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12.96 km · ~724 m ascent · ~3.5–5 h · loop · 4 summits

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Severe steepnessLoopPlanned

Caudale Moor & St Raven's Edge

12.96 km
Distance
~3.5–5 h
Typical time
~724 m
Ascent
4
Summits
Download GPX →Planned route · not yet walked

Key facts

Distance 12.96 km
Ascent ~724 m
Descent ~704 m
Time ~3.5–5 h
Type Loop
Start Cow Bridge
Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike and the Caudale Moor tops — four summits in 13 km with 724 m of climbing, and one stage averaging 35%, which ties the steepest on the site. Hard for navigation and exposure; about 3.8 hours.
✎️ 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. How to use this guide.

Difficulty profile

LengthModerate12.96 km round.
SteepnessSevereSteepest sustained pull about 56% around the 0.7 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path — rough/natural surface. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationHardCare needed in cloud — ~15% featureless high ground, 24 path junctions near the line. desk assessment — not field-verified
ExposureNot assessedExposure (drops, scrambling, how bad a slip would be) can’t be judged from gradient data alone, so we don’t guess. A rating appears once the route is editorially assessed or walked.

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 2 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.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile, shaded by steepness
Elevation profile Rises from about 163 m to 768 m over 13.0 km, with the summits marked in order. The area beneath is shaded by sustained steepness over a 250 m window, in the same four bands as the route’s steepness rating: Easy under 15%, Moderate 15 to 25%, Hard 25 to 35%, Severe above 35%. 768 m 163 m 0 km 13.0 km 1234

1 Hartsop Dodd2 Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor)3 Caudale Moor - John Bell's Banner4 St Raven's Edge

Easy 74%Moderate 13%Hard 8%Severe 5%

~724 m
Total ascent
768 m
High point
163 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 12.96 km with around 724 m of ascent, taking in 4 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
Mostly gates
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Tough descent
  • Dog: A stile of unmapped type — a dog may need lifting over.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A long, steep ~35% drop around the 6.5 km mark — hard on the knees.

On the line: 21 gates · 2 kissing gates · 5 stiles (type unmapped)

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 and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-26. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
1Hartsop Dodd1.3 km452 m1:01–1:22
2Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor)3.4 km633 m1:44–2:18
3Caudale Moor - John Bell's Banner4.1 km634 m1:52–2:29
4St Raven's Edge6.2 km671 m2:21–3:08
Finish13.0 km724 m3:48–5:03

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary. These use Naismith’s textbook constants (5 km/h, 600 m of ascent an hour). Measured against a pace fitted to 41 recorded Lakeland walks they run about 8% slow, and we have left them that way deliberately: a slow estimate strands nobody.

The walk, stage by stage

  1. 1

    Start → Hartsop Dodd (1.3 km, 452 m)

    Climb of about 452 m over 1.3 km (around 35% average).

    Starting from the valley floor at Hartsop, the route offers absolutely zero warm-up. You cross the valley bottom and immediately attack the northern prow of Hartsop Dodd. The gradient is a brutal, unremitting 35% average. The terrain is a steep, grassy staircase that relies on a heavily eroded, zigzagging trod. As you climb, the grass gives way to looser rock near the summit

    Waypoints

    Start Point: Hartsop Village parking area (approx. NY 409 130). The Northern Spur: The distinct, precipitous nose of the fell. Hartsop Dodd Summit (618 m): Marked by an old wooden fence post adorned with stones, marking the end of the savage climb

    Decision point

    The Drystone Wall: A spectacular piece of Lakeland engineering runs straight up the spine of the ridge. Keep it on your right—it is a flawless handrail that leads directly to the summit. Visual Target: Looking back, the pristine expanse of Brothers Water serves as a perfect orientation point

    Easy to get wrong

    The Gradient: A 35% average over 1.3 km is one of the steepest continuous grassy ascents in the Lake District. It will max out your heart rate within minutes. Slippery Grass: In wet conditions, the polished fell grass on this angle is notoriously slick, making progress exhausting as your boots slide backward. False Summits: The convex nature of the slope hides the true summit until the very last moment, mentally draining you with a series of false horizons

    If you need to get off

    Retreat: Carefully reverse your steps down the grassy spur to Hartsop. Trekking poles are essential if descending this in the wet. Trap: Do NOT attempt to bail east off the ridge into Pasture Bottom. The flanks are dangerously steep, craggy in places, and totally pathless

  2. 2

    Hartsop Dodd → Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) (2.0 km, 182 m)

    Climb of about 182 m over 2.0 km (around 9% average).

