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718 m · Wainwright — Eastern Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Birkhouse Moor - a large stone summit cairn on grass, Ullswater winding away between fells beneath broken cloud
Wainwright — Eastern FellsAlso a Birkett

Birkhouse Moor

Birkhouse Moor at 718m (2,356ft) is the long, grassy shoulder south of Glenridding that forms the approach ridge to Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Patterdale.

718 m
Height
~3–4 h
Typical time
+4
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Birkhouse Moor

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

718 mWainwright — Eastern Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+4 bonus Birketts within 3 km Straightforward in cloud

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Modelled guidance for the 718 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 14° to 13°C, gusts to 39 mph, 7.0 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
14° / 13°
💨 39 mph
🌧 7.0 mm (100%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
14° / 11°
💨 32 mph
🌧 5.8 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
13° / 5°
💨 29 mph
🌧 0.9 mm (78%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
14° / 3°
💨 24 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (78%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
14° / 5°
💨 12 mph
🌧 5.1 mm (54%)
Sun 2 Aug
☁️
15° / 3°
💨 18 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (24%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
15° / 5°
💨 12 mph
🌧 0.2 mm (23%)

Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 718 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

About the walk

Key information

Birkhouse Moor

Birkhouse Moor - a large stone summit cairn on grass, Ullswater winding away between fells beneath broken cloud
© Lee McCoy

Birkhouse Moor at 718m (2,356ft) is the long, grassy shoulder south of Glenridding that forms the approach ridge to Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Patterdale. Wainwright noted it as a fell that rewards those who pause on the busy Helvellyn path — the views south along Ullswater from the ridge are excellent, and the summit cairn gives a fine prospect of the eastern Helvellyn crags and Red Tarn cove above. Most walkers pass through it automatically on the Patterdale-Striding Edge approach. Worth a separate visit for Ullswater views when Helvellyn is cloud-capped.

Routes up Birkhouse Moor

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor
15.6 km · ~5.1 hr
Helvellyn via Striding Edge & Swirral Edge
12.7 km · ~4.1 hr · Difficult
The 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 haven't personally walked this exact line, 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.
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Eastern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
718 m
Height
2,356 ft
In feet
NY 3634 1597
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.

Nearest parking: Glenridding (paid), about 2.5 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Birkhouse Moor (within 3 km)

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

2.1 km NNEHeron Pike (Glenridding)612 m · Eastern
2.6 km WHelvellyn Lower Man924 m · Eastern
2.7 km SSEGavel Pike784 m · Eastern
3.0 km NNWGreen Side (White Stones - Green Side)794 m · Eastern

Routes over Birkhouse Moor

Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse MoorRevised
15.58 km · ~1209 m ascent · loop · ~5–7 h
Summits: Glenridding DoddHeron Pike (Glenridding)Sheffield PikeCatstye CamBirkhouse Moor

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Helvellyn via Striding Edge & Swirral EdgePlanned
12.68 km · ~924 m ascent · loop · ~4–5.5 h · Clockwise · Difficult
Summits: Birkhouse MoorHelvellynCatstye Cam

⬇️ Download GPX

Best season: Late spring to autumn in dry, settled weather; a serious winter mountaineering route under snow or ice.

⚠️ Warnings: Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are exposed Grade 1 scrambles with big drops — the scene of frequent slips and serious accidents.; Avoid in high wind, wet rock, or any snow/ice unless equipped and experienced.; Prefer the walkers' route via White Side from Thirlmere if the edges aren't for you.

Full route guide ↗

✎️ Planned route — drawn but not personally walked or checked yet.

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

The View from Birkhouse Moor

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys
Computed 360-degree skyline from Birkhouse Moor32 labelled tops shown (6 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWRaise · 2 kmFairfield · 4 kmWhite Side · 3 kmGreat Dodd · 5 kmStybarrow Dodd · 4 kmSt Sunday Crag · 3 kmHigh Street · 9 kmHigh Raise · 9 kmThornthwaite Crag · 9 kmRed Screes · 8 kmStony Cove Pike · 8 kmHart Side · 4 kmBirkett Fell · 4 kmRed Crag · 9 kmLoadpot Hill · 10 kmWether Hill · 9 kmCross Fell · 37 km · clear daysHelvellyn · 2 kmHelvellyn Lower Man · 3 kmHigh Crag · 3 kmDollywaggon Pike · 3 kmThe Knott · 8 kmSheffield Pike · 2 kmHeron Pike · 2 kmCommon Fell · 5 kmThe Knight · 4 kmSallows · 14 kmLittle Mell Fell · 10 kmBurney · 32 km · clear daysGreen Hill · 7 kmLittle Eycott Hill · 14 kmDunmallet · 14 kmGreen Side · 3 kmRampsgill Head · 9 kmMiddle Dodd · 7 kmCatstye Cam · 2 kmGavel Pike · 3 kmBirks · 2 kmAngletarn Pikes · 5 kmGreat Mell Fell · 10 kmArthur's Pike · 11 kmGale Crag · 5 kmWatermillock Fell · 10 kmLow Birk Fell · 6 kmDufton Pike · 35 km · clear daysThe Cheviot · 118 km · a rare clear dayArenig Fawr · 187 km · a handful of days a yearPendle Hill · 87 km · a rare clear dayCauldcleuch Head · 85 km · a rare clear dayPeel Fell · 88 km · a rare clear dayBlackwood Hill · 82 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Birkhouse Moor, by direction
  • North: Sheffield Pike (2 km), Green Side (3 km), Hart Side (4 km), Birkett Fell (4 km)
  • North-east: Heron Pike (2 km), Cross Fell (37 km)
  • East: Place Fell (4 km), Angletarn Pikes (5 km), Angletarn Pikes South Top (5 km), The Nab (7 km), Rest Dodd (7 km), Rampsgill Head (9 km), Red Crag (9 km), High Raise (9 km), Wether Hill (9 km), Loadpot Hill (10 km)
  • South-east: Birks (2 km), Hartsop Dodd (6 km), Middle Dodd (7 km), Caudale Moor (8 km), Gray Crag (8 km), Red Screes (8 km), Stony Cove Pike (8 km), The Knott (8 km), St Raven's Edge (9 km), Thornthwaite Crag (9 km), High Street (9 km)
  • South: St Sunday Crag (3 km), Gavel Pike (3 km), Cofa Pike (4 km), Fairfield (4 km)
  • South-west: High Crag (3 km), Dollywaggon Pike (3 km)
  • West: Catstye Cam (2 km), Helvellyn (2 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (3 km), White Side (3 km)
  • North-west: Raise (2 km), Stybarrow Dodd (4 km), Great Dodd (5 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: The Cheviot (118 km, England), Arenig Fawr (187 km, Wales), Pendle Hill (87 km, England), Boulsworth Hill (98 km, England), Carnedd y Filiast (178 km, Wales), Arenig Fach (183 km, Wales), Mwdwl-eithin (168 km, Wales), Cauldcleuch Head (85 km, Scotland).

