Harrop Pike & Ancrow Brow - Birketts
Start Sadgill (Longsleddale)
Getting here Parking: Sadgill, Longsleddale (free, limited), 0.0 km from the start (straight line). Getting there ↓ · Route map ↓
Hardest part Severe distance: 20.03 km — a long day out. Severe steepness: Steepest sustained climb about 38% around the 0.4 km mark.
Before you choose
- The Bannisdale watershed section holds a 2 km+ pathless stretch of tussock and peat hag — featureless in mist and slow in any weather. The plotted line there is a bearing, not a path.
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.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Great Howe (Longsleddale)2 Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell)3 Harrop Pike4 Ancrow Brow North Top5 Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow)6 Capplebarrow7 Todd Fell8 Whiteside Pike
Easy 92%Moderate 6%Hard 2%Severe <1%
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
Start → Great Howe (Longsleddale) (1.2 km, 299 m)
Starting from the remote valley head at Sadgill in Longsleddale, this route offers absolutely no warm-up. You immediately cross the River Sprint and attack the steep eastern valley wall. The gradient is a savage 24% average. The terrain is a punishing mix of steep, slick fell grass, loose rock, and highly eroded sheep trods as you force your way up the sheer spur to the rocky outcrop of Great Howe.
WaypointsStart Point: Sadgill parking area / bridge (approx. NY 482 056). The Eastern Wall: The precipitous ascent face immediately above the river. Great Howe Summit (494 m): A rocky, prominent Birkett marking the top of the initial climb.
Decision pointVisual Target: The rocky knoll of Great Howe is obvious from the valley floor. Aim directly for it. Handrails: Keep the old quarry workings and the ravine of Stockdale Beck well to your right (south) as you climb.
Easy to get wrongThe Gradient: A 24% average climb over 1.2 km will instantly redline your heart rate. Summer Bracken: From July to September, the lower slopes of this ascent are a jungle of thick bracken, completely obscuring the uneven ground and loose rocks beneath your feet. Slick Terrain: In wet weather, this steep grassy face is treacherous. Progress can feel like one step forward, two steps back. Do not bail south into the Stockdale Beck ravine; it is dangerously steep, wooded, and heavily bluffed out.
If you need to get offRetreat: Carefully retrace your steps down the steep grass to Sadgill. Trekking poles are highly advised to save your knees.
- 2
Great Howe (Longsleddale) → Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell) (1.3 km, 152 m)
Having conquered the valley wall, the gradient eases to a 12% average, though you are still climbing steadily. You leave the rocky environs of Great Howe and enter the true Shap Fells moorland. The ground transitions into heavy tussock grass and peat as you push north-east towards the Wainwright summit of Grey Crag.
WaypointsThe Connecting Ridge: The grassy plateau linking the valley lip to the main massif. Grey Crag Summit (638 m): A Wainwright summit, sitting in a sprawling, desolate expanse of heather and grass.
Decision pointFencelines: A dilapidated boundary fence runs across this plateau, acting as a guide towards the Grey Crag summit area.
Easy to get wrongTerrain Transition: The firm rock of Great Howe quickly gives way to boot-swallowing peat and deep heather. The physical effort switches from cardiovascular strain to the heavy, leg-sapping work of high-stepping over tussocks. Bailing north or east drops you into the remote upper catchments of Wet Sleddale or Tarn Crag, committing you to miles of trackless bog far from your starting valley.
If you need to get offRetreat: Reverse back to Great Howe and descend to Sadgill.
- 3
Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell) → Harrop Pike (0.7 km, 6 m)
A brief, virtually flat hop across the wettest section of the high plateau. The terrain here is notorious—a sprawling, sodden expanse of sphagnum moss and peat hags connecting the two tops.
WaypointsHarrop Pike Summit (637 m): A highly distinct Birkett, crowned with a large, well-built stone cairn sitting on a fence junction.
Decision pointThe Fence Line: Follow the fence from Grey Crag towards the stone cairn of Harrop Pike; in cloud, keep checking your position as well.
Easy to get wrongThe Bogs: This 700-metre stretch holds deep, black peat pools hidden beneath bright green moss. Expect wet boots unless you take wide, careful detours.
If you need to get offRetreat: Keep moving. Do not bail east off Harrop Pike into the Wasdale (Shap) catchment unless you intend to completely abandon the Longsleddale route.
- 4
Harrop Pike → Ancrow Brow North Top (2.0 km, 22 m)
You now turn your back on the high peaks and begin a massive, rolling journey directly south along the eastern rim of Longsleddale. The path is non-existent. You are traversing a vast, desolate moorland of heavy grass and heather, dropping gradually along the broad ridge to the subtle rise of Ancrow Brow North Top.
