Blencathra to Mungrisdale Common and over the back
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 5 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 Souther Fell2 Scales Fell3 Doddick Fell4 Blencathra - Hallsfell Top5 Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag)6 Mungrisdale Common7 Bannerdale Crags8 Bowscale Fell9 Tarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top)
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
This walk covers about 17.59 km with around 961 m of ascent, taking in 9 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 16.9 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 2026-07-18. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Souther Fell | 2.5 km | 310 m | 1:01–1:21 |
| Scales Fell | 5.8 km | 562 m | 2:05–2:47 |
| Doddick Fell | 6.2 km | 632 m | 2:17–3:03 |
| Blencathra - Hallsfell Top | 6.8 km | 743 m | 2:36–3:27 |
| Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag) | 7.4 km | 760 m | 2:45–3:39 |
| Mungrisdale Common | 9.2 km | 763 m | 3:06–4:08 |
| Bannerdale Crags | 11.9 km | 858 m | 3:49–5:04 |
| Bowscale Fell | 13.7 km | 937 m | 4:18–5:43 |
| Tarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top) | 14.6 km | 948 m | 4:30–5:59 |
| Finish | 17.6 km | 961 m | 5:07–6:49 |
Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.
The walk, stage by stage
Start → Souther Fell (2.5 km, 310 m)
Climb of about 310 m over 2.5 km (around 12% average).
Souther Fell → Scales Fell (3.3 km, 252 m)
Climb of about 252 m over 3.3 km (around 8% average).
Scales Fell → Doddick Fell (0.4 km, 69 m)
Climb of about 69 m over 0.4 km (around 17% average).
Doddick Fell → Blencathra - Hallsfell Top (0.6 km, 111 m)
Climb of about 111 m over 0.6 km (around 18% average).
Blencathra - Hallsfell Top → Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag) (0.6 km, 17 m)
Undulating section of about 0.6 km.
Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag) → Mungrisdale Common (1.8 km, 3 m)
Descent of about 208 m over 1.8 km.
Mungrisdale Common → Bannerdale Crags (2.8 km, 95 m)
Climb of about 95 m over 2.8 km (around 3% average).
Bannerdale Crags → Bowscale Fell (1.8 km, 79 m)
Climb of about 79 m over 1.8 km (around 4% average).
Bowscale Fell → Tarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top) (0.9 km, 11 m)
Undulating section of about 0.9 km.
Tarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top) → Finish (3.0 km, 13 m)
Descent of about 425 m over 3.0 km.
Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.
Summits bagged (9)
- Souther Fell 522 m · Northern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge
- Scales Fell 682 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge
- Doddick Fell 742 m · Northern · Birkett
- Blencathra - Hallsfell Top 868 m · Northern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall, Marilyn
- Atkinson Pike (Foule Crag) 845 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge, Nuttall
- Mungrisdale Common 632 m · Northern · Wainwright, Synge
- Bannerdale Crags 684 m · Northern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall
- Bowscale Fell 702 m · Northern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall
- Tarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top) 665 m · Northern · Birkett, Synge
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
💧 No mapped drinking water or shelter on this route — that doesn’t mean there is none, and never drink untreated from a beck. (Facilities data © OpenStreetMap contributors.)
🚌 Buses
No regular bus serves the start — this is one for the car. Nearest hubs: Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
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 9.0 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Blencathra to Mungrisdale Common and over the back
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