Fleetwith Edge and Haystacks
Start Gatesgarth Farm
Getting here Parking: Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere (paid), 0.0 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 77 stops at Gatesgarth, at Mountain Rescue Point, a 40 m walk from this start. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. Parking & buses ↓
Hardest part Severe steepness: Steepest sustained climb about 42% around the 1.6 km mark. Hands for a few steps: Fleetwith Edge, the craggy ground below the top of Haystacks, and the rocky step down to Scarth Gap (km 0.8–1.9 and km 4.3–6.6).
Before you choose
- About 120 m near the start, between about 0.1 and 0.2 km, follows the B5289, which OpenStreetMap maps with a 60 mph limit and records no pavement for.
- Fleetwith Edge is the steepest ground of the walk: about 42% sustained near 1.6 km, with mapped crags (Low Raven Crag and High Raven Crag) within about 10 m of the path. Fleetwith Pike’s hazard notes call the direct climb steep and airy, and a poor way down.
- Near 2.7 km OpenStreetMap maps a sign about 70 m from the line that reads “No Public Access, Live Mine”, at the slate workings on Honister Crag. Keep to the mapped path.
- OpenStreetMap maps fords on the line near 3.4 km on the bridleway, at Warnscale Beck near 4.0 km and near 7.1 km on the Scarth Gap bridleway, and stepping stones on Black Beck near 4.9 km.
- The way down from the top of Haystacks to Scarth Gap is the rocky step that Haystacks’ own notes advise climbing rather than descending: about 39% over 250 m near 5.9 km.
- About 3.3 km of the line, in three pieces, follows paths and tracks that OpenStreetMap does not record as public rights of way: from the top of Fleetwith Pike to the bridleway at about 3.2 km, from Warnscale Beck to the paths below the top of Haystacks (about 3.9 to 5.2 km), and from the top of Haystacks down to Scarth Gap (about 5.9 to 6.6 km). The rest is public footpaths, public bridleways and the B5289. That is a map-data note, not a ruling on access: check the access land and rights of way maps before relying on this stretch.
Hazard & incident notes: Fleetwith Pike · Haystacks (Buttermere)
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.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Fleetwith Pike2 Haystacks (Buttermere)
Easy 42%Moderate 28%Hard 23%Severe 6%
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
Gatesgarth Farm → Fleetwith Pike (1.9 km, 537 m)
From the car park at Gatesgarth Farm, the line goes east-south-east along the B5289 for about 120 m, then leaves it at about 0.25 km on a public footpath that heads south-east and then south across the foot of the fell, past a white cross beside the path at about 0.5 km. From about 0.75 km it climbs Fleetwith Edge east-south-east, on the public footpath OpenStreetMap names Fleetwith Edge, with mapped crags (Low Raven Crag near 0.7 km, High Raven Crag near 1.35 km) within about 10 m of the path. This is the steepest ground of the walk: about 42% sustained near 1.6 km. The top of Fleetwith Pike is at about 1.9 km.
WaypointsGatesgarth Farm car park, the B5289, the public footpath, the white cross, Fleetwith Edge, Low Raven Crag and High Raven Crag, Fleetwith Pike (649 m).
Easy to get wrongFleetwith Edge is steep and rocky, about 52% over 250 m between about 1.5 and 1.75 km, with crags beside the path. Fleetwith Pike's hazard notes call the direct climb steep and airy with exposed steps, and a poor way down.
If you need to get offDecide before the climb steepens at about 0.75 km: until then, the way off is back the way you came. Above it the edge is rocky both ways: going back means coming down the steps you climbed, and going on means the rest of the edge to the top, from where mapped paths lead east about 2.8 km to Honister Slate Mine. From the top the line also goes on to Warnscale Beck, from where the public bridleway leads down to Gatesgarth, about 4.6 km from the top in all.
- 2
Fleetwith Pike → Haystacks (Buttermere) (3.9 km, 211 m)
From the top, the line goes east along the top of the fell, with the crag edge of Honister Crag mapped about 7 m from the path near 2.3 km, passing about 50 m from Black Star near 2.6 km. It then bends south-east, gently down to quarry tracks at about 3.0 km; near 2.7 km OpenStreetMap maps a sign about 70 m from the line reading "No Public Access, Live Mine", so keep to the mapped path. The tracks lead south-west to a public bridleway at about 3.25 km. The bridleway goes down west-south-west to Warnscale Beck, crossed at mapped fords near 4.0 km. The line then climbs south-west on a path to Blackbeck Tarn, and crosses Black Beck on stepping stones at about 4.9 km. From there it goes west among mapped crags, one about 8 m from the path near 5.1 km, up to the top of Haystacks at about 5.8 km.
WaypointsFleetwith Pike, the top of Honister Crag, Black Star, the quarry tracks, the public bridleway, Warnscale Beck, Blackbeck Tarn and the stepping stones on Black Beck, Haystacks (597 m).
