hikes.guideLake District

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

Wainwright — Western FellsAlso a Birkett

Haycock

Haycock at 797m (2,615ft) is the westernmost of the high Pillar ridge summits, an isolated fell above the remote Ennerdale forest with distinctive views west to the sea and the Cumbrian coast.

797 m
Height
~6–7.5 h
Typical time
+4
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Haycock

797 mWainwright — Western 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 797 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 34 mph, 5.7 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
13° / 12°
💨 34 mph
🌧 5.7 mm (99%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
12° / 10°
💨 29 mph
🌧 12.4 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
11° / 6°
💨 28 mph
🌧 3.7 mm (87%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
13° / 2°
💨 21 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (86%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
12° / 5°
💨 14 mph
🌧 2.7 mm (82%)
Sun 2 Aug
☁️
14° / 7°
💨 18 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (35%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
14° / 5°
💨 17 mph
🌧 0.4 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 797 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

Haycock

Haycock at 797m (2,615ft) is the westernmost of the high Pillar ridge summits, an isolated fell above the remote Ennerdale forest with distinctive views west to the sea and the Cumbrian coast. Wainwright noted that Haycock's western position gives it an unusual perspective — the views inland to the Scafells and outward to the sea are both excellent from the summit. The ascent from Ennerdale or from Scoat Fell via the ridge is long but rewarding. The summit gives one of the finest views of the Cumbrian coast from any fell in the Western group.

Routes up Haycock

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

Middle Fell, Haycock Seatallan and Buckbarrow
17.8 km · ~5.6 hr
Very Long Day Out
26.8 km · ~8.3 hr
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Western
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
797 m
Height
2,615 ft
In feet
NY 1447 1071
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

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

Nearest parking: Overbeck Bridge, Wastwater (NT, free), about 5.2 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Haycock (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.

0.5 km WNWLittle Gowder Crag734 m · Western
2.3 km ENEBlack Crag828 m · Western
2.4 km NLingmell (Ennerdale)427 m · Western
2.5 km WNWIron Crag (Ennerdale Fell)640 m · Western

Routes over Haycock

Middle Fell, Haycock Seatallan and BuckbarrowLive
17.8 km · ~1253 m ascent · loop · ~5.5–7.5 h
Summits: Middle FellHaycockLittle Gowder CragCaw FellSeatallanGlade HowBuckbarrow

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

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

Very Long Day OutLive
26.76 km · ~1743 m ascent · loop · ~8–11 h
Summits: YewbarrowYewbarrow North Top (Stirrup Crag)Red Pike (Wasdale)Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell)SteepleHaycockLittle Gowder CragCaw FellMiddle FellSeatallanGlade HowBuckbarrow

⬇️ 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 Haycock

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 Haycock36 labelled tops shown (23 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 8 kmScafell · 8 kmHelvellyn · 20 kmSkiddaw · 22 kmGreat End · 8 kmGreat Gable · 7 kmPillar · 3 kmFairfield · 21 kmBlencathra · 25 kmGrasmoor · 10 kmCrag Hill · 11 kmThe Old Man of Coniston · 18 kmGreat How · 17 kmJenkin Hill · 21 kmBrown Pike · 18 kmHarter Fell · 13 kmBlack Combe · 25 kmWhitfell · 18 kmSteeple · 2 kmLittle Gowder Crag · 0 kmCriffel · 54 km · clear daysCaw Fell · 1 kmSeatallan · 2 kmStarling Dodd · 5 kmIllgill Head · 6 kmLittle Dodd · 5 kmMiddle Fell · 4 kmHerdus · 6 kmCrag Fell · 6 kmLoweswater End · 10 kmWhoap · 5 kmLingmell · 2 kmSwainson Knott · 7 kmBengairn · 58 km · clear daysBowness Knott · 6 kmPonsonby Fell · 7 kmBroad Crag · 8 kmEsk Pike · 10 kmHigh Crag · 20 kmWhite Side · 20 kmScoat Fell · 2 kmHigh Stile · 5 kmHobcarton Crag · 12 kmRobinson · 8 kmWhiteside · 12 kmGreat Paddy Crag · 20 kmUllscarf · 15 kmCaw · 18 kmDemming Crag · 13 kmGale Fell · 6 kmGavel Fell · 9 kmHigh Pen · 9 kmMurton Fell · 10 kmKirk Fell · 16 kmGreat Worm Crag · 15 kmBlakeley Raise · 8 kmThe Pike · 18 kmStone Pike · 7 kmCold Fell · 9 kmWatch Hill · 21 kmMuncaster Fell · 13 kmSnowdon · 165 km · a handful of days a yearSlieve Donard · 172 km · a handful of days a yearMerrick · 104 km · a rare clear dayAran Fawddwy · 190 km · a handful of days a yearBroad Law · 113 km · a rare clear daySnaefell · 78 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Carsphairn · 103 km · a rare clear dayWindlestraw Law · 134 km · a handful of days a yearTinto · 125 km · a handful of days a yearSlieve Croob · 173 km · a handful of days a yearYr Eifl · 183 km · a handful of days a yearMoel y Gamelin · 164 km · a handful of days a yearDivis · 175 km · a handful of days a yearBeneraird · 122 km · a handful of days a yearAgnew's Hill · 173 km · a handful of days a yearColt Hill · 99 km · a rare clear dayFair Snape Fell · 78 km · a rare clear dayWinter Hill · 109 km · a rare clear dayHart Fell · 103 km · a rare clear dayCairnkinna Hill · 98 km · a rare clear dayPibble Hill · 79 km · a rare clear dayGreen Hill · 106 km · a rare clear dayMull Hill · 105 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Haycock, by direction
  • North: Grasmoor (10 km)
  • North-east: Scoat Fell (2 km), Pillar (3 km), High Stile (5 km), High Stile (5 km), Crag Hill (11 km), Eel Crag (11 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (21 km), Skiddaw Little Man (21 km), Skiddaw South Top (21 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (22 km), Skiddaw (22 km), Skiddaw North Top (22 km), Knowe Crags (23 km), Gategill Fell Top (24 km), Blencathra (25 km), Atkinson Pike (25 km)
  • East: Red Pike (2 km), Great Gable (7 km), Great End (8 km), Esk Pike (10 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (20 km), High Crag (20 km), Helvellyn (20 km), Nethermost Pike (20 km), White Side (20 km), Dollywaggon Pike (20 km), Fairfield (21 km), Cofa Pike (21 km), Rampsgill Head (30 km), High Raise (30 km)
  • South-east: Scafell (8 km), Scafell Pike (8 km), Broad Crag (8 km), Slight Side (9 km), Grey Friar (16 km), Great How (17 km), Brim Fell (18 km), Dow Crag (18 km), The Old Man of Coniston (18 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Snowdon (165 km, Wales), Slieve Donard (172 km, Ireland), Carnedd Llewelyn (153 km, Wales), Merrick (104 km, Scotland), Aran Fawddwy (190 km, Wales), Broad Law (113 km, Scotland), Snaefell (78 km, Isle of Man), Moel Siabod (162 km, Wales).

