Western Fells · Book 7

Buckbarrow

Buckbarrow is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 423 m (1,388 ft) it is the joint 196th highest of the 214 and the joint 31st highest in the Western Fells.

Height: 423 m; 1,388 ft
Rank: =196; of 214
In area: =31; of 33
Difficulty: Moderate

Buckbarrow in the Western Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Mick Knapton via Wikimedia Commons

About Buckbarrow

A craggy outlier of Seatallan above the foot of Wast Water. The crags look fierce from the road, but grassy lines lead round them to a rim with a view along the whole lake to Great Gable and the Scafells. Often linked with Seatallan and Middle Fell.

From the road near the foot of Wast Water, Buckbarrow looks like a wall of rock. Long Crag, Pike Crag, Bull Crag and Broad Crag run for about three quarters of a mile, dropping nearly 900 feet to the road, and they are a popular climbing venue. It is not really a separate hill but the craggy end of a spur off Seatallan. The name means the hill of the buck or goat, from Old English or Old Norse.

Walkers park on a patch of free, rough ground beside the cottages at Greendale, where there is a public footpath sign. You don't need to tackle the crags. Walk west to Harrow Head farm and follow Gill Beck up to about 350 metres, then bear north east to the high ground above the cliffs. The other way in is up Greendale Gill and Tongues Gills. Many people add Buckbarrow at the end of a Greendale round over Middle Fell and Seatallan, coming down past Cat Bields and Glade How. That round is 8.5 km with about 720 metres of ascent.

The ground is rough and knotted, boggy in places, and the paths come and go. In clear weather navigation is simple, but in mist you need a map and compass.

Pike Crag

The true top is a rocky mound set back from the rim. Go down to the knoll above Pike Crag for the better view, which takes in the full length of Wast Water, the Wasdale Screes, Great Gable and the Scafells. North east of the summit stands a tall, slender cairn named after the fell runner Joss Naylor, said to have been built on the site of an ancient burial cairn.

In winter

The knotted top is criss-crossed by confusing paths above a long wall of crag, so in mist take a bearing for the Joss Naylor cairn, which marks the way down to Greendale Gill. The steep grass beside Tongues Gills below it is treacherous when wet or frozen.

Great Views
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Buckbarrow, Walk Lakes: Middle Fell, Seatallan, Buckbarrow, a Greendale round. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 135 061
Latitude: 54.44315° N
Longitude: 3.33425° W
Area: Western Fells

Walking up Buckbarrow

The nearest car park on foot is Bridge Inn car park, 6.5 km (4.0 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Bridge Inn car park

Distance: 6.5 km; 4.0 miles, one way
Ascent: 451 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 59 min; Allow 1 to 3 hours

Height in metres along the path from Bridge Inn car park 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. This car park was picked automatically and hasn’t been checked by hand yet, so compare it with a map. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Buckbarrow questions

Is Buckbarrow a Wainwright?

Yes. Buckbarrow is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 7, The Western Fells.

How high is Buckbarrow?

Buckbarrow is 423 metres (1,388 feet) high. That makes it the joint 196th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the joint 31st highest in the Western Fells.

Where do you park for Buckbarrow?

The nearest car park on foot is Bridge Inn car park, 6.5 km (4.0 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Buckbarrow?

From Bridge Inn car park it is 6.5 km with 451 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 59 min, so allow 1 to 3 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Buckbarrow?

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

Which Wainwrights are near Buckbarrow?

The closest are Middle Fell (582 m, 1.9 km NE), Seatallan (692 m, 2.3 km N) and Whin Rigg (537 m, 3.0 km SE).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Buckbarrow?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 135 061, or 54.44315, -3.33425 in latitude and longitude.