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Walks near Moss Force

23 routes and 23 fells within about 5 km of Moss Force, nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Moss Force guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Walking routes near Moss Force

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.

• Newlands Hause to the Coledale Tops →Start 0.2 km away11.4 km~1107 m~4–5½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Newlands Hause car park (free) · Bus: 77, 2.2 km walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)A loop of about 11.4 km from Newlands Hause, with about 1,110 m of climbing: over Knott Rigg and Ard Crags, up to Scar Crags and Sail, on to Crag Hill, round over Wandope and along Whiteless Edge to Whiteless Pike, then steeply down to Sail Beck and back up to the Knott Rigg path for the way down to the car park.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 43%.
• Knott Rigg & Ard Crags Out-and-Back from Newlands Pass →Start 0.2 km away5.52 km~355 m~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Hard: steepness and navigationPlannedOut and back · Park: Newlands Hause car park (free) · Bus: 77, 2.2 km walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)An out-and-back of about 5.5 km from the car park at Newlands Hause, the top of the Newlands Pass road above Buttermere, with about 355 m of climbing: a steep start straight up from the pass, then a gentle ridge path north-east over Knott Rigg and its north top to Ard Crags, and back the same way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%.
• The Buttermere Ridge Anti-Clockwise →Start 1.6 km away12.88 km~970 m~4–5¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked October 2026Park: High Snockrigg (verge) · Bus: 77, 330 m walk from Buttermere Youth Hostel (near)A loop of about 12.9 km from Buttermere village over Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag and Seat, with about 970 m of climbing: up beside Sourmilk Gill to Bleaberry Tarn and Dodd, up the red scree path to Red Pike, along the ridge over High Stile to High Crag, steeply down Gamlin End to Seat and Scarth Gap, and back along the shore of Buttermere.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 38%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground.
• High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows →Start 1.7 km away15.69 km~1446 m~5½–7½ hSevere effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: High Snockrigg (verge) · Bus: 77 at the startA big north-western day — seven tops from High Snockrigg over Whiteless Pike to Crag Hill, 15.7 km and 1,446 m, with one stage averaging 22%. About 5½–7½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 43%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Great Borne & Starling Dodd →Start 1.9 km away15.97 km~1122 m~5–6¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startRed Pike, Starling Dodd and Great Borne along the western end of the High Stile ridge — three tops, 16 km and 1,122 m, with one stage averaging 20%. Hard for length, severe for steepness; about 5–6¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 40%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• High Snockrigg from Buttermere →Start 1.9 km away4.02 km~404 m~1¼–2 hEasy effort Hard: steepnessPlannedOut and back · Park: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startAn out-and-back of about 4 km from Buttermere village to the top of High Snockrigg, with about 400 m of climbing: 0.4 km up the Newlands Pass road, then a steep public footpath east up the fell and a short path to the top, and back the same way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 28%.
• High Stile, Seat via Buttermere →Start 1.9 km away12.97 km~881 m~4–5½ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startFive tops along the High Stile ridge with Buttermere below you the whole way. 881 m of ascent in 13 km, and a stage averaging 20% to gain the ridge in the first place. Roughly 4–5½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 39%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Red Pike by Scale Force →Start 1.9 km away9.25 km~756 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village, by the Bridge Hotel (roadside, free) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 9.3 km from Buttermere village, with about 760 m of climbing: up the public bridleway past Bleaberry Tarn to Dodd and Red Pike, then down north-west and beside Scale Beck past Scale Force, and back east to the village along the foot of the fells.
• The Buttermere Ridge →Start 2 km away13.39 km~1012 m~4¼–6 hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 410 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelOne of the finest ridge walks in the Lakes — Seat, High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike strung above Buttermere, with plunging drops into Ennerdale on one side and the lake on the other. Earned by the loose, relentless grind of Gamlin End and paid for again on the red scree chute off Red Pike: 13.4 km, 1,012 m of climbing, and severe for steepness.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 35%. Terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
• Crummock Water shore circuit →Start 2 km away13.17 km~191 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Moderate: distance🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThe full circuit of Crummock Water — about 8.2 miles around one of the loveliest of the western lakes. Largely level but long, and boggy in places along the western shore.
