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3.62 km · ~215 m ascent · ~1–1.5 h · loop · 1 summit

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High Rigg

3.62 km
Distance
~1–1.5 h
Typical time
~215 m
Ascent
1
Summit
Download GPX →Maps & guidebooks

Key facts

Distance 3.62 km
Ascent ~215 m
Descent ~215 m
Time ~1–1.5 h
Type Loop
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Difficulty profile

LengthEasy3.62 km — a short outing.
SteepnessHardSteepest sustained pull about 29% around the 2.3 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 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.

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 143 m to 345 m over 3.6 km, with the summits marked in order. 345 m 143 m 0 km 3.6 km 1

1 High Rigg (Naddle Fell)

~215 m
Total ascent
345 m
High point
143 m
Start height

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

This walk covers about 3.62 km with around 215 m of ascent, taking in 1 summit. 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 ~29% descent around the 2.1 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.

On the line: 6 gates · 1 stile (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)
High Rigg (Naddle Fell)1.8 km208 m0:42–0:56
Finish3.6 km215 m1:05–1:26

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

The walk, stage by stage

Start → High Rigg (Naddle Fell) (1.8 km, 208 m)

Climb of about 208 m over 1.8 km (around 12% average).

High Rigg (Naddle Fell) → Finish (1.8 km, 7 m)

Descent of about 201 m over 1.8 km.

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (1)

🅿️ Getting there & parking

Threlkeld village (free/donation) — 2.6 km from the start (straight line)
Blencathra via Hall's Fell ridge; Clough Head across the valley.
Directions
Gale Road / Latrigg top (free) — 3.8 km from the start (straight line)
Free car park at the road end behind Latrigg — shortest way up Skiddaw via Jenkin Hill.
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

Stagecoach X4 / X5
Penrith – Rheged – Threlkeld – Keswick – Braithwaite – Cockermouth – Workington
Catch it from: Penrith
Year-round, frequent. From Penrith this is your way into Keswick and the Northern fells — Threlkeld/Scales stops serve Blencathra directly, Braithwaite serves the Coledale fells.

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

Easier and harder options coming soon.

⬇️ Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

📚 Maps & guidebooks for High Rigg

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