Walks from Grasmere
The walks you can reach from Grasmere — the routes that start within about 5 km, and the Wainwright and Outlying fells within the same radius, ranked nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Grasmere guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
7 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 11 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
Walking routes near Grasmere
- West of Grasmere 0.3 km away15.4 km~806 m~4.4 hSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg and Swinescar Pike — in 15.4 km with 806 m of climbing. Hard for length and steepness; about 4.4 hours.
- Stone Arthur from Grasmere 0.4 km away6.8 km~516 m~2.2 hThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 516 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2.2 hours.
- Helm Crag & Far Easedale 0.4 km away15.9 km~850 m~4.6 hThe full skyline of Far Easedale from Grasmere — Helm Crag's rocky top first, then Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell around the rim of the valley. A long day at 15.9 km, and the head of Easedale can be vague in cloud.
- Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag 0.4 km away20.8 km~910 m~5.7 hThe full Far Easedale horseshoe from Grasmere, and a longer, wetter day than Helm Crag alone suggests. The true summit — the Howitzer — needs an exposed scramble, and beyond Gibson Knott the ground turns to peat hags and bog that stay wet in all seasons, with Brownrigg Moss the hardest crossing of the day.
- Castle How & Lang How - Birketts 0.4 km away10.9 km~445 m~2.9 hLang How, Swinescar Pike and Castle How on the knolly ground above Grasmere — 10.9 km and 445 m, nothing steeper than about 10% on average, but rated hard to navigate among the hummocks. Just under three hours.
- Grasmere lake circuit 0.5 km away5.7 km~95 m~1.3 h🏞️ EasyA gentle circuit of Grasmere lake from the village — easy field paths along the eastern shore and undulating woodland on the west, with the fells reflected in the water and Wordsworth's Grasmere all around. About 4 miles, almost no climbing.
- Grasmere to Easdale Tarn 0.5 km away9.5 km~237 m~2.3 hEasy🏞️ EasyOne of Lakeland’s loveliest short valley walks — from Grasmere village up the green trough of Easdale to its hidden tarn, ringed by crags with Sourmilk Gill tumbling down beside the path. Gentle underfoot with just enough climb to feel earned, and a firm favourite with dogs.
- Elterwater & Skelwith Force 3 km away7.6 km~164 m~1.8 h🏞️ EasyA riverside walk from pretty Elterwater past Skelwith Force to the reedy shores of Elter Water, with the Langdale Pikes filling the skyline — gentle, varied and largely level.
- Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater 3 km away11.5 km~487 m~3.1 hModerateThe best low fell in Langdale, and the one that shows you the valley properly. Lingmoor sits between Great and Little Langdale, so the Pikes rear up across the dale in front of you the whole way along the ridge. Side Pike at the far end throws in a famous rock squeeze. Half the effort of the big Langdale rounds and arguably a better view of them.
- Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell 3 km away9.8 km~382 m~2.6 hModerate🏞️ EasyA big little walk: the classic loop taking in reed-fringed Loughrigg Tarn and the knobbly top of Loughrigg Fell, with one of the finest low-level views in the Lakes — Windermere, Grasmere and the Langdale Pikes all at once. Under 400 m of climb, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.
- Elterwater riverside loop 3 km away4.3 km~91 m~1 hEasy🏞️ EasyA short, near-level loop from Elterwater village along the River Brathay — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead and plenty of water for a hot dog. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
- Rydal Water & Rydal Caves 3.2 km away6.5 km~216 m~1.7 h🏞️ EasyA gentle 4-mile circuit of Rydal Water, taking in the old slate cavern of Rydal Cave above the southern shore and returning along the wooded Coffin Route. Low-level and scenic, with one short rougher stretch near the cave.
- Fairfield Horseshoe 3.2 km away16.9 km~925 m~4.9 hModerateOne of the classic Lakeland rounds and a fine first big horseshoe. From the car park at Rydal it's a steady, moderate climb with only a minor amount of scrambling — my kids, then 7 and 10, managed it, though they found it a long day. You can easily start from Ambleside instead: stock up at the shops on the way out and finish at the Royal Oak for a well-earned pint. The full round takes in eight tops, with Fairfield's broad summit the high point and Windermere laid out behind you on the descent.
- Cofa Pike Via Seat Sandal and Dollywaggon 4.2 km away9.2 km~1142 m~3.7 hThree tops but 1,142 m of ascent in only 9.2 km — the steepest ascent-per-kilometre of any route on the site, with a stage averaging 26%. Severe for steepness and hard for exposure; about 3.7 hours and a genuinely hard short day.
- Langdale Pikes Round 4.4 km away12.3 km~830 m~3.9 hModerateA grand round of the Langdale Pikes and the fells behind them. From Great Langdale it climbs past Stickle Tarn to take in Pavey Ark (by the walkers' line, not Jack's Rake), Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag, then loops over Thunacar Knott, High Raise and Sergeant Man 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.
- Langdale Horseshoe 4.5 km away20.2 km~1497 m~6.5 hSevereThe full Langdale Horseshoe — fifteen tops, 1,500 m of ascent and one of the hardest days in the Lakes that involves no rope. 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.
- Slater Bridge & Cathedral Cave 4.7 km away2.2 km~92 m~0.6 h🏞️ EasyA short, characterful loop from Little Langdale over the slate Slater Bridge and up to the cavernous Cathedral Cave, a relic of the old quarries. Uneven, rocky quarry ground in places — and a torch helps inside the cave.
