Grasmoor
Grasmoor at 852m (2,795ft) 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.
Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast
Modelled guidance for the 852 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.
On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 13° to 12°C, gusts to 38 mph, 4.8 mm of rain forecast.
Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 852 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.
About the walk
Grasmoor
Routes up Grasmoor
Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.
Map & nearby Birketts
Skip mapFree mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.
Nearest parking: Lanthwaite Green (NT), about 1.9 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.
Birketts near Grasmoor (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.
Routes over Grasmoor
✎️ If you only do one round in the North Western Fells, this is it. Grasmoor is a bigger, wilder mountain than its modest reputation suggests, and the ridge from Whiteside over Gasgale Crags to Hopegill Head is as good as ridge walking gets outside the Langdales. Whiteless Pike at the end is a perfect little peak — and a punishing descent.
✎️ 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.
✎️ 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 Grasmoor
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.
What you can see from Grasmoor, by direction
- North-east: Skiddaw Little Man (12 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (12 km), Skiddaw South Top (12 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (12 km), Skiddaw (12 km), Skiddaw North Top (12 km), Broad End (13 km), Knowe Crags (15 km), Blencathra (17 km), Atkinson Pike (17 km)
- East: White Side (17 km), Great Dodd (17 km), Stybarrow Dodd (17 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (17 km), Raise (17 km), Helvellyn (18 km), Catstye Cam (18 km), Nethermost Pike (18 km), High Crag (18 km), High Raise (28 km)
- South-east: Great End (13 km), Esk Pike (14 km), Pike de Bield (15 km), Bowfell (16 km), Dollywaggon Pike (19 km), Cofa Pike (20 km), Fairfield (20 km)
- South: High Stile (6 km), Pillar (8 km), Black Crag (9 km), Steeple (9 km), Scoat Fell (9 km), Red Pike (10 km), Kirk Fell (10 km), Haycock (10 km), Great Gable (11 km), Broad Crag (14 km), Scafell Pike (14 km), Ill Crag (14 km), Scafell (14 km)
On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Snowdon (175 km, Wales), Slieve Donard (177 km, Ireland), Merrick (99 km, Scotland), Broad Law (103 km, Scotland), Snaefell (84 km, Isle of Man), Moel Siabod (172 km, Wales), Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (97 km, Scotland), The Cheviot (124 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 (opens in new tab) (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.
What you can see from Grasmoor
On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.On the clearest days the view reaches across to Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
- Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Wales
- Merrick Scotland
- Snaefell Isle of Man
- Ingleborough Yorkshire Dales
- Whernside Yorkshire Dales
- Great Dun Fell North Pennines
- Cross Fell North Pennines
- Criffel Scotland
- Solway Firth bay/estuary
- Irish Sea open water
All 86 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)
Wandope, Whiteless Pike, Whiteside (Whiteside West Top), Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Hopegill Head, Rannerdale Knotts, Grisedale Pike, Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top), Robinson, Low Fell, Hen Comb, Red Pike (Buttermere), Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter), High Stile, Hindscarth, Starling Dodd, Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell, Gavel Fell, Graystones (Graystones North Top), High Crag (Buttermere), Great Borne, Blake Fell, Burnbank Fell, Maiden Moor, Fleetwith Pike, Lord's Seat, Dale Head, Broom Fell, High Spy, Haystacks (Buttermere), Ling Fell, Pillar, Steeple, Grey Knotts, Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell), Brandreth, Sale Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Crag Fell, Kirk Fell, Haycock, Caw Fell, Green Gable, Great Gable, Ullock Pike, Long Side, Grike, Carl Side, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat, Lank Rigg, Glaramara, Lingmell, Armboth Fell (Armboth Fell South Top), Great End, Lonscale Fell, Eagle Crag, Allen Crags, Sergeant's Crag, Scafell Pike, Scafell, Ullscarf, Esk Pike, High Raise (High White Stones), Bowfell, Binsey, Watson's Dodd, Clough Head, Thunacar Knott, Pike of Stickle, Great Cockup, Pavey Ark, Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle, Stybarrow Dodd, Longlands Fell, Brae Fell, Pike of Blisco, Bowscale Fell, Seat Sandal, Great Rigg, Green Crag, Wetherlam, Great Mell Fell, Red Screes, High Raise (High Street)
How Grasmoor’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 Grasmoor
Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).
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 The Grasmoor round: Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Whiteless Pike route:
On the High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows route:
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.
Buses to Grasmoor from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before relying on a last bus.
Hazard & Incident Information for Grasmoor
The highest of the North Western Fells, a great whaleback above Crummock Water with a deceptively gentle grassy top but steep, craggy flanks falling away on almost every side. The broad, flat summit is a navigation trap in cloud, and the western and southern faces — Grasmoor End, Dove Crags and the gullies above Gasgale — are steep, loose scrambling ground where serious falls have happened. Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team covers this fell.