Decision pointAt the quarry tracks near 3.0 km the line turns south-west, away from the slate workings; at Warnscale Beck it leaves the bridleway for the path up to Blackbeck Tarn.
Easy to get wrongFords on the bridleway near 3.4 km and on Warnscale Beck near 4.0 km, and stepping stones on Black Beck near 4.9 km. Between Blackbeck Tarn and the top the ground is rocky and craggy, with hands needed for a few steps. Many paths are mapped here: the desk count for the whole line is 33 path junctions near it.
If you need to get offUntil Warnscale Beck at about 4.0 km, the public bridleway the line comes down goes on down Warnscale to Gatesgarth, about 2.5 km from the beck. From Blackbeck Tarn, back to the beck and down the bridleway is about 3.5 km, a little shorter than the line on; from the top of Haystacks, the line on to Scarth Gap and Gatesgarth is shorter, about 3 km.
Haystacks (Buttermere) → Finish (3.0 km, 19 m)
From the top, the line goes west, steeply down a rocky path to Scarth Gap at about 6.55 km: about 39% over 250 m near 5.9 km, the steepest descent of the walk. At Scarth Gap it turns north-north-west on to the public bridleway OpenStreetMap names Scarth Gap Pass and follows it down, north-north-west and north, crossing Scarth Beck near 6.9 km and a mapped ford near 7.1 km, through gates near 7.6 and 8.3 km, to the valley floor. From about 8.0 km it goes east-north-east across the valley floor, over Warnscale Beck at about 8.3 km, to the car park at Gatesgarth Farm.
WaypointsHaystacks, the rocky path down, Scarth Gap, the Scarth Gap Pass bridleway, Scarth Beck, the gates, Warnscale Beck, Gatesgarth Farm car park (finish).
Easy to get wrongThe way down from the top to Scarth Gap is the rocky step that Haystacks' own notes advise climbing rather than descending, steep and with hands needed for a few steps. A ford near 7.1 km on the bridleway.
If you need to get offThe line itself is the way down: about 3 km from the top to Gatesgarth.
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Planned route · not yet walked
Summits bagged (2)
- 1Fleetwith Pike649 m
- 2Haystacks (Buttermere)597 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
More about this walk
The start is the paid car park at Gatesgarth Farm, beside the B5289 at the head of Buttermere, with bus stops beside it.
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.
- Fleetwith Pike — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in midsummer — about half an hour after sunrise. In late December, not until about 08:45.
- Haystacks (Buttermere) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in late December — about half an hour after sunrise.
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
If the first one is full, these overlap least in our model. The 2 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.
- Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere (paid) — at the start
- Fleetwith Pike (layby) — joins the loop at about km 0.5 of 8.8: a 400 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- By bus: buses stop at Gatesgarth, at Mountain Rescue Point, a 40 m walk from the start. A bus is not affected by a full car park. Its return times are under Buses.
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 77 stops at Gatesgarth, at Mountain Rescue Point, a 40 m walk from this start. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. It returns on 22 March 2027. Confirmed with the operator: its last day on 29 August 2026, its return on 16 October 2026. The last bus is 18:26 towards Keswick (77), every day. 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 77 passes this route at 0.0 km (Gatesgarth, at Mountain Rescue Point, 10 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 Bus stops on the B5289 are about 20 m from the start, beside the Gatesgarth Farm car park. 22 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (OpenStreetMap contributors, via Overpass, 17 October 2026, checked 17 October 2026)
- Limitation Steep, rocky paths, fords and stepping stones: not a pushchair route. (OpenStreetMap contributors, Cumbria extract of 24 July 2026, checked 17 October 2026)
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: Steepness; terrain not assessed; exposure not assessed on the ground
Five independent axes, not one score. None of them was set on the ground: they 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Fleetwith Pike | 1.9 km | 537 m | 1:16–1:41 |
| 2Haystacks (Buttermere) | 5.8 km | 748 m | 2:24–3:12 |
| Finish | 8.8 km | 767 m | 3:03–4:03 |
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: No mapped stiles, but the ground underfoot has not been assessed; not a buggy line on what we know.
- Knees: A long, steep ~39% drop over 250 m around the 5.9 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 42% around the 1.6 km mark.
- Drops and exposed ground: Not assessed on the ground; the map suggests Severe. 8 mapped crag feature(s) near the line — check the airy sections.
- Rock and scrambling: Hands for a few steps: Fleetwith Edge, the craggy ground below the top of Haystacks, and the rocky step down to Scarth Gap (km 0.8–1.9 and km 4.3–6.6). Ground underfoot: Not assessed.
- Stiles and gates: Only gates and kissing gates are mapped: no stile a dog can’t get through. That is the barriers alone; check the route’s steep or rocky ground before you bring a dog. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 2026-10-17)
- 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: 4 gates
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 2026-10-17. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Moss Force — 2.5 km from this start
- Walks from Honister Pass — 3.2 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.
