Central Fells · Book 3

Blea Rigg

Blea Rigg is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 556 m (1,824 ft) it is the joint 145th highest of the 214 and the 12th highest in the Central Fells.

Height: 556 m; 1,824 ft
Rank: =145; of 214
In area: 12; of 27
Difficulty: Moderate

Blea Rigg in the Central Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Michael Graham via Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Blea Rigg

A long, knobbly ridge between Great Langdale and Easedale, dotted with rock outcrops and small tarns. Faint paths wind between the knolls, with views to the Langdale Pikes and across to the Helvellyn range. Save it for a clear day, as the paths are hard to follow in mist.

Think of Blea Rigg as a stretch of rough country rather than a summit. It is about a mile wide and two miles long, running east from Sergeant Man towards Grasmere between Great Langdale and Easedale. Its crest is a jumble of outcrops and pools with named tops scattered along it, among them Great Castle How, Little Castle How, Swinescar Pike and Lang How. The paths between them are faint and easy to lose.

From Great Langdale, start at the New Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, climb beside Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn, then head east onto the ridge. White Gill, a steep ravine above the valley, is the other line on this side. From Grasmere, walk out along Easedale to Easedale Tarn and climb past Blea Crag to the top. The ridge also makes a good way home after a round of Tarn Crag and Sergeant Man.

The going is rough rather than hard, over rock slabs, wet hollows and short rises, with no scrambling. Navigation is the difficult part, because in mist one knoll and pool looks much like the next.

A small cairn above a stone shelter marks the summit. Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark are close by to the west, with Lingmoor Fell and Pike o'Blisco to the south west, the Coniston fells behind, and the Helvellyn range along the eastern skyline.

Stickle Tarn, below the western end of the ridge, is a corrie tarn about 15 metres deep. A stone dam holds it back, and it supplies water to Great Langdale. Before the Second World War a refreshment hut stood on the fell's slopes.

In winter

Paths across the top are poorly marked even in summer. Under snow, or when cloud drops on a short afternoon, the knolls and small tarns all look alike, so carry a compass and leave time to find the way off.

Great Views
Dog Friendly
Summit Tarn

Sources: Wikipedia: Blea Rigg, Wainwright Walking: Blea Rigg. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 301 078
Latitude: 54.46106° N
Longitude: 3.07878° W
Area: Central Fells

Walking up Blea Rigg

The nearest car park on foot is New Dungeon Ghyll, 3.3 km (2.0 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 3.3 km; 2.0 miles, one way
Ascent: 486 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 24 min; Allow 1 to 2 hours

Height in metres along the path from New Dungeon Ghyll to the summit.

Times use Naismith’s rule, 5 km/h on the flat plus extra time for the climb, with Langmuir’s corrections. It’s a rule of thumb for the way up only, so add stops, weather and the walk back down.

The route follows paths mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors and isn’t a guided line. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Blea Rigg questions

Is Blea Rigg a Wainwright?

Yes. Blea Rigg is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 3, The Central Fells.

How high is Blea Rigg?

Blea Rigg is 556 metres (1,824 feet) high. That makes it the joint 145th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 12th highest in the Central Fells.

Where do you park for Blea Rigg?

The nearest car park on foot is New Dungeon Ghyll, 3.3 km (2.0 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Blea Rigg?

From New Dungeon Ghyll it is 3.3 km with 486 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 24 min, so allow 1 to 2 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Blea Rigg?

Upfell rates Blea Rigg as moderate. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Blea Rigg?

The closest are Tarn Crag [Easedale] (551 m, 1.5 km N), Pavey Ark (700 m, 1.7 km W) and Sergeant Man (736 m, 1.9 km NW).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Blea Rigg?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 301 078, or 54.46106, -3.07878 in latitude and longitude.