- Grasmoor End / Dove Crags scramble routes: The steep western and southern crags offer scrambling lines that are loose, exposed and serious — a scrambler fell around 200 ft here and was very badly injured. These are not walkers' routes; the safe ascents are the ridge paths. Don't be drawn onto the steep rock, especially when wet.
- The flat summit plateau in cloud: The top is broad, grassy and almost featureless, ringed by steep crags and gullies. In mist it is very easy to set off on the wrong bearing and end up above the cliffs or descending a dangerous flank. Take and trust a compass bearing before leaving the summit.
- Steep flank descents (Lorton / Gasgale side): The direct slopes off the summit are steep, loose and unforgiving of a slip. Stick to the established ridge routes rather than dropping straight down the fellside.
Most common causes: Scrambling falls on the steep western and southern crags · Navigation errors off the featureless summit plateau in cloud · Slips on the steep, loose flanks · Walkers drifting over the crag edges in poor visibility
Local Mountain Rescue: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab) · 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.
Navigating Grasmoor in cloud
Care neededWalkable ground sits close to a lethal drop — in cloud it’s easy to walk straight onto steep ground. Take care in poor visibility — carry map and compass, and know how to use them.
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 Grasmoor compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.
Frequently asked questions about Grasmoor
Is Grasmoor hard to climb?
Grasmoor is the highest of the North-Western Fells at 852 m (2,795 ft), and a steep climb whichever way you go — but with no obligatory scrambling on the walkers' routes. It's a sustained effort up grass and scree rather than a technical fell.
The catches are the steepness (the direct front, Grasmoor End, is punishing and loose) and the broad, flat summit, which is a navigation trap in cloud. The steep western and southern crags are best left to scramblers.
Sources: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
What is the easiest route up Grasmoor?
Most walkers start from Lanthwaite Green at the northern end of Crummock Water. The Lad Hows ridge gives a steep but straightforward grassy climb, and a gentler (longer) option swings round to gain the summit from Coledale Hause to the east.
Avoid the very steep, loose direct line up Grasmoor End unless you're confident on such ground.
Sources: Where2Walk — Grasmoor from Crummock Water (opens in new tab)
How long does it take to climb Grasmoor?
A round from Lanthwaite Green takes about 5–6 hours (roughly 11–14 km), depending on the route. The popular 'Grasmoor six' circuit adding Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Wandope and Whiteless Pike is a bigger 6–7.5 hour day.
Is it easy to get lost on Grasmoor's summit?
Yes — the top is a broad, flat, grassy plateau with few features, ringed by steep crags and gullies on several sides. In mist it's very easy to set off on the wrong bearing and end up above the cliffs or descending a dangerous flank.
Take and trust a compass bearing before leaving the summit, and keep to the ridge routes rather than dropping straight down the steep flanks.
Sources: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
Is there scrambling on Grasmoor?
Not on the walkers' routes. However, the steep western and southern crags — Grasmoor End and Dove Crags — offer loose, exposed scrambling lines that are genuinely serious; a scrambler suffered a major fall here. They are not walkers' paths.
For the summit, stick to the ridge routes; leave the crags to experienced, equipped scramblers in dry conditions.
Sources: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
Is Grasmoor suitable for beginners?
It's a steep, sustained climb to a big summit, so better suited to walkers with some hill fitness than to complete beginners — but there's no scrambling on the standard routes, so a fit newcomer can manage it in good weather.
Go on a clear, settled day, carry a map and compass (vital for the featureless top), keep clear of the steep crags, and start from Lanthwaite Green.
Sources: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)
What should I wear and take up Grasmoor?
Wear proper walking boots with good grip for the steep grass and scree, and carry warm and waterproof layers — the summit is high and exposed. A map and compass are essential for the broad, featureless top, where it's easy to drift toward the surrounding crags in cloud.
Take food, water and a charged phone, check the mountain forecast, and carry winter kit when there's snow or ice on the steep ground.
Questions drawn from real Google “People also ask” searches; answers written and fact-checked by us. · Reviewed 2026-06-14 · Suggest a question or correction (opens in new tab)
Other fells near Grasmoor
- Ard Crags
- Barf
- Barrow
- Broom Fell
- Castle Crag
- Cat Bells (Catbells)
- Causey Pike
- Crag Hill (Eel Crag)
- Dale Head
- Graystones (Graystones North Top)
- Grisedale Pike
- High Spy
- Hindscarth
- Hopegill Head
- Knott Rigg
- Ling Fell
- Lord's Seat
- Maiden Moor
- Outerside
- Rannerdale Knotts
- Robinson
- Sail
- Sale Fell
- Scar Crags
- Wandope
- Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter)
- Whiteless Pike
- Whiteside (Whiteside West Top)
Maps & guidebooks for Grasmoor
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