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Walks from Grasmere

24 routes and 19 fells within about 5 km of Grasmere, nearest first. Nine walks start within 1 km of the village, among them Alcock Tarn from Grasmere (4.48 km) and West of Grasmere (15.44 km). 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.

Starting in Grasmere

Nine routes start within 1 km of the centre of Grasmere in a straight line, nearer Grasmere 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.

• Alcock Tarn from Grasmere →Start 0.2 km away4.48 km~320 m~1¼–2 hEasy effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Broadgate Meadow car park, Grasmere (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA short, steep loop of about 4.5 km from Grasmere to Alcock Tarn, with about 320 m of climbing: out of the village over the River Rothay and Greenhead Gill, along the hillside on a permissive path, steeply up to the tarn, and down a public footpath to Greenhead Gill and back into the village.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 36%.
• West of Grasmere →Start 0.3 km away15.44 km~863 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distanceWalked March 2025Park: Red Bank Road, Grasmere (W&F, paid) · Bus: 555, 320 m walk from Grasmere, opposite Heaton Cooper StudioSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg, Swinescar Pike and Silver How — in 15.4 km with 863 m of climbing. Hard for length, moderate for steepness; about 4½–6¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 24%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Stone Arthur from Grasmere →Start 0.4 km away6.82 km~528 m~2¼–3 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked July 2023Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 528 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2¼–3 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Helm Crag & Far Easedale →Start 0.4 km away15.93 km~870 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked January 2025Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startFrom Grasmere along the ridge above Far Easedale — Helm Crag's rocky top first, then Gibson Knott and Calf Crag — and round the head of Greenburn to Steel Fell. A long day at 15.9 km, and the head of Easedale can be vague in cloud.Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag →Start 0.4 km away20.82 km~950 m~5¾–7¾ hHard effort Severe: distanceWalked June 2024Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe 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.Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Castle How & Lang How - Birketts →Start 0.4 km away10.91 km~490 m~3–4 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startLang How, Swinescar Pike and Castle How on the knolly ground above Grasmere — 10.9 km and 490 m, stages averaging about 10% with a 33% descent over 250 m, and rated hard to navigate among the hummocks. Just about 3–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 33% over 250 m. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Silver How from Grasmere →Start 0.4 km away5.06 km~311 m~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA loop of about 5.1 km from the middle of Grasmere with about 310 m of climbing: out through the village and up public footpaths onto Silver How, then down the steep Grasmere side of the fell and back into the village along Red Bank Road.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 28%.
• Grasmere lake circuit →Start 0.5 km away5.67 km~95 m~1¼–1¾ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA 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 3½ miles, almost no climbing.
• Grasmere to Easdale Tarn →Start 0.5 km away9.52 km~237 m~2¼–3¼ hModerate effort Moderate: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked June 2024Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA valley walk from Grasmere village up Easdale to its tarn, ringed by crags: 9.5 km and 237 m, with no summits. The path climbs beside Sourmilk Gill, and the becks rise fast in spate, so take care at the crossings. The ground round the tarn is boggy and rougher; elsewhere it is good paths and lanes, muddy in places. If you bring a dog, keep it close near sheep.Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.

