Birketts West of Thirlmere
Start Dob Gill, Thirlmere
Getting here Parking: Dob Gill, Thirlmere (United Utilities, paid), 0.1 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 555 stops at Thirlmere, at Armboth turn; from there it is 1.8 km and 54 m of ascent to this start. And the same back: about 26.8 km in all, with the walk. Getting there ↓ · Route map ↓
Hardest part Severe distance: 23.11 km — a long day out.
Before you choose
- Access: The summit of Fisher Crag lies outside mapped CRoW open-access land. That layer records no CRoW right of access; public rights of way were not checked — it is not a statement that access is forbidden, and permissive access is not recorded in that layer. This line is computed rather than walked, so treat the access on it as unchecked — how we work this out.
Conditions on this route
We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 1 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.
Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →
Daylight & turnaround
Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Wythburn Fell2 Standing Crag3 Coldbarrow Fell - High Saddle4 Low Saddle5 Bell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell)6 Watendlath Fell (Long Moss)7 Shivery Knott8 Middle Crag9 High Tove10 Fisher Crag
Easy 83%Moderate 14%Hard 3%Severe
Heights on this chart and its high point are read from the track itself (a terrain model sampled along the line, or a GPS recording), so a top can differ from its listed height, usually reading lower.
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).
The elevation profile is under the map; the stage notes follow.
The walk, stage by stage
- 1
Start → Wythburn Fell (2.1 km, 319 m)
The Dob Gill car park is closed (Lee, 25 Sep 2026); the nearest other car park we list is Steel End, about 1.3 km away on foot, at the south end of the lake; starting there adds about 2.6 km, making the walk about 25.7 km. From the Dob Gill car park, leave the Thirlmere valley floor, immediately picking up the steep, winding paths that pull up through the dense conifer plantations on the western shore. Once you break through the tree line and cross the boundary wall, the gradient eases slightly as you push onto the open, pathless, and deeply grassy slopes of Wythburn Fell.
WaypointsThirlmere western shore (start), forestry boundary wall, Wythburn Fell summit.
Decision pointThe dense block of the Thirlmere commercial forestry provides a massive rear-reference point. Aim for the highest swelling of ground directly west/south-west of the tree line; the summit of Wythburn Fell is incredibly subtle and lacks a prominent marker.
Easy to get wrongThe initial ascent through the forestry is steep, sheltered, and often humid, with slick pine needles and exposed roots underfoot. The moment you step onto the open fell, you are introduced to the defining characteristic of this central ridge: relentless, thick, water-holding tussock grass that instantly hides any semblance of a path and begins sapping your energy.
If you need to get offTurn 180 degrees and drop straight back down the grassy slope to the forest boundary. The logging tracks within the tree line provide a sheltered route back to the valley road.
- 2
Wythburn Fell → Standing Crag (3.8 km, 340 m)
Embark on a long, arduous trek west/north-west across the desolate moorland. The route rolls persistently over a sea of peat and heather, skirting the marshy catchment of Harrop Tarn before culminating in a rough pull, on paths OSM maps, up to the highly distinct, blocky volcanic outcrop of Standing Crag.
WaypointsWythburn Fell plateau, Harrop Tarn (upper catchment), Standing Crag summit.
Decision pointStanding Crag is one of the very few distinct, rocky features in this entire expanse. On a clear day, its sheer, blocky profile acts as a massive visual beacon, standing out sharply against the rolling green and brown moorland.
Easy to get wrongThis nearly 4 km stretch is a brutal initiation into the central fells' notorious bogs. The terrain is completely off-piste, requiring you to constantly detour around deep, black peat hags and waterlogged sphagnum moss. Finding a walking rhythm is impossible, and your legs will take a beating from the uneven, hidden holes beneath the heather.
If you need to get offIf the bogs become too exhausting, you can bail east towards Harrop Tarn, picking up the forestry tracks down to the western shore of Thirlmere; this line has not been checked for this guide as an escape.
- 3
Standing Crag → Coldbarrow Fell - High Saddle (1.5 km, 96 m)
Leave the rocky respite of Standing Crag and head south-west, dropping slightly into a wide, spongy depression. Weave through the peat groughs before making a steady, gentle drag up the broad, grassy slope to reach the minor high point of High Saddle on Coldbarrow Fell.
WaypointsStanding Crag descent, Coldbarrow Fell ridge, High Saddle (675 m).
Decision pointIn thick clag, you must rely entirely on a compass bearing to bridge the gap between these tops, as the terrain is featureless. The steep drops plunging into the Greenup Gill valley to your far west serve as a massive, dangerous boundary that you must avoid drifting towards.
Easy to get wrongThe brief section of dry rock at Standing Crag quickly gives way to more saturated ground. The climb up to High Saddle is not steep, but the ground is heavily rutted with drainage channels that require physical exertion to jump over or climb out of, constantly breaking your stride.