    A superb, high-level ridge walk offering a massive sense of relief after the initial climb. Leaving Hartsop Dodd, you head south along the broad, undulating crest of Caudale Moor. The gradient settles to a manageable 9% average. The terrain is mostly firm fell grass interspersed with stony sections, crossing a broad, slight depression before the final, rocky pull up to Stony Cove Pike

    Waypoints

    The Broad Col: The grassy saddle separating Hartsop Dodd from the main Caudale massif. Stony Cove Pike / Caudale Moor Summit (763 m): A Wainwright summit, crowned with a massive, prominent cairn of stones

    Decision point

    The Boundary Wall: The drystone wall continues along the ridge crest for almost the entire distance, functioning as a perfect handrail all the way to the summit plateau

    Easy to get wrong

    Wind Exposure: This ridge acts as a barrier to prevailing westerlies. Expect strong, buffeting winds as you traverse the exposed crest. Peat Hags: The slight depression midway along the ridge holds water; expect some minor bog-hopping after heavy rain

    If you need to get off

    Retreat: Reversing the route back over Hartsop Dodd is physically taxing but navigationally safe. Trap: Do not bail west down the steep, craggy slopes into the Dovedale/Kirkstone valley. Stick strictly to the ridge line

  3. 3

    Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) → Caudale Moor - John Bell's Banner (0.7 km, 0 m)

    Undulating section of about 0.7 km.

    A very brief, virtually flat hop across the highest, stoniest section of the Caudale Moor plateau. The terrain here is shattered rock, scree, and sparse grass

    Waypoints

    The Plateau: The sprawling, flat top of the fell. John Bell's Banner (755 m): A distinct Birkett and prominent cairn on the south-western lip of the plateau, overlooking the Kirkstone Pass

    Decision point

    Visual Target: The cairn of John Bell's Banner is usually visible from Stony Cove Pike in clear conditions. Handrails: Follow the general line of the old fence posts heading south-west

    Easy to get wrong

    Whiteout Navigation: While short, this broad, featureless plateau is highly disorienting in mist. The sheer drop-offs are not immediately obvious until you are close to the edge

    If you need to get off

    Retreat: Stay on the plateau. Do not attempt a descent until you have reached the correct spur at John Bell's Banner

  4. 4

    Caudale Moor - John Bell's Banner → St Raven's Edge (2.1 km, 37 m)

    Descent of about 163 m over 2.1 km.

    From the edge of the plateau, the route plunges southward towards the heights of the Kirkstone Pass. You descend via a series of steep, rocky steps and stony paths down the spine of Pike How, leading onto the undulating, craggy ridge of St Raven's Edge. The terrain is highly uneven, requiring careful foot placement on loose, shattered rock

    Waypoints

    The Steep Descent: The rocky drop off the main Caudale Moor plateau. Pike How: A minor, rocky bump on the descent ridge. St Raven's Edge (593 m): A rugged, craggy Birkett perched dramatically above the Kirkstone Pass Inn

    Decision point

    Visual Targeting: The A592 road and the white-washed buildings of the Kirkstone Pass Inn form a massive, unmissable bullseye in the gap below you. Boundary Wall: The ridge is flanked by an old wall that acts as a solid handrail down to the pass

    Easy to get wrong

    Loose Scree & Rock: The path down towards the pass is heavily eroded in places, with ball-bearing scree making slips highly likely. Steep Steps: Several small rock steps require you to use your hands for balance on the descent

    If you need to get off

    Retreat: The Kirkstone Pass sits just below St Raven's Edge. In a genuine emergency, dropping down to the Kirkstone Pass Inn provides immediate shelter and access to a major road

  5. St Raven's Edge → Finish (6.8 km, 53 m)

    About 6.8 km with 53 m of ascent.

    Instead of finishing at the pass, this long final stage executes a sweeping valley return back to Hartsop. Dropping off the lower slopes of St Raven's Edge, you intercept the paths near the Kirkstone Pass road. The route then traces the deep glacial trough of the valley floor, following the line of Kirkstone Beck northward. The terrain transitions from rocky fellside to grassy valley paths, eventually merging with firm farm tracks alongside Brothers Water

    Waypoints

    Kirkstone Pass Descent: The final drop off the fell to the valley floor. Kirkstone Beck Path: The valley trail running parallel to the road. Caudale Bridge: The crossing point lower down the valley. Brothers Water: The large lake providing a flat, scenic walk-out. Finish Point: Hartsop Village

    Decision point

    Handrails: The A592 road, Kirkstone Beck, and finally Brothers Water provide massive, continuous linear features. Keep them on your left (assuming you are on the eastern valley path) and you cannot get lost

    Easy to get wrong

    Distance Fatigue: After the brutal climbs and steep descents, this nearly 7 km walk-out can feel like a slog. Valley Bogs: The path running parallel to Kirkstone Beck can be deeply muddy and marshy after heavy rain, especially in the sections before you reach the firmer tracks near Brothers Water

    If you need to get off

    Retreat: You are off the high fells. If the valley path becomes too boggy or exhausting, you can easily cross over to the A592 road (the Kirkstone Pass road) and walk the tarmac back to Hartsop, though be highly cautious of traffic on the blind bends

Summits bagged (4)

  1. 1Hartsop Dodd619 mFar Eastern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall
  2. 2Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor)764 mFar Eastern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall, Marilyn
  3. 3Caudale Moor - John Bell's Banner755 mFar Eastern · Birkett, Synge
  4. 4St Raven's Edge593 mFar Eastern · Birkett, Synge

In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.

