Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat, High Tove and Armboth Fell
Photo: © Lee McCoy
Start Ashness Gate Car Park
Getting here Parking: Walla Crag car park (free), 0.0 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 78 stops at Ashness, opposite Derwentwater Youth Hostel, a 240 m walk and 38 m of ascent from this start. Getting there ↓ · Route map ↓
Hardest part Hard distance: 17.02 km — a long day out. Hard steepness: Steepest sustained descent about 26% around the 11.7 km mark.
Before you choose
- High Seat: Rough, knolly and exceptionally wet, with a faint path and many 'wet places'. In mist it's easy to drift off line over featureless ground. Take a compass bearing, use the fence line where present, and don't rely on a trodden path.
- Walla Crag: The summit edge is a steep, unfenced drop to Derwentwater — easy to get too close for a photo, and dangerous with children, dogs or in wind. Keep back from the lip; if you'd rather stay away from it, keep to the side of the wall away from the lake (the east side), which is a useful handrail in mist.
Conditions on this route
We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 4 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 Walla Crag2 Bleaberry Fell3 High Seat4 Armboth Fell (Birkett)5 High Tove
Easy 83%Moderate 18%Hard <1%Severe
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
Ashness Gate Car Park → Walla Crag (2.3 km, 312 m)
Leave the Ashness Gate car park on the shores of Derwentwater and immediately begin the steep, wooded ascent climbing up alongside the cascading waters of Cat Gill. Break out of the tree line onto the open fell and follow the clear path to the rocky, precipitous edge of Walla Crag.
WaypointsAshness Gate, Cat Gill, Great Wood boundary, Walla Crag summit.
Decision pointThe path up Cat Gill is obvious and well-maintained. As the gradient eases, the dry stone wall guides you directly to the top.
Easy to get wrongA steep 13% pull right from the lakeside. The path alongside Cat Gill is pitched stone but can be exceptionally slippery under the tree canopy. The true summit of Walla Crag is set slightly back from the edge, but the sheer, unprotected drops over the western crags demand extreme caution.
If you need to get offTurn around and carefully descend the stepped path by Cat Gill directly back to the car park.
© Lee McCoy - 2
Walla Crag → Bleaberry Fell (2.5 km, 260 m)
From Walla Crag, head south-east across the broad, heather-clad moorland. The path crosses a minor depression before taking a long, steady 10% climb up the wide ridge to the large summit cairn of Bleaberry Fell.
WaypointsWalla Crag, moorland depression, Bleaberry Fell summit.
Decision pointThe path is deeply worn into the heather. In clear weather, the massive bulk of Bleaberry Fell sits directly ahead, making the bearing obvious.
Easy to get wrongThe terrain firmly transitions from rock to spongy, heathery peat here. The climb is a sustained slog, and the path becomes increasingly braided and muddy as walkers try to avoid the widening puddles. Walla Crag's summit edge is a steep, unfenced drop to Derwentwater — easy to get too close for a photo, and dangerous with children, dogs or in wind.
If you need to get offRetrace your steps to Walla Crag and descend. There is no easy path down the steep, pathless western flanks into Borrowdale from this ridge.
© Lee McCoy - 3
Bleaberry Fell → High Seat (1.8 km, 73 m)
Continue south along the main ridge. The gradient flattens significantly, but you must now navigate the deep peat hags and marshy ground separating Bleaberry Fell from the highest point of the ridge at High Seat.
WaypointsCentral ridge peat hags, High Seat trig point.
Decision pointHigh Seat is marked by a trig point set upon a small rocky outcrop, which stands out above the peat and is visible from a distance on a clear day.
Easy to get wrongThis is where the notorious central fells bog truly begins. Even in dry summer months, this 1.8 km stretch requires constantly deviating from the path to weave around deep, black peat hags and open water. It is highly tiring, messy work.
If you need to get offProceeding to High Seat is the best option; the terrain on either side of this ridge is trackless, steep, and sodden.
© Lee McCoy - 4
High Seat → Armboth Fell (Birkett) (3.1 km, 60 m)
Leave the trig point and head broadly south-east, crossing the vast, desolate watershed. You must traverse the wettest ground of the day to reach the small, rocky bump of Armboth Fell, which sits slightly off the main ridge overlooking Thirlmere.
WaypointsHigh Seat descent, central watershed bogs, Armboth Fell summit.
Decision pointYou must rely heavily on a compass bearing or GPS watch. The summit of Armboth Fell is marked by a very modest pile of stones on a rock outcrop.
Easy to get wrongA brutal, wet 3.1 km traverse. This area is a maze of waterlogged peat and completely featureless terrain. Checking my Garmin fēnix 6 Pro proved invaluable here for confirming my bearing, as the faint paths disappear entirely into the bogs. Armboth Fell itself is confusing, with several small knolls vying for the true summit.
If you need to get offYou are in the most remote section of the central watershed. Decide before you leave High Seat: on via Armboth Fell and High Tove and down to Watendlath, the route's own way off, or back the way you came over Bleaberry Fell. In cloud, work out where you are with the map and compass before you choose. If you cannot move safely, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
© Lee McCoy - 5
Armboth Fell (Birkett) → High Tove (1.0 km, 46 m)
Turn north-west to slog back across the marshy depression, climbing gently to regain the main ridge line at the unassuming, grassy dome of High Tove.