If you need to get offDropping west into the Langstrath/Greenup valleys is steep and commits you miles away from Thirlmere. Your best bailout is to retrace your steps to Standing Crag and use the Harrop Tarn descent route.
- 4
Coldbarrow Fell - High Saddle → Low Saddle (0.4 km, 20 m)
Traverse north along the subtle ridge line, making a very short, easy stroll over the gently rolling, grassy crest to move from High Saddle to its slightly lower twin, Low Saddle.
WaypointsHigh Saddle, Low Saddle.
Decision pointThe ridge naturally funnels you from one bump to the next; simply follow the highest ground northwards, keeping the vast, boggy expanse of the central moorland to your right (east).
Easy to get wrongThis is a brief, straightforward ridge hop. However, the turf here remains exceptionally spongy and is fully exposed to crosswinds sweeping over the central spine of the Lake District, offering zero shelter.
If you need to get offThere are no immediate lateral escapes here. You must push forward to the Bell Crags area or reverse your route south.
- 5
Low Saddle → Bell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell) (3.1 km, 126 m)
From Low Saddle, head south-south-east over High Saddle, then swing east and north-east and plunge into the heart of the central ridge's most notorious terrain. You must cross the sprawling, aptly-named expanse of Long Moss, a grueling, 3 km obstacle course of waist-deep peat hags and hidden bogs, before finally escaping onto the welcome, solid rock of Bell Crags.
WaypointsLow Saddle, Long Moss, Blea Tarn Fell (vicinity), Bell Crags.
Decision pointBell Crags provides a prominent, rocky bluff overlooking the Watendlath valley. Use it as a long-distance aiming point, but be prepared to deviate heavily from your compass bearing to navigate the maze of peat channels.
Easy to get wrongThis is arguably the most soul-destroying section of ground in the Lake District. Long Moss is a massive, saturated sponge that never truly dries out. Expect to be frequently bluffed out by impassable pools of black muck, forcing wide, frustrating detours. The mental fatigue of finding a safe foot placement on every single step is immense.
If you need to get offWe have not checked a line west off the plateau to Watendlath, so none is offered here; the way back is the way you came.
- 6
Bell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell) → Watendlath Fell (Long Moss) (1.5 km, 32 m)
Step off the rocky edge of Bell Crags and head west back into the swamp. The route drops gently over reed-choked ground, on a path OSM maps (on the ground it may be faint), traversing the northern periphery of Long Moss to reach the completely featureless, grassy swelling of Watendlath Fell.
WaypointsBell Crags descent, Long Moss (northern edge), Watendlath Fell.
Decision pointA dilapidated wire fence line occasionally appears in this sector; if you find it, use it as a rough handrail. Otherwise, rigorous pacing and a strict compass bearing are your only tools to find this subtle top.
Easy to get wrongYou are immediately plunged back into awful underfoot conditions. Watendlath Fell is barely a summit—it is simply a very slight convexity in the bog. In low visibility, you will struggle to know if you have actually reached the high point, as the terrain looks identical in all directions.
If you need to get offWe have not checked a line west off the plateau to Watendlath, so none is offered here; the way back is the way you came. If you cannot move safely, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
- 7
Watendlath Fell (Long Moss) → Shivery Knott (0.7 km, 7 m)
Continue the soggy trudge north across the plateau, linking whatever patches of drier heather you can find. A short, virtually flat traverse brings you to Shivery Knott, another incredibly minor, stony protrusion breaking the surface of the marsh.
WaypointsWatendlath Fell, Shivery Knott.
Decision pointKeep the distant, forested slopes of Thirlmere in your mind as an eastern backstop. Shivery Knott offers a few scattered stones to confirm your arrival, but micro-navigation is essential.
Easy to get wrongThe name "Shivery Knott" perfectly encapsulates the feeling of standing on this bleak, exposed, and waterlogged moor in bad weather. The ground remains treacherous, with sphagnum moss frequently concealing holes deep enough to swallow a leg to the knee.
If you need to get offBailing east towards Thirlmere from here involves dropping into complex, steep forestry. No way down to Watendlath from here has been checked for this guide.
- 8
Shivery Knott → Middle Crag (0.5 km, 10 m)
From Shivery Knott, hop a very short distance north over heavily rutted, peaty ground, crossing a minor depression to reach the slightly more pronounced rocky outcrop of Middle Crag.
WaypointsShivery Knott, Middle Crag.
Decision pointMiddle Crag is visible from Shivery Knott in clear weather. Just aim for the nearest distinct patch of gray rock jutting out of the green and brown moor.
Easy to get wrongThe sheer density of minor Birketts in this small area means constant stop-start navigation. The rocky top of Middle Crag is slippery when wet, but offers a brief, glorious few seconds of walking on something other than saturated sponge.