• Rannerdale Knotts from Buttermere →Start 2 km away4 km~265 m~1–1¾ hEasy effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 450 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelA short loop of about 4.0 km from Buttermere village over Rannerdale Knotts, with about 265 m of climbing: up on paths to the ridge, west along it to the top, steeply down its western end, and back to the village below the fell on the Crummock Water side, on a bridleway, the B5289 and paths.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 38%.
• Buttermere lake circuit →Start 2 km away7.41 km~66 m~1½–2¼ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Buttermere village (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 77 at the startThe classic low-level lap of Buttermere — a flat, well-made path right around the lake beneath High Stile and Fleetwith Pike, passing the famous lone tree and a short rock-cut tunnel. One of the great easy walks in the Lakes.
• Scale Fell and Mellbreak →Start 2 km away14.68 km~572 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Buttermere village (NT, paid) · Bus: 77, 460 m walk from Buttermere, outside Court HotelScale Knott and both Mellbreak tops — 14.7 km and 572 m, with a stage averaging 19%. Hard for length and navigation. About 3¾–5¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 39%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Fleetwith Edge and Haystacks →Start 2.5 km away8.83 km~767 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 8.8 km from Gatesgarth Farm, at the head of Buttermere, with about 770 m of climbing: steeply up Fleetwith Edge to the top of Fleetwith Pike, along the top and down quarry tracks and a public bridleway to Warnscale Beck, up past Blackbeck Tarn to the top of Haystacks, then down to Scarth Gap and back to Gatesgarth on the Scarth Gap bridleway.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 42%.
• Rannerdale bluebell valley and Rannerdale Knotts →Start 3.6 km away6.19 km~394 m~1¾–2¾ hEasy effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: unnamed car park south of Crummock Water, Cinderdale Common (free) · Bus: 77 at the startA loop of about 6.2 km from Cinderdale Common by Crummock Water, with about 390 m of climbing: up the hillside above the car park, down into Rannerdale and up the valley beside Squat Beck, west along the ridge to the top of Rannerdale Knotts, then steeply down to the foot of the valley and back to the car park.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 37%.
• Little Dale Horseshoe →Start 4.3 km away10.77 km~793 m~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Little Town, Newlands (paid, small) · Bus: 77, 2.7 km walk from Manesty, outside Cocklety HowA loop of about 10.8 km from Chapel Bridge in Newlands, round Little Dale, with about 790 m of climbing: along the lane and up High Snab Bank to Robinson, over to Hindscarth, and down the ridge over High Crags, Red Knott and Scope End.
• Scope End, Hindscarth & Dale Head from Little Town →Start 4.3 km away12.08 km~757 m~3½–5 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Little Town, Newlands (paid, small) · Bus: 77, 2.7 km walk from Manesty, outside Cocklety HowA proper Newlands mountain day that most walkers drive straight past. The shapely Scope End ridge lifts you out of Little Town onto Hindscarth, then an airy walk along Hindscarth Edge carries you over to Dale Head above the head of the valley before a long descent back to the start. It's about 12 km with 760 m of ascent; the pulls are steep and the tops are big and open.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 43% over 250 m. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Hindscarth (14 June 2026) and Dale Head (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
• The Grasmoor Round →Start 4.8 km away16.17 km~1304 m~5¼–7¼ hSevere 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.
• Dodd & Whiteside →Start 4.9 km away7.91 km~682 m~2½–3¾ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Lanthwaite Green (paid) · Bus: 77 at the startTwo tops, 7.9 km and 682 m — and a stage averaging 29%, which is what a short walk with that much ascent in it means. Easy for length, severe for steepness. About 2½–3¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 41%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• The Grasmoor round: Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Whiteless Pike →Start 4.9 km away16.17 km~1161 m~5–7 hHard 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.
• Haystacks →Start 5 km away11.21 km~792 m~3½–4¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked April 2026Park: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startFrom Honister up the old quarry tracks to Fleetwith Pike, down past Dubs Hut to the tarns and rocky knolls of Haystacks, then a late climb back over Brandreth and Grey Knotts — four Wainwrights in one round. There is a scramble to the true top of Haystacks, and a maze of paths up there that needs care in cloud.Exposure: graded by Lee on the ground. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Black Star Brandreth and others →Start 5 km away9.29 km~629 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startStraight up from the Honister pass — Honister Crag, Fleetwith Pike, Brandreth and Grey Knotts in 9.3 km with 629 m of climbing. Short but hard for steepness, with one stage averaging 15%. About 2¾–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 33%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Honister to Keswick: over the Newlands fells →Start 5 km away19.62 km~1057 m~5½–7¾ hHard effort Severe: steepnessPlannedOne-way: finishes at Keswick · Start: Honister Pass (paid, slate mine) · Bus: 77 at the startA big Newlands horseshoe walked one–way from the top of Honister Pass to Keswick. You climb straight onto Dale Head, trace the broad grassy tops over Hindscarth and Robinson, drop to Newlands Hause and pick up the Knott Rigg–Ard Crags ridge, then walk out down the Newlands valley into town — five summits and a proper day out, with no car to collect.