Computed from terrain in perfect clarity, not photographed · distances are straight-line.

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

What you can see from Birkhouse Moor

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
36Wainwrights in view+2 marginal
38 kmFurthest sightlineGreat Dun Fell
—Sea in viewnone from here
Far horizons
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesENE · 38 km clear
  • Cross Fell North PenninesENE · 37 km clear
All 36 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Catstye Cam, Helvellyn, Sheffield Pike, Birks, Raise, St Sunday Crag, White Side, Arnison Crag, Dollywaggon Pike, Stybarrow Dodd, Hart Side, Fairfield, Place Fell, Great Dodd, Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top), Brock Crags (Wainwright), Hartsop Dodd, The Nab, Middle Dodd, Rest Dodd, Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit), Gray Crag, Red Screes, Hallin Fell, Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor), The Knott (High Street), Rampsgill Head, High Raise (High Street), Thornthwaite Crag, High Street, Wether Hill, Loadpot Hill, Bonscale Pike, Great Mell Fell, Little Mell Fell, Arthur's Pike

How Birkhouse Moor’s view compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

Sightlines from a bare-earth terrain model (forests and buildings not included), corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Best parking to hike Birkhouse Moor

Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).

Glenridding (paid) — 2.5 km from summit (straight line)
Main Helvellyn-from-the-east base: Striding Edge, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor; also Sheffield Pike, Glenridding Dodd.
Directions
🚺 Glenridding Village Car Park (103m)🚺 Public toilets (165m)☕ Let It Brew☕ Fairlight Cafe & Restaurant☕ Fellbites🍺 Travellers Rest🏪 Catstycam.com
Patterdale (paid) — 2.9 km from summit (straight line)
For Place Fell, St Sunday Crag, the Grisedale fells.
Directions
🚺 Public toilets (176m) — Free🚺 Public toilets (1579m)🍺 White Lion Inn🍺 Patterdale Hotel

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Tip: pan and zoom the interactive map at the top of this page to spot other potential parking near your route.

Water & shelter on the way up

On the Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor route:

🛖 map (51 m)🚺 map (71 m)🚌 Glenridding, at Bus Shelter (51 m)

On the Helvellyn via Striding Edge & Swirral Edge route:

💧 possible water source (121 m)🛖 map (4 m)🛖 map (102 m)🚺 map (67 m)🚌 Glenridding, at Bus Shelter (103 m)⛺ Gillside Camping (474 m)

💧 Treat water from the fell before you drink it. A mapped point is usually a tap or public supply, but never drink untreated from a beck, stream or tarn — even clear-looking hill water can carry giardia or cryptosporidium from livestock or a carcass upstream and leave you seriously ill. Run it through a filter or purifier (a LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze or HydraPak) or bring it to a rolling boil first.

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.

Buses to Birkhouse Moor from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 508 “Ullswater Bus”
Penrith – Pooley Bridge – Aira Force – Glenridding – Patterdale (summer services continue over Kirkstone Pass to Troutbeck and Windermere)
Catch it from: Penrith · Windermere (summer only)
The key route from Penrith for the Eastern and Far Eastern fells: Helvellyn from Glenridding, Place Fell, the Hartsop fells. The summer Kirkstone extension drops you at the pass for Red Screes and Caudale Moor.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

My hikes over Birkhouse Moor (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Interactive route maps and photos load here for visitors with JavaScript. Data from Strava.

Don’t drink from Glenridding Beck

On the way up you cross Glenridding Beck, which runs below the old Greenside lead mine. The Environment Agency records it carrying dissolved lead above the level that is safe to drink. This is not the usual hill-water risk: a squeeze or hollow-fibre filter (LifeStraw, Sawyer and the like) removes none of these dissolved metals, and boiling only concentrates them. Carry your own water for this walk and don’t refill from the beck.

What’s actually in this beck — we mapped every mine-fed one →

Metal-mine water data © Environment Agency (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Navigating Birkhouse Moor in cloud

Straightforward

A broad, gently-sloping top with little to steer by — easy to lose your bearings and hard to relocate in mist. Navigation here is relatively straightforward even in cloud — but carry map and compass and know how to use them; a low score never means “safe”.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Birkhouse Moor compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.

Other fells near Birkhouse Moor

Maps & guidebooks for Birkhouse Moor

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