, then back across Brock Crags to the twin tops of Angletarn Pikes, and home over Beda Fell and Place Fell. Twenty-two kilometres and six summits.
• Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike, Thornthwaite Crag and Gray Crag →Start 4.7 km away10 km~858 m~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked February 2025Park: Hartsop village (donation) · Bus: 508, 590 m walk from Hartsop, adjacent to road endFour tops above Hartsop in 10 km with 858 m of climbing, including a stage averaging 35% — as steep as anything on the site. Severe for steepness but only moderate for navigation and exposure. About 3¼–4¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 51%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Hart Side, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, Watson's Dodd and more →Start 4.9 km away21.89 km~1281 m~6½–8¾ hSevere effort Severe: distanceWalked August 2023Park: Low How (layby) · Bus: 509, 1.6 km walk from Dockray, outside The Royal HotelThe Dodds from High Row: seven tops in 21.9 km with about 1,280 m of climbing, over Birkett Fell and Hart Side to Raise, the highest at 883 m, then back north over Stybarrow Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd and Clough Head. Severe for length and hard for navigation: the tops are broad grassy domes with few features, so carry a map and compass for cloud. The descent off Clough Head reaches about 37% over its steepest 250 m, and the day ends with a long walk east along the Old Coach Road. About 6½–8¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest descent, about 37% over 250 m. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.

Fells within about 5 km

• Glenridding Dodd →0.8 km away442 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGlenridding Dodd at 442m (1,450ft) is a small grassy summit above the Glenridding valley, its top giving good views of Ullswater and across to Sheffield Pike.
• Place Fell →1.9 km away657 m~2¼–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsPlace Fell at 657m (2,156ft) is the great ridge fell on the eastern shore of Ullswater, its long summit ridge giving one of the finest views of the lake in all Lakeland.
• Sheffield Pike →2.1 km away676 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSheffield Pike at 676m (2,218ft) is a craggy, satisfying summit above Glenridding with outstanding views of Ullswater.
• Arnison Crag →2.2 km away433 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusDecent · 60 · rated on 27 OctoberDryArnison Crag at 433m (1,421ft) is the small, craggy summit directly above Patterdale village, its rocky top giving an excellent bird's-eye view of the village and Goldrill Beck below.
• Birkhouse Moor →2.5 km away718 m~4–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBirkhouse Moor at 718m (2,354ft) is the long, grassy shoulder west-south-west of Glenridding that forms the approach ridge to Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Patterdale.
• Birks →2.7 km away624 m~3¼–4 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBirks at 624m (2,047ft) is the lower, north-eastern ridge of St Sunday Crag above Grisedale, its summit giving good views up the valley to Fairfield and across to the Helvellyn range.
• Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top) →3.5 km away566 m~5½–7¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsAngletarn Pikes at 566m (1,857ft) are twin rocky summits above Angle Tarn — the perfect mountain tarn, cupped in a dramatic hollow above Patterdale.
• Hart Side →3.8 km away756 m~4¼–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHart Side at 756m (2,480ft) is a broad, grassy summit between Stybarrow Dodd and the Ullswater shoreline, giving commanding views over the eastern shores of the lake and across to the High Street range.
• Catstye Cam →4 km away890 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCatstycam at 890m (2,919ft) is the perfect mountain in miniature — a shapely, symmetrical cone above Red Tarn that Wainwright described as one of the finest summit shapes in Lakeland.
• St Sunday Crag →4 km away841 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSt Sunday Crag at 841m (2,760ft) is the great isolated pyramid above Patterdale, separated from the Helvellyn ridge by the deep trench of Grisedale.
• Beda Fell (Beda Head) →4.2 km away509 m~5½–7¾ h🚌 BusDecent · 55 · rated on 27 OctoberDryBeda Fell at 509m (1,670ft) is a long ridge above Martindale, its summit giving outstanding views of Ullswater and the northern Eastern Fells.
• Raise →4.4 km away883 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRaise at 883m (2,896ft) sits on the northern Helvellyn ridge just south of Sticks Pass, a broad, rounded top that Wainwright described as giving outstanding views north to Great Dodd and Clough Head and west to Thirlmere.
• Brock Crags (Wainwright) →4.5 km away561 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBrock Crags at 561m (1,841ft) is a craggy little summit above Hartsop and Hayeswater Gill, sitting between Angletarn Pikes and Rest Dodd on the ridge above Patterdale.
• Stybarrow Dodd →4.7 km away844 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsStybarrow Dodd at 844m (2,768ft) is the middlemost of the Helvellyn Dodds, a broad plateau summit above Sticks Pass giving good views in all directions but most notably east across Ullswater to the distant Pennines.
• Helvellyn →4.8 km away950 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHelvellyn at 950m (3,116ft) is the most climbed of all the major Lakeland summits, and Wainwright devoted more pages to it than almost any other fell.
• White Side →4.9 km away863 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWhite Side at 863m (2,832ft) is the broad ridge summit between Raise and Lower Man on the northern Helvellyn ridge, its grassy, open top offering good views west across Thirlmere to the Borrowdale fells.

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

Distances are straight-line from the centre of Glenridding — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.