Fells within about 5 km

• Robinson →1 km away738 m~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRobinson at 738m (2,420ft) is the north-western bastion of the Newlands Horseshoe — the great classic ridge walk that circuits the Newlands valley.
• Knott Rigg →1.5 km away556 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsKnott 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.
• Whiteless Pike →2 km away660 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWhiteless 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.
• Wandope →2.3 km away774 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWandope 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.
• Hindscarth →2.4 km away727 m~3½–4½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHindscarth 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.
• Ard Crags →2.7 km away581 m~5–6¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsArd 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.
• Rannerdale Knotts →2.7 km away355 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRannerdale 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.
• Sail →2.9 km away773 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSail 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.
• Crag Hill (Eel Crag) →2.9 km away839 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCrag 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.
• Grasmoor →3.4 km away852 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsGrasmoor 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.
• Fleetwith Pike →3.5 km away649 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsFleetwith Pike at 649m (2,129ft) stands above Honister Pass, its northern face falling in the famous Honister Crags that Wainwright described as giving one of the most dramatic fell profiles in the Western Fells.
• Scar Crags →3.6 km away672 m~3¾–5¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsScar 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.
• Dale Head →3.6 km away754 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsDale 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.
• High Crag (Buttermere) →3.7 km away745 m~5–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Crag at 745m (2,444ft) is the south-eastern anchor of the Buttermere ridge, its dramatic Gamlin End providing the steepest descent in the three-peak circuit.
• High Stile →3.7 km away806 m~4½–5½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Stile is the highest of the three great fells of the Buttermere ridge, and one of the finest summits in the Western Fells.
• Red Pike (Buttermere) →3.8 km away755 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRed Pike is the shapely, warm-hued peak at the Buttermere end of the High Stile ridge — its name from the red Ennerdale granophyre that colours its screes and summit.
• Causey Pike →4.3 km away637 m~3–3¾ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCausey 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.
• High Spy →4.3 km away653 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh 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.
• Haystacks (Buttermere) →4.3 km away597 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHaystacks at 597m (1,959ft) is the fell Wainwright loved above all others — not for its height, but for its character.
• Outerside →4.4 km away568 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsOuterside 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.
• Maiden Moor →4.4 km away575 m~4–5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsMaiden 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.
• Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top) →4.6 km away511 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsMellbreak at 511m (1,677ft) is a distinctive double-summited ridge above the western shore of Crummock Water, its steep flanks rising directly from the lake edge.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top) (14 June 2026); they draw on Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.
• Hopegill Head →4.8 km away770 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHopegill 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.

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 Moss Force — ‘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.