WaypointsThe Eastern Rim: The broad watershed separating Longsleddale from the valleys to the east. Ancrow Brow North Top (approx. 540 m): A featureless, incredibly subtle Birkett on the sprawling ridge.
Decision pointCompass Bearings: Absolute discipline is required here if the cloud drops. You must pace your distance to identify the correct subtle summit bumps. Valley Rim: Keep the deep drop into Longsleddale on your right (west), but stay safely back from any steep, unseen edges in the clag.
Easy to get wrongMicro-Navigation: In thick mist, this ridge is deeply confusing. It is miles wide in places and completely devoid of distinct landmarks or rocky peaks. Ankle-Rolling Terrain: Two kilometres of walking through deep, trackless tussocks requires immense concentration to avoid injury.
If you need to get offRetreat: If the bogs become impassable, turning north back to the fence line at Harrop Pike is the natural navigational reset point.
- 5
Ancrow Brow North Top → Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow) (1.1 km, 25 m)
Continuing south, the broad, wet plateau begins to throw up occasional minor rocky outcrops. The route undulates slightly, crossing several damp depressions and peat hags before reaching the slightly more distinct, craggy bump of Swinklebank Crag.
WaypointsSwinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow) (554 m): A Birkett characterized by a sudden, small eruption of rock out of the peat.
Decision pointVisual Targeting: The minor rocky outcrops of Swinklebank Crag break up the grassy monotony and can be targeted visually in clear weather.
Easy to get wrongFalse Horizons: The undulating nature of the peat hags means you will frequently think you are approaching the highest point, only to find another heather-clad bump beyond it. Do not drift left (east) into the deeply secluded Bannisdale catchment. It is heavily bogged and creates a massive geographical barrier between you and your start point.
If you need to get offRetreat: The map shows no mapped way off between Ancrow Brow North Top and Swinklebank Crag: back or on. Back is over Harrop Pike and Great Howe to Sadgill, about 5 to 6.5 km; on is south over Swinklebank Crag, as the stages beyond it describe; not walked for this guide.
- 6
Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow) → Capplebarrow (1.7 km, 17 m)
The ridge begins to narrow slightly as it continues its long southward march. The descent is gentle and the ground is rough, though OSM maps a path along this stretch (on the ground it may be faint). You are aiming for the minor summit of Capplebarrow, which offers excellent views back up the length of the Longsleddale valley.
WaypointsCapplebarrow Summit (513 m): A quiet Birkett on the descending ridge line.
Decision pointRuin Walls: You will begin to encounter the remnants of old drystone walls and fencelines that mark the transition back towards lower agricultural boundaries. Use them to guide your descent.
Easy to get wrongFatigue: By this point, the rough ground will be heavily draining your legs and mental focus.
If you need to get offRetreat: Keep pushing south. Bailing directly west off the ridge into Longsleddale here is possible in an absolute emergency, but the slopes are incredibly steep and choked with bracken.
- 7
Capplebarrow → Todd Fell (1.8 km, 29 m)
A continuous, steady descent further south. As you lose elevation, the deep peat hags finally begin to give way to firmer, shorter fell grass. The 136 m drop over 1.8 km allows for a faster, easier pace as you approach the lower bounds of the ridge.
WaypointsThe Lower Ridge: The descending spine above the valley. Todd Fell (approx. 401 m): A highly subtle, grassy bump on the ridge line.
Decision pointValley Sighting: Longsleddale is now clearly visible directly below you to the right, heavily guiding your path southward.
Easy to get wrongSubtle Summit: Todd Fell is so flat and non-distinct that you are likely to walk over it without realizing it.
If you need to get offRetreat: You are now low enough that bailing west down to the valley road becomes an option if the weather deteriorates; that line has not been checked for this guide.
- 8
Todd Fell → Whiteside Pike (1.3 km, 53 m)
A final, short, undulating push to the last summit of the day. Leaving the grassy expanse of Todd Fell, you cross a slight depression and climb a modest 53 m up to the surprisingly rugged, rocky top of Whiteside Pike, which stands like a sentinel at the very mouth of Longsleddale.
WaypointsWhiteside Pike Summit (397 m): A fantastic, rocky Birkett offering sweeping views south toward Kendal and Morecambe Bay.
Decision pointVisual Target: Whiteside Pike is highly distinct compared to the rest of the lower ridge, presenting as an obvious rocky knoll dead ahead.