If you need to get offAs with the previous tops, do not try to bail east from here; the ways this guide describes are on to High Tove or back the way you came; no way down to Watendlath from here has been checked.
- 9
Middle Crag → High Tove (0.7 km, 39 m)
Leave Middle Crag and make a short, squelchy pull northwards. Cross the final, notoriously wet saddle of the central ridge before stepping up onto the broad, flat, and heavily eroded summit of High Tove.
WaypointsMiddle Crag, High Tove summit (515m).
Decision pointHigh Tove is marked by an intersection of faint paths (the crossing between Watendlath and Thirlmere) and a modest pile of stones. It is the most distinct summit on this section of the plateau.
Easy to get wrongHigh Tove is infamous among fellwalkers as the king of the bogs. Even the main east-west path that crosses the summit here is often a 20-foot wide trench of liquid black peat, forcing you to constantly skirt the edges in deep heather to avoid sinking.
If you need to get offHigh Tove is a crossing of paths. The path west goes down to Watendlath, in a different valley from your start, so it needs its own plan for getting back; no way off here has been checked for this guide as an escape.
- 10
High Tove → Fisher Crag (3.6 km, 212 m)
Turn your back on the central bogs and head south-east, beginning a long traverse back towards the Thirlmere side of the massif. Pick a careful line through the heather, on paths OSM maps for most of the way (they may be faint on the ground), gradually losing elevation before making a final, sharp pull up the rocky, forested prominence of Fisher Crag, which plunges dramatically toward the lake.
WaypointsHigh Tove descent, central moorland eastern flanks, Fisher Crag summit.
Decision pointThe massive expanse of Thirlmere below is a catching feature. Aim directly for the distinct, steep-sided wooded bluff of Fisher Crag that juts out prominently above the shoreline.
Easy to get wrongThis 3.6 km traverse is rough and exhausting at the end of the day. As you approach Fisher Crag, you transition back into the fringes of the commercial forestry, where fallen trees, hidden crags, and steep, slippery pine-needle banks make the final climb surprisingly awkward.
If you need to get offYou are trending towards your final descent. If the terrain on Fisher Crag looks too hostile, turn back; no other way down through the forestry has been checked for this guide.
Fisher Crag → Finish (5.4 km, 39 m)
Leave Fisher Crag north-north-west, as the track does, then descend north and north-east through the trees to meet the forestry road that runs along the western shore of Thirlmere. Turn south and embark on the long, flat, easy march along the gravel track, tracing the edge of the lake all the way back to your starting point.
WaypointsFisher Crag eastern descent, Thirlmere western shore road, finish point.
Decision pointOnce on the forestry road, follow it south along the shore towards the start.
Easy to get wrongThe initial drop off Fisher Crag is dangerously steep, with vertical crags hidden in the trees; take extreme care to find a safe, zig-zagging line down through the timber. The subsequent 5.4 km walk-out is perfectly flat but feels punishingly long on the hard-packed gravel after a day spent battling the soft bogs of the high plateau.
If you need to get offYou are on the final escape route. Simply stick to the main gravel track along the lake shore, avoiding any side trails that head back up into the steep forestry.
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Planned route · not yet walked
Summits bagged (10)
- 1Wythburn Fell508 m
- 2Standing Crag611 m
- 3Coldbarrow Fell - High Saddle675 m
- 4Low Saddle656 m
- 5Bell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell)559 m
- 6Watendlath Fell (Long Moss)515 m
- 7Shivery Knott491 m
- 8Middle Crag484 m
- 9High Tove515 m
- 10Fisher Crag421 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
Conditions and timing
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.
When the sun reaches the tops
Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later.
- High Tove — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:45, about half an hour later. In late September, about 07:30. It waits longest in late March — about half an hour after sunrise. In late December, not until about 08:45.
How to read these times
The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.
Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.
Getting there and back
Parking
1 more place to park near the start
Positions are approximate.
Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.
If the parking is full
There is no real plan B here. Every place we know beside this route serves the same walks and sits close together, so expect them to fill on the same mornings. Worth starting early, or having a different walk in mind before you set off.
- Armboth, Thirlmere (United Utilities, paid) — joins the loop at about km 18.9 of 23.1: a 60 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- Fisher Crag (layby, south) — joins the loop at about km 20.6 of 23.1: a 0 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- Fisher Crag (verge) — joins the loop at about km 20.3 of 23.1: a 110 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
We never say whether anywhere has spaces today. Walks to the line are measured along mapped paths (OpenStreetMap), not in a straight line. How we choose these places.
No signal when you get there? RoutePark keeps this list on your phone: choose this walk’s GPX at home, keep it, and it opens offline.
