North Western Fells · Book 6

Grasmoor

Grasmoor is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 852 m (2,795 ft) it is the 20th highest of the 214 and the highest in the North Western Fells.

Height: 852 m; 2,795 ft
Rank: 20; of 214
In area: 1; of 29
Difficulty: Difficult

Grasmoor in the North Western Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Steve Partridge via Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Grasmoor

The big fell above Crummock Water, with long steep slopes and a huge summit plateau. Approaches from Rannerdale or Coledale are steep and sustained, and the view from the top covers the North Western Fells and out to the sea. Its edges fall steeply to Crummock Water and Gasgale Gill.

Nothing in the North Western Fells is higher than Grasmoor's 852m. Its western end rises straight out of Crummock Water, a single slope of scree that gains about 600m in roughly a kilometre. From Little Town at the other end of the range it takes about 6km of gradual ridge to reach the same height.

The popular line is the Lad Hows ridge. Start at the small parking area below Rannerdale Knotts on the Buttermere road, head into Rannerdale and climb onto the ridge by Cinderdale Beck. It is steep all the way. Heather gives way to rock higher up, and near the top a short zigzag crosses loose scree before grass leads onto the plateau. The largest car park on this side is just over the cattle grid from Lanthwaite Green Farm. That is the start for rounds that go up Whiteside and cross Coledale Hause, or follow Gasgale Gill and then the rim of Dove Crags. A direct line up the western face from Lanthwaite exists, but it is steep scree and broken rock all the way.

The plateau is broad, grassy and gently domed, with the summit at its western end under a big sprawling cairn and wind shelter. Every major range except the Far Eastern Fells is in view. High Stile, across Crummock Water, looks best from the western edge.

Dove Crags

The bowl on the north face is one of the largest corries in the Lake District, yet it holds no tarn. A huge, slow landslip there has been pushing Liza Beck northwards for at least 20,000 years. It has squeezed the valley of Gasgale Gill and fed the unusually long scree slopes on Whiteside opposite.

In winter

The plateau is huge and rounded, and the summit shelter only appears when you are a few metres from it, so carry a map and compass in mist or snow. The loose scree zigzag near the top of the Lad Hows ridge is awkward when frozen, and the ridge is better climbed than descended.

Great Views
Potentially Dangerous
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Grasmoor, Walk Lakes: Grasmoor via Lad Howes ridge, Walk Lakes: The Grasmoor Six Wainwright Fells. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 174 203
Latitude: 54.57162° N
Longitude: 3.27788° W
Area: North Western Fells

Walking up Grasmoor

The nearest car park on foot is Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, 3.6 km (2.2 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park

Distance: 3.6 km; 2.2 miles, one way
Ascent: 766 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 55 min; Allow 1 to 3 hours

Height in metres along the path from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust 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. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Grasmoor questions

Is Grasmoor a Wainwright?

Yes. Grasmoor is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 6, The North Western Fells.

How high is Grasmoor?

Grasmoor is 852 metres (2,795 feet) high. That makes it the 20th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the highest in the North Western Fells.

Where do you park for Grasmoor?

The nearest car park on foot is Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, 3.6 km (2.2 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Grasmoor?

From Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park it is 3.6 km with 766 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 55 min, so allow 1 to 3 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Grasmoor?

Upfell rates Grasmoor as difficult, and parts of it can be dangerous in poor weather or visibility. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Grasmoor?

The closest are Wandope (774 m, 1.5 km SE), Whiteless Pike (660 m, 1.5 km S) and Whiteside (west top) (707 m, 1.7 km N).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Grasmoor?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 174 203, or 54.57162, -3.27788 in latitude and longitude.