WaypointsArmboth Fell, connecting marsh, High Tove summit.
Decision pointAim for the highest point on the ridge to the west. A small cairn marks the top of High Tove.
Easy to get wrongMore of the same—relentlessly wet, squelchy ground. High Tove is widely considered one of the least inspiring Wainwright summits, essentially serving as a damp bump on the ridge linking the valleys.
If you need to get offFrom High Tove, the steep descent path down to Watendlath provides an immediate and highly welcome exit route.
High Tove → Finish (6.3 km, 60 m)
Descend west off High Tove via the eroded, muddy path down to the picturesque hamlet and tarn of Watendlath. From here, pick up the well-made track heading north through the woods, following Watendlath Beck past Surprise View and the famous Ashness Bridge, finally dropping back down to the Ashness Gate car park.
WaypointsWatendlath Tarn, Watendlath hamlet, Watendlath Beck, Surprise View, Ashness Bridge, Ashness Gate.
Decision pointWatendlath Tarn is an enormous visual target from the ridge. Once in the hamlet, the valley track following the beck north is clear and heavily signposted.
Easy to get wrongThe initial descent into Watendlath is slippery and steep in places, but once you hit the hamlet, the terrain transforms completely. The rest of the way is a long, undulating, and incredibly scenic valley trail. The distance is noticeable on tired feet, but the firm ground is a massive relief after the bogs.
If you need to get offOnce you reach Watendlath, you are entirely off the fell. In peak season, there is a small café, and the single-track tarmac road also leads back to the start.
© Lee McCoy
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Walked by Lee, August 2025
Summits bagged (5)
- 1Walla Crag379 m
- 2Bleaberry Fell590 m
- 3High Seat609 m
- 4Armboth Fell (Birkett)479 m
- 5High Tove515 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
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.
- Walla Crag — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:45, about half an hour later. In late September, about 07:30. It waits longest in late December — about an hour after sunrise.
- Bleaberry Fell — 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 a quarter of an hour after sunrise.
- High Seat — 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 March — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise. In late December, not until about 08:45.
- High Tove — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:45, about half an hour later. In late September, about 07:30. It waits longest in late March — about half an hour after sunrise. In late December, not until about 08:45.
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
2 more places 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 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.
- Great Wood, Keswick (NT, paid) — joins the loop at about km 1 of 17: a 510 m walk to the line, climbing about 80 m, and you walk the round from there
- Watendlath (NT, paid) — joins the loop at about km 12.1 of 17: a 30 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- Ashness Bridge, south (verge) — joins the loop at about km 16.2 of 17: a 20 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- By bus: buses stop at Ashness, opposite Derwentwater Youth Hostel, a 240 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 78 stops at Ashness, opposite Derwentwater Youth Hostel, a 240 m walk and 38 m of ascent from this start. As timetabled from 27 October to 1 November. Towards Keswick (78): Tuesday to Sunday 20:19. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
The 78 passes this route at 1.1 km (Ashness, at Calfclose Bay, 340 m off the line). It passes again at 16.9 km.
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
Toilets and refreshments
The essentials
- Arrival Walla Crag car park at Ashness Gate, beside the start: free, as mapped. 4 m in a straight line, not a walking distance. (our parking map, from OpenStreetMap, checked 10 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 Walla Crag’s summit edge is a steep, unfenced drop to Derwentwater: keep back from the lip, especially with children, dogs or in wind. (our route notes (this route's own warnings), checked 28 September 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
Hard overall — hardest: Length and steepness
Five independent axes, not one score. Three of the five were set on the ground; the rest 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Walla Crag | 2.3 km | 312 m | 0:59–1:19 |
| 2Bleaberry Fell | 4.8 km | 573 m | 1:55–2:33 |
| 3High Seat | 6.6 km | 645 m | 2:24–3:11 |
| 4Armboth Fell (Birkett) | 9.7 km | 705 m | 3:07–4:09 |
| 5High Tove | 10.7 km | 751 m | 3:23–4:30 |
| Finish | 17.0 km | 812 m | 4:45–6:20 |
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 ~29% descent over 250 m around the 11.7 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.
With a dog
Hardest for a dog here: stiles and gates. The steepest stretch is a sustained descent of about 26% around the 11.7 km mark.
- Stiles and gates: A stile of unmapped type at 2.1 km — a dog may need lifting over. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 19 July 2026)
- Rock and scrambling: Ground underfoot: Moderate – graded by Lee on the ground. Graded on the ground.
- Drops and exposed ground: Easy – graded by Lee on the ground. Graded on the ground.
- 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: 10 gates · 3 kissing gates · 3 step-over stiles · 1 stile (type unmapped)
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 19 July 2026. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Places to stay near this start
From Ashness Bridge: 8 places in Keswick
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Lodore Falls — 1.7 km from this start
- Walks from Keswick — 3.1 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.