Walks from Sour Milk Gill (Easedale)
The walks you can reach from Sour Milk Gill (Easedale) — 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 Sour Milk Gill (Easedale) guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
Walking routes near Sour Milk Gill (Easedale)
- West of Grasmere 2.3 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 2.6 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 2.6 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.
- Castle How & Lang How - Birketts 2.6 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.
- Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag 2.6 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.
- Grasmere lake circuit 2.6 km away5.7 km~95 m~1.3 h🏞️ Easy & familyA 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 2.6 km away9.5 km~237 m~2.3 h🏞️ Easy & familyOne 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.
- Langdale Pikes Round 3.1 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 3.2 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.
- Cofa Pike Via Seat Sandal and Dollywaggon 3.2 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.
- Elterwater & Skelwith Force 4 km away7.6 km~164 m~1.8 h🏞️ Easy & familyA 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.
- Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End and more 4 km away17.7 km~1176 m~5.5 hA five-summit traverse of the high central ground, taking in Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell. The 1,176 m of ascent is spread over 17.7 km so no stage averages more than about 10%, but exposure is rated hard and the rock underfoot barely lets up. Around 5.5 hours.
- Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater 4 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.
- Esk Pike and Great End 4 km away17.7 km~1099 m~5.4 hEsk Pike and Great End, the two big tops at the head of Eskdale, reached by a 17.7 km round with 1,099 m of climbing. Nothing on it averages steeper than about 11%: the difficulty is the scale rather than any one pull, and both navigation and exposure are rated only moderate. Allow around 5.4 hours.
- Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell 4 km away9.8 km~382 m~2.6 hModerate🏞️ Easy & familyA 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 4 km away4.3 km~91 m~1 h🏞️ Easy & familyA 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.
- The Old Dungeon Ghyll Pub Walk (Great Langdale) 4.1 km away6.6 km~106 m~1.5 h🏞️ Easy & familyAn easy, near-level loop of the Great Langdale valley floor from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, walked entirely beneath the Langdale Pikes — Pike o' Stickle and Harrison Stickle rearing up on one side, Bowfell and the Band on the other. Barely a hundred metres of up-and-down across 6.6 km, so it's a proper leg-stretch with all of the drama and almost none of the grind — and it begins and ends at the pub.
- Blea Tarn (Little Langdale) 4.9 km away2.7 km~34 m~0.6 h🏞️ Easy & familyA short, lovely loop around little Blea Tarn, with the classic view of the Langdale Pikes mirrored in the water — one of the most photographed scenes in the Lakes for very little effort.
Fells within about 5 km
- Helm Crag 1.1 km away405 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 24Summit likely clagged inHelm 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.
- Gibson Knott 1.4 km away420 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 23Summit 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.
- Tarn Crag (Easedale) 1.5 km away549 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 16Too windy for the topsTarn Crag at 583m (1,913ft) above Easedale is a craggy little summit above the head of the Sour Milk Gill path from Grasmere.
- Blea Rigg 1.8 km away542 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 17Too windy for the topsBlea 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.
- Silver How 2.1 km away394 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 21Summit likely clagged inSilver 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.
- Calf Crag 2.4 km away537 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 17Too windy for the topsCalf 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.
- Steel Fell (Dead Pike) 2.5 km away553 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 22Summit 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.
- Stone Arthur 3.1 km away504 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 21Summit likely clagged inStone 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.
- Sergeant Man 3.1 km away736 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsSergeant Man at 736m (2,415ft) is the subsidiary summit of High Raise above Langdale, a rocky outcrop on the rim of the plateau with outstanding views of the Langdale valley and the Pikes below.
- Pavey Ark 3.4 km away702 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsPavey Ark at 700m (2,297ft) is the great crag above Stickle Tarn in Great Langdale — its massive cliff face dropping nearly 100m from rim to tarn and offering some of the finest rock climbing in the Lake District.
- High Raise (High White Stones) 3.8 km away762 m~3.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 17Too windy for the topsHigh Raise at 762m (2,500ft) is the central summit of the Lake District — literally and figuratively.
- Harrison Stickle 3.8 km away735 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsHarrison Stickle at 736m (2,415ft) is the highest and most prominent of the Langdale Pikes, a magnificent crag-crowned summit that dominates the head of Great Langdale and is one of the most recognisable profiles in English fell walking.
- Thunacar Knott 3.8 km away723 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 18Too windy for the topsThunacar Knott at 723m (2,372ft) is the broad, grassy summit between Harrison Stickle and High Raise, often crossed without recognition on the way between the Langdale Pikes and the High Raise plateau.
- Heron Pike (Rydal) 3.9 km away612 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 19Too windy for the topsHeron 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.
- Seat Sandal 3.9 km away737 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsSeat Sandal at 736m (2,415ft) is an isolated summit above Dunmail Raise, its pointed profile clearly visible from the A591 and from Grasmere below.
- Nab Scar 4 km away450 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 27Summit likely clagged inNab 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.
- Great Rigg 4.2 km away766 m~3.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsGreat 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.
- Loft Crag 4.3 km away682 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsLoft Crag at 682m (2,237ft) is the smallest and least visited of the Langdale Pikes, sitting between Pike of Stickle and Harrison Stickle on the western side of the Pikes circuit.
- Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) 4.3 km away470 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Summit likely clagged inLingmoor 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.
- Ullscarf 4.4 km away723 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 16Too windy for the topsUllscarf at 726m (2,382ft) is the quietest and most remote of the Central Fells, a broad, heathery plateau above the headwaters of Wyth Burn that Wainwright described as giving an unfrequented and peaceful summit with outstanding views in all directions.
- Pike of Stickle 4.5 km away708 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsPike of Stickle at 709m (2,326ft) is the most distinctive of the Langdale Pikes — a soaring, pointed summit of volcanic rock that thrusts skyward above the head of Langdale.
- Loughrigg Fell 4.6 km away335 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 28Summit 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.
0 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 12 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.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Sour Milk Gill (Easedale) — ‘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.