hikes.guideLake District

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

Froswick - rolling fells and valleys falling away to Windermere shining in the distance, under deep blue sky
Wainwright — Far Eastern FellsAlso a Birkett

Froswick

Froswick at 720m (2,362ft) is the middle summit of the Ill Bell ridge above Troutbeck, a pointed peak with a surprisingly shapely profile when viewed from the Troutbeck valley below.

720 m
Height
~3–4 h
Typical time
+2
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Froswick

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

720 mWainwright — Far Eastern Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+2 bonus Birketts within 3 km Straightforward in cloud

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

Modelled guidance for the 720 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 38 mph, 17.5 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
14° / 13°
💨 38 mph
🌧 17.5 mm (98%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌦️
14° / 11°
💨 31 mph
🌧 2.2 mm (98%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
13° / 4°
💨 28 mph
🌧 0.6 mm (63%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
14° / 1°
💨 26 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (82%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
14° / 2°
💨 15 mph
🌧 3.3 mm (31%)
Sun 2 Aug
☁️
15° / 4°
💨 18 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (25%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
16° / 5°
💨 12 mph
🌧 0.2 mm (24%)

Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 720 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

Froswick

Froswick - rolling fells and valleys falling away to Windermere shining in the distance, under deep blue sky
© Lee McCoy

Froswick at 720m (2,362ft) is the middle summit of the Ill Bell ridge above Troutbeck, a pointed peak with a surprisingly shapely profile when viewed from the Troutbeck valley below. Wainwright noted its fine views of the full Ill Bell ridge and the dramatic drop to the Troutbeck valley. Most walkers include it as part of the Kentmere Horseshoe traverse between Ill Bell and Thornthwaite Crag. The views south to Windermere and north to Thornthwaite Crag's distinctive beacon are a highlight of the ridge.

Routes up Froswick

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

Kentmere Horseshoe
20.1 km · ~5.7 hr
The classic round of the Kentmere valley — a 20 km, ~1,030 m horseshoe over eight Wainwrights: up over Yoke and the shapely Ill Bell ridge to Thornthwaite Crag, then back over Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts. A long, high, broad-ridged day in the Far Eastern fells.
Sour Howes, Sallows, Yorke, Illl Bell, Frostwick and Troutbeck Tongue in the sun!
27.6 km · ~7.8 hr
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Far Eastern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
720 m
Height
2,362 ft
In feet
NY 4351 0852
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

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

Nearest parking: Kirkstone Pass (laybys / inn), about 3.4 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Froswick (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.

2.7 km NWCaudale Moor - John Bell's Banner755 m · Far Eastern
2.9 km WSt Raven's Edge593 m · Far Eastern

Routes over Froswick

Kentmere HorseshoeRevised
20.14 km · ~1029 m ascent · loop · ~5.5–7.5 h
Summits: YokeIll BellFroswickThornthwaite CragMardale Ill BellHarter Fell (Mardale)Kentmere PikeShipman Knotts

✎️ Walked and described first-hand by Lee — a big mountain day (≈13 miles / ~3,700 ft, 6–8 hours). Start early, carry OS Explorer OL7 and a compass (the eastern ridge walls and fences are vital handrails in mist), and know the escape options.

⬇️ Download GPX

⚠️ Warnings: The left-hand ladder stile between Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts has a big, almost-vertical drop on the far side — take care, and lift or handle dogs, which often refuse it.; Wray Crag on the final descent has a grooved sloping slab: an easy step in the dry, slippery when wet.; The initial drop off Ill Bell toward Froswick is steep and rough — you may need hands; it eases quickly.; Keep clear of Ill Bell's craggy eastern edge above Kentmere Reservoir — stay on the broad ridge by the cairns.; Parking at Kentmere (village hall / St Cuthbert's church) is very limited — only a handful of spaces — so arrive early.

