Blencathra via Blease Fell
Photo: Photo: Rob Bendall (Highfields), Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in new tab)
Key facts
Difficulty profile
Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.
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.
Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
1 Knowe Crags (Blease Fell)2 Gategill Fell Top3 Blencathra - Hallsfell Top4 Doddick Fell5 Scales Fell
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
This walk covers about 11.88 km with around 750 m of ascent, taking in 5 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.
- Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
- Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A long, steep ~37% drop around the 7.6 km mark — hard on the knees.
On the line: 6 gates
These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us (opens in new tab) and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-09. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowe Crags (Blease Fell) | 4.0 km | 623 m | 1:50–2:26 |
| Gategill Fell Top | 4.7 km | 654 m | 2:02–2:42 |
| Blencathra - Hallsfell Top | 5.4 km | 696 m | 2:14–2:58 |
| Doddick Fell | 6.0 km | 696 m | 2:21–3:08 |
| Scales Fell | 6.4 km | 696 m | 2:26–3:14 |
| Finish | 11.9 km | 750 m | 3:38–4:49 |
Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.
The walk, stage by stage
Threlkeld → Knowe Crags (Blease Fell) (4.0 km, 623 m)
Climb of about 623 m over 4.0 km (around 16% average).
Knowe Crags (Blease Fell) → Gategill Fell Top (0.7 km, 31 m)
Undulating section of about 0.7 km.
Gategill Fell Top → Blencathra - Hallsfell Top (0.7 km, 41 m)
Undulating section of about 0.7 km.
Blencathra - Hallsfell Top → Doddick Fell (0.6 km, 0 m)
Descent of about 119 m over 0.6 km.
Doddick Fell → Scales Fell (0.4 km, 0 m)
Descent of about 74 m over 0.4 km.
Scales Fell → Finish (5.5 km, 54 m)
About 5.5 km with 54 m of ascent.
Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.
Summits bagged (5)
- Knowe Crags (Blease Fell) 804 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge
- Gategill Fell Top 852 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge, Nuttall
- Blencathra - Hallsfell Top 868 m · Northern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall, Marilyn
- Doddick Fell 742 m · Northern · Birkett
- Scales Fell 682 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
💧 Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
🚌 Buses
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
- This route deliberately avoids Sharp Edge — that classic arête is a serious, exposed scramble and a frequent accident spot.
- Steep grass on the descent ridges can be slippery when wet.
Hazard & incident notes: Blencathra - Hallsfell Top
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.
Make it easier or harder
Short version: turn back at about 6.0 km (drop to Threlkeld) — roughly half the distance.
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Blencathra via Blease Fell
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