Buses
The 555 stops at Thirlmere, at Armboth turn. From there it is 1.8 km and 54 m of ascent to this start — a walk in before the walk. And the same back: about 26.8 km in all, with the walk. Last bus: Monday to Friday 20:55 towards Keswick (555); Saturday 20:55 towards Keswick (555); Sunday 18:46 towards Keswick (555). Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026; that timetable runs to 1 November 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
The 555 passes this route at 0.9 km (Thirlmere, at Armboth turn, 950 m off the line).
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
Toilets and refreshments
The essentials
- Arrival The Dob Gill car park at the start is closed. The nearest other car park we list is Steel End, at the south end of the lake, about 1.3 km away on foot: pay and display. (Lee, 25 September 2026 (the closure); Lake District National Park car-parks directory (Steel End), checked 25 September 2026)
- Toilets No toilets are mapped within 250 m of the start. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
- Refreshments No café or pub is mapped within 250 m of the start: bring what you need. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
- Limitation Ten tops in 23.1 km, severe for length and hard for steepness. Fisher Crag’s summit lies outside mapped open-access land: that is not a statement that access is forbidden, and rights of way were not checked. (our route notes (this route's own warnings), checked 2 October 2026)
Everything mapped near the start
Mapped as nearby on OpenStreetMap, as of 13 September 2026, within 250 m of where this route starts (information boards within 150 m; benches and shelter within 50 m):
Also mapped within reach: 2 information boards.
Distances are straight lines from where this route starts, not walking routes. Opening hours are as mapped and change; none of this is checked daily.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in new tab), ODbL.
Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Planning detail
How each grade on this page is set, and the timings stage by stage.
Difficulty profile
Severe overall — hardest: Length; exposure not assessed on the ground
Five independent axes, not one score. This route has not been walked yet, so none of them was set on the ground: one of the five is our judgement from the map and the route’s record, and the rest are computed from the recorded track and the map, which measures the line rather than surveying the ground.
How we grade: each axis is Easy, Moderate, Hard or Severe, and a route between two bands takes the higher one. Length: under 8 km, 8–14 km, 14–20 km, over 20 km. Steepness, the steepest 500 m of the track: under 15%, 15–25%, 25–35%, over 35%. Terrain, navigation and exposure are judged rather than measured, and each note says why. How we grade.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wythburn Fell | 2.1 km | 319 m | 0:57–1:16 |
| 2Standing Crag | 5.9 km | 659 m | 2:16–3:02 |
| 3Coldbarrow Fell - High Saddle | 7.3 km | 755 m | 2:44–3:38 |
| 4Low Saddle | 7.8 km | 775 m | 2:51–3:47 |
| 5Bell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell) | 10.8 km | 901 m | 3:40–4:53 |
| 6Watendlath Fell (Long Moss) | 12.4 km | 934 m | 4:02–5:21 |
| 7Shivery Knott | 13.0 km | 941 m | 4:10–5:33 |
| 8Middle Crag | 13.5 km | 951 m | 4:17–5:41 |
| 9High Tove | 14.2 km | 990 m | 4:29–5:58 |
| 10Fisher Crag | 17.8 km | 1202 m | 5:33–7:23 |
| Finish | 23.1 km | 1241 m | 6:41–8:54 |
A fast–steady range from Naismith’s rule, deliberately on the slow side. Breaks, weather, rough ground and the slowest person in your party all add to it. How we time walks.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route?
- Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A long, steep ~31% drop over 250 m around the 16.0 km mark — hard on the knees.
With a dog
Hardest for a dog here: drops and exposed ground (estimated from the map). The steepest stretch is a sustained climb of about 29% around the 0.8 km mark.
- Drops and exposed ground: Not assessed on the ground; the map suggests Hard. Graded from slope only (~36% max); treat exposure as unverified.
- Stiles and gates: A stile of unmapped type at 17.4 km — a dog may need lifting over. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 26 July 2026)
- Rock and scrambling: Ground underfoot: Hard – our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Long boggy stretches across the central plateau, slick forestry roots at the start, and a steep craggy nose off Fisher Crag.
- Ways off early: None recorded for this route.
- Livestock, shade and water: Not recorded for this route yet. We never call a stream safe for a dog to drink, so carry enough for both of you. The lead rules, and what to do around cattle, are on dogs on the fells.
On the line: 6 gates · 1 step-over stile · 1 stile (type unmapped)
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 26 July 2026. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Places to stay near this start
- Dale Head Hall Lakeside Hotel (opens in new tab) hotelabout 3.5 km
We have not stayed at any of them. We take no bookings or affiliate fees. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab).
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Harrop Tarn — 0.7 km from this start
- Walks from Galleny Force — 4.5 km from this start
Straight-line distance from this walk’s start. Those lists hold the routes we have mapped and every Wainwright and Outlying fell within about 5 km of the town, ranked nearest first.
