hikes.guideLake District

13.07 km · ~618 m ascent · ~3.5–5 h · loop · 4 summits

Home / Routes / Grike, Crag Fell and Lank Rigg
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Grike, Crag Fell and Lank Rigg

13.07 km
Distance
~3.5–5 h
Typical time
~618 m
Ascent
4
Summits
Download GPX →Maps & guidebooks

Key facts

Distance 13.07 km
Ascent ~618 m
Descent ~619 m
Time ~3.5–5 h
Type Loop
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Difficulty profile

LengthModerate13.07 km round.
SteepnessModerateSteepest sustained pull about 24% around the 7.9 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationModerateClear line, hard to stray. 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 3 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
Elevation profile Rises from about 222 m to 537 m over 13.1 km, with the summits marked in order. 537 m 222 m 0 km 13.1 km 1234

1 Grike2 Crag Fell3 Whoap4 Lank Rigg

~618 m
Total ascent
537 m
High point
223 m
Start height

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

This walk covers about 13.07 km with around 618 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
Steep in places
  • Dog: A stile of unmapped type — a dog may need lifting over.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A sustained ~24% descent around the 7.8 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.

On the line: 3 gates · 7 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 2026-07-20. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
Grike2.9 km265 m1:01–1:22
Crag Fell4.3 km335 m1:25–1:54
Whoap6.5 km437 m2:01–2:41
Lank Rigg7.7 km542 m2:27–3:16
Finish13.1 km618 m3:39–4:51

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.

The walk, stage by stage

Start → Grike (2.9 km, 265 m)

Climb of about 265 m over 2.9 km (around 9% average).

Grike → Crag Fell (1.4 km, 69 m)

Climb of about 69 m over 1.4 km (around 5% average).

Crag Fell → Whoap (2.2 km, 102 m)

Climb of about 102 m over 2.2 km (around 5% average).

Whoap → Lank Rigg (1.3 km, 106 m)

Climb of about 106 m over 1.3 km (around 8% average).

Lank Rigg → Finish (5.3 km, 76 m)

Climb of about 76 m over 5.3 km (around 1% average).

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (4)

  • Grike 488 m · Western · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge
  • Crag Fell 523 m · Western · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, HuMP
  • Whoap 511 m · Western · Birkett, Synge
  • Lank Rigg 541 m · Western · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, HuMP

🅿️ Getting there & parking

Wath Brow, Cleator Moor (roadside) — 3.6 km from the start (straight line)
Start of the Nannycatch/Dent paths for the far-western outliers.
Directions
Bowness Knott, Ennerdale (Forestry, paid) — 5.2 km from the start (straight line)
Forestry England car park at the end of the Ennerdale valley road, on the lake's north shore (OS NY 110 154; parking charges apply since 2023) — Great Borne, Starling Dodd, and the long walk-ins to Pillar and Steeple.
Directions

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 or Traveline before travelling.

⚠️ Safety & conditions

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 7.2 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.

⬇️ Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

📚 Maps & guidebooks for Grike, Crag Fell and Lank Rigg

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