Getting there & parking

Hartsop village (free, donation) — 0.0 km from the start (straight line)
For Hartsop Dodd, Gray Crag, High Street via Hayeswater, Brock Crags.
Directions Something changed here?
If it is full: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (paid) (0.9 km)
Hartsop Dodd car park (free) — 0.7 km from the start (straight line)
Nearest fells: Hartsop Dodd (0.9 km), Gale Crag (1.2 km), Brock Crags (Wainwright) (1.6 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Compacted surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Cow Bridge, Hartsop (paid) — 0.8 km from the start (straight line)
Paid car park by Brothers Water — Hartsop above How, Dovedale, Caudale Moor. Fees: pay and display; coins and cards; RingGo ID 37323 (LDNPA, checked Aug 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
Gale Crag (layby) — 0.8 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Middle Dodd, Little Hart Crag (Little Hart Crag - West Top), High Hartsop Dodd and Gale Crag — the 'Middle Dodd Little Hart Crag and High Hartsop Dodd' route starts 56 m away. Also serves 'Hartsop Fells and Hart Crag'. Free (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Hartsop Dodd (layby) — 1.6 km from the start (straight line)
Nearest fells: Hartsop Dodd (0.9 km), High Hartsop Dodd (1.2 km), Gale Crag (1.3 km). Free (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Every option near this start, on the parking map →

Water, shelter & getting away

🚺 map (64 m)🚌 Road End (466 m)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

Buses

The 508 stops at Hartsop, adjacent to road end, 570 m and 28 m of ascent from this start. The last bus is 19:51 towards Windermere (508), every day. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

The 508 passes this route at 6.9 km (Kirkstone, outside Pass Inn, 0 m off the line) and again at 11.3 km (Hartsop, outside Brotherswater Inn, 0 m off the line) — one bus, two stops, 3.8 km apart on the ground. We haven’t walked a shortened version, so the distance, grading and escape routes on this page describe the walk end to end.

Stagecoach 508 “Ullswater Bus”
Penrith – Pooley Bridge – Aira Force – Glenridding – Patterdale (summer services continue over Kirkstone Pass to Troutbeck and Windermere)
Catch it from: Penrith · Windermere (summer only)
The key route from Penrith for the Eastern and Far Eastern fells: Helvellyn from Glenridding, Place Fell, the Hartsop fells. The summer Kirkstone extension drops you at the pass for Red Screes and Caudale Moor.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

If the parking is full

If the first one is full, these do not all fill together. The 3 below sit in different places or are different kinds of parking, so a busy morning at one does not mean a busy morning at all of them.

  • Kirkstone Pass (laybys / inn)
  • Hartsop village (free, donation)
  • Hartsop Dodd (layby)

Worked out from the parking we hold within walking reach of this route and the other walks each place serves — two places that serve the same walks fill for the same reasons. We are not saying whether anywhere has spaces today, and we never will: this is what exists, not what is free.

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. 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.

  • Hartsop Dodd — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, about a quarter of an hour later. In late September, about 07:15. It waits longest in late December — about half an hour after sunrise.
  • Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.

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.

Safety & conditions

  • The plateau link to John Bell's Banner and the descent line are only faintly pathed — broad, featureless ground where navigation needs care in cloud.

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Short version: turn back at about 5.8 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.

Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

Places to stay near this start

Greenbank Farm Bed and Breakfast guest house

about 1.8 km from the start, in a straight line

Ranked first despite being the eighth-nearest candidate because it answers more of the 6pm questions than anything else in the radius, and it answers them in its own sentences with prices attached: drying facilities, evening meals from £14.00, packed lunches at £6.00, and the only stated room composition on an independent B&B here. Its family room is a room for three, not four — which is exactly the fact a family of four needs before booking, and the reason a bare family_rooms=yes would have been a worse row than this one.

The farmhouse sits below Arnison Crag and looks across at Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes — the two fells this start's routes climb.

  • Drying room “We also have drying facilities and a large patio and garden to enjoy the view.”
  • Family rooms “Family: Room for three with a double and one single bed.”
  • Evening meal “We offer hearty home-cooked breakfasts and evening meals as well as packed lunches if required.”
  • Packed lunch “Packed Lunches £6.00”

Worth knowing before you book

These places state on their own site that they do not take children.

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap.

Related routes

Similar routes nearby

All routes →
Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike, Thornthwaite Crag and Gray Crag
10.0 km · ~832 m