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 Haycock

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
55Wainwrights in view+8 marginal
165 kmFurthest sightlineSnowdon (Yr Wyddfa) · possible under favourable refraction
3Sea in viewIrish Sea, Solway Firth, Morecambe Bay

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Far horizons
  • Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) WalesSSW · 165 km clear
  • Carnedd Llewelyn WalesSSW · 150 km clear
  • Merrick ScotlandNW · 105 km clear
  • Snaefell Isle of ManWSW · 78 km clear
  • Criffel ScotlandNNW · 55 km clear
  • Morecambe Bay bay/estuarySSE · 48 km in view
  • Solway Firth bay/estuaryNNW · 44 km in view
  • Irish Sea open waterNW · 27 km in view
All 55 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Caw Fell, Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell), Steeple, Red Pike (Wasdale), Seatallan, Pillar, Middle Fell, Yewbarrow, High Stile, High Crag (Buttermere), Red Pike (Buttermere), Starling Dodd, Lank Rigg, Great Borne, Crag Fell, Illgill Head, Great Gable, Lingmell, Grike, Brandreth, Whin Rigg (Wasdale), Scafell, Hen Comb, Scafell Pike, Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top), Robinson, Great End, Slight Side, Blake Fell, Esk Pike, Wandope, Grasmoor, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Whiteside (Whiteside West Top), Low Fell, Hard Knott, Causey Pike, Harter Fell (Eskdale), Green Crag, Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell, Ullscarf, Grey Friar, Dow Crag, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, Carl Side, Skiddaw Little Man, Lonscale Fell, Skiddaw, Blencathra - Hallsfell Top, Bowscale Fell, Rampsgill Head, High Raise (High Street)

How Haycock’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 Haycock

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

Overbeck Bridge, Wastwater (NT, free) — 5.2 km from summit (straight line)
Small free NT car park at the foot of Yewbarrow on the lakeshore road.
Directions
Greendale, Nether Wasdale (roadside, free) — 5.3 km from summit (straight line)
Free verge parking for Middle Fell, Seatallan and Buckbarrow.
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.

Buses to Haycock from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

No regular bus serves the start points for this fell — this is one for the car (or a long approach from the nearest served valley). The nearest hubs are Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).

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

Hazard & Incident Information for Haycock

Hazard: Moderate

One of the most remote summits in Lakeland, set among the lonely fells south of Ennerdale and reached only by long approaches from Ennerdale or Wasdale. There is light scrambling onto Little Gowder Crag near the top, faint paths hidden among rock and heather, and steep crags on the northern side — but the real hazard is the sheer remoteness: a long, rough, waterless walk-out where any mishap becomes serious. Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team's ground.

  • Remoteness and long approaches: Haycock is a long, rough walk from any direction, with narrow paths and no reliable water between the valley and the tops. A minor injury, navigation error or late finish turns serious here simply because help is hours away. Carry full kit, food and water, a means of calling for help, and allow generous daylight.
  • Little Gowder Crag (rocky summit approach): The path steepens and weaves up through rock, with some light scrambling onto Little Gowder Crag below the summit. Straightforward for confident walkers in the dry, but awkward and slippery when wet.
  • Faint paths & northern crags in cloud: Paths are indistinct and easily lost among the rocks and heather, and the northern side breaks into crags above the Ennerdale coves (the link along Long Crag toward Steeple runs close to sheer drops). Navigate carefully by compass and keep back from the northern edges in mist.
Who should attempt this fell: Haycock is for walkers happy with rough, remote ground and confident navigation. Plan it as a big day: carry plenty of water and food, full kit and a way to summon help, and leave a wide time margin so you are not benighted far from the road. Take the rocky pull onto Little Gowder Crag carefully, keep clear of the northern crags in cloud, and turn back if the weather closes in — it is no place to be caught out.

Most common causes: Difficulties magnified by remoteness and a long, waterless walk-out · Navigation errors on faint paths hidden in rock and heather · Slips on the rocky scramble onto Little Gowder Crag when wet · Walkers straying toward the northern crags/Long Crag drops in poor visibility

Local Mountain Rescue: Wasdale Mountain 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 Haycock 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 Haycock 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 Haycock

Maps & guidebooks for Haycock

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