Cross Fell Route Information

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Cross Fell

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

2247 ft

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

4 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

8.6 ml

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

91	Appleby-in-Westmorland

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Shorter route from the West, on broad slopes. Note that an electric fence is crossed by style at Tyne Head col: ‘cutting this corner’ to the descent track may not be feasible.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Penrith

From Penrith follow A686 NE for 8km until just through Langwrathby. Take right turn onto minor road, and drive 7km through Skirwith to Kirkland.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 2,247 feet. Allow 4 hours to complete this 8.6 mile route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in Kirkland village.
		NY64653250	Distance	Altitude 666 ft

1	Ascend on old mine road to path at bend where the road turns N .
		NY65353274	Distance 0.5 miles	Altitude 2247 ft

2	Continue N on Mine track to junction with path W of High Cap
		NY65793432	Distance 1.1 miles	Altitude 1328 ft

3	Continue NE then E on mine track to sharp bend N
		NY67173481	Distance 1.0 miles	Altitude 2247 ft

4	Follow path E until gradient levels
		NY67963497	Distance 0.5 miles	Altitude 2565 ft

5	Ascend scree and boulders E to prominent marker cairn
		NY68593472	Distance 0.4 miles	Altitude 2834 ft

6	Cross stony plateau to summit of Cross Fell (2500ft+)
		NY68743432	Distance 0.3 miles	Altitude 2929 ft

7	Cross stony plateau ESE to prominent marker cairn
		NY69413411	Distance 0.4 miles	Altitude 2811 ft

8	Descend SE to col and cross electric fence by ladder stile
		NY69693389	Distance 0.2 miles	Altitude 2601 ft

9	Descend SW on bridleway/path to below rocks on Wildboar Scar
		NY67803222	Distance 1.7 miles	Altitude 1541 ft

10	Descend bridleway WSW over Grumply Hill to Wythwaite.
		NY65433166	Distance 1.6 miles	Altitude 711 ft

11	Walk N on track to Ranbeck
		NY65393212	Distance 0.3 miles	Altitude 715 ft

12	Continue WNW on track to return to Kirkland.
		NY64653250	Distance 0.5 miles	Altitude 666 ft

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Cross Fell
by Metcheck

Images of Cross Fell

Cross Fell from the west: seen from the road between Skirwith and Kirkland.

Image by David S Brown

Cross Fell from the north: taken from the Hartside Pass road.

Image by David S Brown

The ascent route to Cross Fell from Kirkland passes this ruined bothy, which forms a prominent marker on the horizon on leaving the old mine road.

Image by David S Brown

Cross Fell seen from Wythwaite after doing the circular ascent route from Kirkland.

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

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from 1 vote

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Written by David S Brown on 23 Jun 2010:

Walked 22/6/2010, descent details hereby updated. At Kirkland park on grass N of road bridge. Old mine track well-graded, becomes unclear higher up. Departure of path towards prominent derelict bothy obvious (marked small cairn). Leave path SE across pathless terrain when marker cairn clearly visible (path onward from cairn). Descent path (well-cairned at top) leaves Pennine Way SE below steep stone band well above electric fence (near col) so you COULD shortcut the corner! After crossing stream keep same line through 2 gates (path unclear here) to reach Wythwaite, thence return to Kirkland.

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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