Easy to get wrongTerrain Change: The sudden return to rocky, uneven ground at the summit requires careful foot placement on tired legs after miles of soft peat.
If you need to get offRetreat: Push forward to the summit to set up the descent path, rather than turning back north.
Whiteside Pike → Finish (9.0 km, 57 m)
This final stage is a massive, test-of-endurance walk-out. From Whiteside Pike, you drop sharply off the fellside (typically heading south-south-east towards Murthwaite or Garnett Bridge) to reach the valley floor of Longsleddale. Once on the tarmac, you face a long, rolling march of about 6.5 km (by the GPX) up the single, narrow valley road, following the River Sprint all the way back to the parking area at Sadgill.
WaypointsThe Descent Spur: The steep, bracken-covered drop off Whiteside Pike to the valley floor. Garnett Bridge / Murthwaite Area: The transition onto the Longsleddale valley road. Longsleddale Road: The single tarmac lane traversing the valley. Finish Point: Sadgill parking area.
Decision pointThe Road and River: Once on the valley floor, follow the road north, keeping the River Sprint near you, to Sadgill.
Easy to get wrongTarmac Pounding: Marching over 6 km on hard tarmac in stiff hiking boots is punishing on the soles of the feet and knees. Traffic: While Longsleddale is quiet, the road is single-track with high hedgerows. Be highly vigilant of local farm traffic and delivery vehicles, as there are few verges to step onto. Wind Tunnel: The valley often acts as a wind tunnel. Walking back up to Sadgill means you may be fighting a headwind the entire way.
If you need to get offRetreat: This is the walk-out. If you cannot move safely, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Planned route · not yet walked
Summits bagged (8)
- 1Great Howe (Longsleddale)494 m
- 2Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell)638 m
- 3Harrop Pike637 m
- 4Ancrow Brow North Top540 m
- 5Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow)554 m
- 6Capplebarrow513 m
- 7Todd Fell401 m
- 8Whiteside Pike397 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
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.
Getting there and back
Parking
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.
- Sadgill, Longsleddale (free, limited) — at the start
- Swinklebank Crag (layby) — joins the loop at about km 18.9 of 20: a 360 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
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
No bus we hold serves this start. The nearest stop we hold is the 6 and 555 stop at Staveley, outside Abbey Square, 8.5 km away on foot: a walk of its own, not a way to the start.
Toilets and refreshments
The essentials
- Arrival Free roadside parking at Sadgill, at the head of Longsleddale, beside the start. Spaces are limited, and no capacity is recorded. 12 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (our parking map, checked 2 August 2026)
- Toilets No toilets are mapped within 250 m of the start. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
- Refreshments No café or pub is mapped within 250 m of the start: bring what you need. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
- Limitation The Bannisdale watershed holds more than 2 km of pathless tussock and peat hag, featureless in mist: the plotted line there is a bearing, not a path. (our route notes (this route's own warnings), checked 2 October 2026)
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.)
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: Length and 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Great Howe (Longsleddale) | 1.2 km | 299 m | 0:44–0:59 |
| 2Grey Crag (Sleddale Fell) | 2.5 km | 452 m | 1:15–1:40 |
| 3Harrop Pike | 3.2 km | 458 m | 1:24–1:52 |
| 4Ancrow Brow North Top | 5.2 km | 479 m | 1:51–2:27 |
| 5Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow) | 6.3 km | 504 m | 2:07–2:48 |
| 6Capplebarrow | 8.0 km | 521 m | 2:28–3:17 |
| 7Todd Fell | 9.8 km | 550 m | 2:53–3:50 |
| 8Whiteside Pike | 11.1 km | 603 m | 3:13–4:17 |
| Finish | 20.0 km | 660 m | 5:06–6:47 |
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: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A sustained ~20% descent over 250 m around the 11.1 km mark — a little jarring on tired 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 38% around the 0.4 km mark.
- Drops and exposed ground: Not assessed on the ground; the map suggests Hard. Graded from slope only (~41% max); treat exposure as unverified.
- Stiles and gates: Step-over stiles at 0.3 and 0.8 km — a dog may need lifting over. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 26 July 2026)
- Rock and scrambling: Ground underfoot: Not assessed.
- 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: 23 gates · 2 step-over stiles
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 26 July 2026. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Places to stay near this start
We have not verified an independent place near this start — these are the chains and charities that serve it.
- Mosedale Cottage (opens in new tab) hutabout 4.0 km
We have not stayed at any of them. We take no bookings or affiliate fees. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab).
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Kentmere — 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.