More walking routes within about 5 km

• Elterwater & Skelwith Force →Start 3 km away7.6 km~164 m~1¾–2½ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA 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 →Start 3 km away11.51 km~489 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Moderate: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposurePlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startThe 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 →Start 3 km away9.75 km~382 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA 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 but one short, steep descent of about 46% over 250 m, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 46% over 250 m.
• Elterwater riverside loop →Start 3 km away4.25 km~91 m~1–1½ hModerate: terrain🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA short loop from Elterwater village, partly beside Great Langdale Beck — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
• Rydal Water & Rydal Caves →Start 3.2 km away6.46 km~216 m~1½–2¼ hModerate: steepness and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked May 2023Park: Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) · Bus: 555, 2.3 km walk from Rydal, at White Moss CommonA 6.46 km loop round Rydal Water from Pelter Bridge, with a short there-and-back to Rydal Cave above the south shore and the Coffin Route home under Nab Scar. Low-level, with one short rougher stretch near the cave. The 555 stops beside the loop at White Moss Common, and the route map and GPX are further down.
• Fairfield Horseshoe →Start 3.2 km away16.92 km~1009 m~5–6¾ hHard effort Hard: distance, steepness, navigation and exposureWalked April 2023Park: Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) · Bus: 555, 2.3 km walk from Rydal, at White Moss CommonOne of the classic Lakeland rounds and a fine first big horseshoe. From the car park at Rydal it's a steady climb, hard rather than moderate on the pull out of Rydal (about 30% at its steepest), 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 Wainwrights, nine tops with Heron Pike’s north top (a Birkett), with Fairfield's broad summit the high point and Windermere laid out behind you on the descent.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 30%; the steepest descent, about 30% over 250 m. Exposure: graded by Lee on the ground.
• Cofa Pike Via Seat Sandal and Dollywaggon →Start 4.2 km away9.3 km~1195 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Roadside parking for Steel Fell (free) · Bus: 555, 1.7 km walk from Thirlmere, at Armboth turnThree tops but 1,195 m of ascent in only 9.3 km — the steepest ascent-per-kilometre of any route on the site, with a stage averaging 26%. Severe for steepness; about 3¾–5¼ hours and a genuinely hard short day.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 46%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Langdale Pikes Round →Start 4.4 km away12.12 km~884 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate 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.
• Stickle Tarn from New Dungeon Ghyll →Start 4.4 km away3.75 km~397 m~1¼–2 hEasy effort Severe: steepnessWalked June 2024Park: Stickle Ghyll (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA short, steep loop of about 3.75 km from New Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale to Stickle Tarn, under Pavey Ark, with about 400 m of climbing: up beside Stickle Ghyll to the tarn, and back down by a different path, crossing Mill Gill and Stickle Ghyll on footbridges near the end.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 37%.
• Langdale Horseshoe →Start 4.5 km away20.9 km~1770 m~7–9½ hSevere 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.
• Slater Bridge & Cathedral Cave →Start 4.7 km away2.2 km~92 m~½–1 hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedBus: 516, 2.2 km walk from Elterwater, opposite The Britannia InnA short loop from Little Langdale over the slate Slater Bridge and up to Cathedral Quarry, a disused slate quarry on National Trust land. The Trust warns of unprotected sheer drops, deep water and a chance of rockfall at the quarry, and asks visitors to bring a torch. The Trust says there is no parking at the quarry itself; this walk starts beside the Three Shires Inn, whose car park is for its customers. Uneven, rocky ground in places.
• The Royal Oak Pub Walk (Ambleside) →Start 4.8 km away5.94 km~68 m~1¼–1¾ hEasy: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposure🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startAn 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 →Start 4.8 km away10.71 km~288 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Moderate: distance and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partPark: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555, 1.6 km walk from Ambleside, at Scandale BridgeA terrace walk from Ambleside over Loughrigg's southern slopes to the famous Loughrigg Terrace view down Grasmere, then past Rydal Cave and back under Loughrigg. Easy-moderate, with a little climbing and some rougher ground.
• Ambleside to Rydal, with Refreshments and Stepping Stones →Start 5 km away6.21 km~78 m~1¼–2 hEasy: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partOut and back · Park: Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) · Bus: 555 at the startAn out-and-back of about 6.2 km from Ambleside to Rydal along Under Loughrigg Road, the lane on the far side of the River Rothay from the main road. Cross Miller Bridge, pass the stepping stones over the river without crossing them, cross at Pelter Bridge into Rydal, where Rydal Hall’s Old School Room Tea Shop is mapped just off the line, and come back along the lane. Almost all surfaced lane and bridleway, with about 80 m of climbing.
• Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave →Start 5 km away10.38 km~394 m~2½–3¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) · Bus: 555 at the startThe 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~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 53 · rated on 27 OctoberDrySilver How at 394m (1,292ft) 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~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 54 · rated on 27 OctoberDryNab Scar at 450m (1,476ft) is the steep, rocky escarpment directly above Rydal Water.
• Stone Arthur →1.9 km away504 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsStone Arthur at 504m (1,654ft) 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~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHeron Pike at 612m (2,008ft) is near 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~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHelm 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~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 40 · rated on 27 OctoberSummit likely clagged inLoughrigg 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~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 54 · rated on 27 OctoberDryGibson Knott at 420m (1,378ft) is a craggy, pleasant little summit on the ridge between Far Easedale and Greenburn, above Grasmere, giving good views of the valley and of Helm Crag to the south-east.
• Great Rigg →3.4 km away766 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGreat Rigg at 766m (2,514ft) is the subsidiary summit on the Fairfield Horseshoe between Fairfield and Heron Pike, a broad ridge top looking down the Rydal valley to the wooded country south towards Ambleside.
• Blea Rigg →3.5 km away542 m~4¼–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBlea Rigg at 542m (1,777ft) 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~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsLow 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~4¼–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsTarn Crag at 549m (1,801ft) 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~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Pike at 657m (2,156ft), above Scandale, is a grassy summit with rocky outcrops at the top, on the ridge above Ambleside north of Low Pike, giving wide views south across Windermere and north to the Fairfield group.
• Steel Fell (Dead Pike) →3.9 km away553 m~4½–6¼ h🚌 BusMarginal · 52 · rated on 27 OctoberDrySteel 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~3½–4½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSeat Sandal at 737m (2,417ft) 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~4½–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCalf Crag at 537m (1,762ft) is a rocky top at the head of Greenburn and Far Easedale, giving fine views down into Wythburn and north to the Helvellyn range.
• Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) →4.6 km away470 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsLingmoor Fell at 470m (1,542ft) 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🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsFairfield at 873m (2,865ft) 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~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsDove 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~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHart Crag at 823m (2,700ft) 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.

None of the fells here are rated good to climb on 27 October — see fells to save for a bad day →
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 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.