Full route guide ↗

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

Sour Howes, Sallows, Yorke, Illl Bell, Frostwick and Troutbeck Tongue in the sun!Revised
27.56 km · ~1395 m ascent · loop · ~7.5–10.5 h
Summits: Sour HowesSallowsYokeIll BellFroswickTroutbeck Tongue

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

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

The View from Froswick

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 Froswick35 labelled tops shown (5 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 22 kmHelvellyn · 11 kmSkiddaw · 27 kmPillar · 27 kmHigh Crag · 10 kmFairfield · 8 kmBlencathra · 22 kmCrinkle Crags · 19 kmHigh Street · 3 kmThe Old Man of Coniston · 20 kmSwirl How · 18 kmDove Crag · 6 kmHarter Fell · 3 kmKentmere Pike · 3 kmBowscale Fell · 24 kmThornthwaite Crag · 2 kmMardale Ill Bell · 2 kmIll Bell · 1 kmHorsehow Crags · 22 kmIngleborough · 46 km · clear daysGoat Scar · 4 kmWhernside · 41 km · clear daysWard's Stone · 52 km · clear daysShipman Knotts · 4 kmBrown Howe · 6 kmBaystones · 5 kmSour Howes · 5 kmWhite Hall Knott · 36 km · clear daysBrunt Knott · 9 kmTroutbeck Tongue · 2 kmTop o' Selside · 21 kmRogan's Seat · 49 km · clear daysClaife Heights · 12 kmWhite Hill · 55 km · clear daysBigland Barrow · 26 kmBowfell · 19 kmNethermost Pike · 11 kmGreat Dodd · 15 kmKnowe Crags · 22 kmRed Screes · 4 kmGreat Rigg · 8 kmStony Cove Pike · 2 kmLittle Stand · 19 kmLittle Carrs · 18 kmRound Knott · 27 kmStoupdale Head · 35 km · clear daysHigh Brow · 14 kmThe Calf · 26 kmSwinklebank Crag · 8 kmWild Boar Fell · 34 km · clear daysCapplebarrow · 9 kmCalf Top · 32 km · clear daysHollow Moor · 6 kmBlake Rigg · 15 kmGummer's How · 20 kmBlawith Knott · 27 kmNine Standards Rigg · 39 km · clear daysSchool Knott · 11 kmCunswick Scar · 15 kmSnowdon · 175 km · a handful of days a yearAran Fawddwy · 195 km · a handful of days a yearPendle Hill · 77 km · a rare clear dayMoel y Gamelin · 164 km · a handful of days a yearBoulsworth Hill · 88 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Froswick, by direction
  • North: High Street (3 km)
  • East: Harter Fell (3 km)
  • South-west: Swirl How (18 km), Great Carrs (18 km), Great How (18 km), Brim Fell (19 km), The Old Man of Coniston (20 km)
  • West: Red Screes (4 km), Dove Crag (6 km), Crinkle Crags (19 km), Shelter Crags (19 km), Crinkle Crags (19 km), Crinkle Crags South Top (19 km), Crinkle Crags (19 km), Crinkle Crags (19 km), Bowfell (19 km), Esk Pike (20 km), Ill Crag (21 km), Broad Crag (22 km), Scafell Pike (22 km), Scafell (23 km), Pillar (27 km), Pillar Rock (27 km)
  • North-west: St Sunday Crag (8 km), Fairfield (8 km), Cofa Pike (8 km), Dollywaggon Pike (10 km), High Crag (10 km), Nethermost Pike (11 km), Helvellyn (11 km), Green Side (13 km), Stybarrow Dodd (14 km), Great Dodd (15 km), Blencathra (22 km), Gategill Fell Top (22 km), Knowe Crags (22 km), Atkinson Pike (23 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (27 km), Skiddaw (27 km), Skiddaw North Top (27 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Snowdon (175 km, Wales), Carnedd Llewelyn (163 km, Wales), Aran Fawddwy (195 km, Wales), Moel Siabod (170 km, Wales), Arenig Fawr (182 km, Wales), Yr Eifl (196 km, Wales), Craig Cwm Silyn (182 km, Wales), Pendle Hill (77 km, England).

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 Froswick

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
50Wainwrights in view+9 marginal
175 kmFurthest sightlineSnowdon (Yr Wyddfa) · possible under favourable refraction
2Sea in viewIrish Sea, Morecambe Bay

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Wales.