- The Royal Oak Pub Walk (Ambleside) 4.8 km away5.9 km~68 m~1.3 hEasy🏞️ EasyAn easy, near-level amble from the heart of Ambleside out along the River Rothay and back — parkland, riverbank and quiet lanes beneath the wooded flanks of Loughrigg, with barely 70 m of climbing across 6 km. A gentle leg-stretch to bookend lunch at the Royal Oak.
- Loughrigg Terrace & Rydal Water 4.8 km away10.7 km~288 m~2.6 h🏞️ EasyA lake-and-terrace classic linking Grasmere and Rydal Water, taking in Rydal Cave, the old Coffin Route and the famous Loughrigg Terrace view down Grasmere. Easy-moderate, with a little climbing and some rougher ground.
- Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave 5 km away10.4 km~392 m~2.7 hThe classic Ambleside circuit of Loughrigg Fell — up through Rothay Park and over Todd Crag past Lily Tarn, across the undulating top to the summit trig point, then down to Loughrigg Terrace above Grasmere and back along the fell's flank via Rydal Cave. Low in height, big in views, and the best-value 10 km in the central Lakes.
Fells within about 5 km
- Silver How 1.6 km away394 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 74DrySilver How at 395m (1,296ft) is a delightful, rocky little summit above Grasmere and Chapel Stile, its summit giving one of the finest views of Grasmere and the surrounding fells from any low-level viewpoint in the district.
- Nab Scar 1.9 km away450 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 70DryNab Scar at 450m (1,476ft) is the steep, rocky escarpment directly above Rydal Water, its craggy face one of the most recognisable profiles in the southern Lake District.
- Stone Arthur 1.9 km away504 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 67DryStone Arthur at 500m (1,640ft) is a craggy rock outcrop on the ridge above Grasmere, its small but distinctive summit giving one of the finest low-level views over Grasmere and Rydal Water in the whole district.
- Heron Pike (Rydal) 2 km away612 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHeron Pike at 612m (2,008ft) is the southern end of the Fairfield Horseshoe ridge above Rydal, its rocky summit giving excellent views across Windermere and south to Morecambe Bay.
- Helm Crag 2 km away405 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 70Dry, firm underfootHelm Crag at 405m (1,329ft) is one of the most famous and distinctive summits in Lakeland — the jagged, rocky outline known as 'The Lion and the Lamb' visible from Grasmere below.
- Loughrigg Fell 2.7 km away335 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 68DryLoughrigg Fell at 335m (1,099ft) is one of the most beloved and visited fells in the Lake District, a complex heathery mass rising between Ambleside, Grasmere and Elterwater.
- Gibson Knott 3.1 km away420 m~2 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGibson Knott at 420m (1,378ft) is a craggy, pleasant little summit on the ridge above Greenburn above Grasmere, giving good views of the valley and Helm Crag to the south.
- Great Rigg 3.4 km away766 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGreat Rigg at 766m (2,513ft) is the subsidiary summit on the Fairfield Horseshoe between Fairfield and Heron Pike, a broad ridge top that Wainwright described as giving one of the finest views of the Rydal valley and the wooded country south towards Ambleside.
- Blea Rigg 3.5 km away542 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inBlea Rigg at 541m (1,775ft) is a craggy, complex ridge above Easedale and Langdale, giving excellent views down into Great Langdale from its rocky summit.
- Low Pike 3.6 km away508 m~2.5 h🚌 BusDecent · 66DryLow Pike at 508m (1,667ft) is a Wainwright summit in the Eastern Fells, the first top on the Scandale ridge rising above Ambleside towards High Pike and Dove Crag.
- Tarn Crag (Easedale) 3.7 km away549 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inTarn Crag at 583m (1,913ft) above Easedale is a craggy little summit above the head of the Sour Milk Gill path from Grasmere.
- High Pike (Scandale) 3.9 km away657 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHigh Pike at 656m (2,152ft), above Scandale, is a broad grassy summit at the southern end of the ridge above Ambleside giving wide views south across Windermere and north to the Fairfield group.
- Steel Fell (Dead Pike) 3.9 km away553 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSteel Fell at 553m (1,814ft) is the ridge south of Dunmail Raise above Thirlmere, its long summit crest giving outstanding views of Grasmere below and the full Southern Fells beyond.
- Seat Sandal 4 km away737 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSeat Sandal at 736m (2,415ft) is an isolated summit above Dunmail Raise, its pointed profile clearly visible from the A591 and from Grasmere below.
- Calf Crag 4.5 km away537 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inCalf Crag at 537m (1,762ft) is the northernmost summit of the Central Fells above Greenburn, a rocky top giving fine views down into Wythburn and north to the Helvellyn range.
- Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) 4.6 km away470 m~2.5 h🚌 BusDecent · 70Dry, firm underfootLingmoor Fell at 469m (1,539ft) is a heathery ridge between Great Langdale and Little Langdale, its summit giving one of the finest aerial views of Great Langdale available from any low fell.
- Fairfield 4.7 km away873 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inFairfield at 873m (2,864ft) gives its name to one of the great classic ridge walks of Lakeland — the Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside, a magnificent circuit taking in Hart Crag, Dove Crag, High Pike and Nab Scar.
- Dove Crag 4.7 km away792 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inDove Crag at 792m (2,598ft) takes its name from the impressive cliff on its eastern face above Dovedale — a favourite with rock climbers and a dramatic feature visible from the valley below.
- Hart Crag 4.8 km away823 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHart Crag at 822m (2,697ft) is the rocky summit at the northern end of the Fairfield ridge above Dovedale, giving excellent views down the crag-girt hollow of Dovedale to Hartsop and Brothers Water below.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Grasmere — ‘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.