Far horizons
  • Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) WalesSSW · 175 km clear
  • Carnedd Llewelyn WalesSSW · 159 km clear
  • Irish Sea open waterSW · 67 km in view
  • Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesSE · 46 km clear
  • Whernside Yorkshire DalesSE · 40 km clear
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesNE · 36 km clear
  • Morecambe Bay bay/estuarySSW · 36 km in view
All 50 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Ill Bell, Thornthwaite Crag, Mardale Ill Bell, Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor), Troutbeck Tongue, Harter Fell (Mardale), High Street, Kentmere Pike, Red Screes, Middle Dodd, Shipman Knotts, Baystones (Wansfell), Little Hart Crag (Little Hart Crag - West Top), Sour Howes, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Loughrigg Fell, Dollywaggon Pike, Glenridding Dodd, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Sheffield Pike, Black Fell, Hart Side, Lingmoor Fell (Brown How), Stybarrow Dodd, Holme Fell, Great Dodd, Wetherlam, Pike of Blisco, Cold Pike, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Bowfell, Brim Fell, Grey Friar, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Esk Pike, Scafell Pike, Souther Fell, Blencathra - Hallsfell Top, Brandreth, Scafell, Harter Fell (Eskdale), Bowscale Fell, Pillar, Skiddaw

How Froswick’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 Froswick

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

Kirkstone Pass (laybys / inn) — 3.4 km from summit (straight line)
High start for Red Screes (30 min!), Caudale Moor and Middle Dodd.
Directions
Mardale Head, Haweswater (free) — 3.9 km from summit (straight line)
Free but small and fills very early — High Street, Harter Fell, Kidsty Pike, Branstree.
Directions

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 Sour Howes, Sallows, Yorke, Illl Bell, Frostwick and Troutbeck Tongue in the sun! route:

🚌 Loughrigg Avenue (64 m)🚌 Hayes Garden Centre (182 m)🚌 Kelsick Road Stand 1 (279 m)⛺ Ambleside Backpackers (15 m)

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

Buses to Froswick 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 Froswick (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

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

Hazard & Incident Information for Froswick

Hazard: Moderate

A neat, steep-sided peak on the Kentmere Horseshoe — in effect a smaller Ill Bell — standing on the narrow ridge between Kentmere and Troutbeck. Both flanks are too steep for walkers, falling away in scree on the Kentmere side, so the only sensible way on or off is along the crest. The narrow, airy ridge and the steep zigzag descents need care, especially in wind. Kendal Mountain Search and Rescue Team covers this ground.

  • Steep flanks — stay on the ridge: The eastern and western slopes are both too steep to be used by walkers, and the Kentmere side falls in fans of scree to the River Kent. Don't be tempted to drop off the ridge in either direction; keep to the crest and descend only by the established ridge lines.
  • The narrow ridge & steep zigzags: Froswick sits on a slim, airy ridge with steep, scree-prone zigzag descents toward Threshthwaite Mouth and on to Thornthwaite Crag. Take the loose, steep sections carefully, and expect real exposure to the wind on the crest.
  • Navigation in cloud: From above, the Yoke–Ill Bell–Froswick chain reads as one long fell, and in mist it is easy to misjudge which top you are on or which way to leave. Take a compass bearing and keep to the ridge path.
Who should attempt this fell: Froswick is straightforward as long as you stay on the ridge — its flanks are genuinely too steep to walk, so resist any urge to shortcut down them, and take the scree-prone zigzags carefully. Expect exposure to the wind, navigate the linked summits deliberately in cloud, and treat the steep ground as full winter terrain when there is snow or ice.

Most common causes: Walkers attempting the over-steep flanks instead of staying on the ridge · Slips on the scree and steep zigzag descents · Being blown off balance on the narrow, exposed crest · Navigation errors along the chain of linked summits in cloud

Local Mountain Rescue: Kendal Mountain Search and Rescue Team · Reviewed 14 Jun 2026

Safety: Hazard guidance compiled from published Mountain Rescue reports and well-documented accident history - editorial background, not a live feed of callouts. Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Report incorrect information

Navigating Froswick 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 Froswick 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 Froswick

Maps & guidebooks for Froswick

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work →