Walk Grisedale Pike, Lake District, England

Challenging walk to the Wainwright summit Grisedale Pike; however stunning views will reward you for the effort. Dog friendly.

Grisedale Pike walk information:

  • Distance: 13 km
  • Duration: 4h30
  • Ascent: 700m
  • Level: Medium to Hard
  • Car park: Parking: Braithwaite village or in the parking on the road to Whinlatter  B5292, at the beginning of the walk.
  • Dog Friendly: Yes- No stiles, some areas with sheeps
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For this Sunday, the weather forecast had announced a temperature around 0 °C but with a beautiful sun which motivated us to go for a hike. I chose this hike because I had fancied to do Grisedale Pike for a while and I also wanted to see the last colours of autumn. In addition, it had fallen a bit of snow on the peaks this past week and we wanted to enjoy it before it disappeared.

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We parked our car in the village of Braithwaite but there is a parking at the start of the hike on the road towards Whinlatter just after the exit of the village. I love the village of Braithwaite because of its small cottages all well maintained and its general atmosphere very typical of the English countryside villages where we want to spend family holidays to discover the area.

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That day the sky was totally clear, and the view extended to the Isle of Man and the region of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. The autumnal colours were present with a slight layer of snow on the top that gave a rather dramatic atmosphere to the valley below. I was also accompanied for a little while by a group of three robins who enjoyed the sun and played in the bushes. It was really the perfect day to be in the mountains and I hope that the approaching winter will reserve us other days like this one.

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This hike passes through the peaks of Grisedale Pike and Hobcarton Crag before descending to Braithwaite via Coledale Hause and the former Force Crag mine. All in all, this hike is accessible to the majority of hikers there is just a small part of scrambling to get to the top of Grisedale pike which can be a little scary for beginners. It is also necessary to pay attention in freezing weather because there are passages quite slippery. The trail is wide and clearly visible and will reassure people unfamiliar with mountain navigation. The descent is not too steep but a little rocky.

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Here are the key steps to do this hike:

-From the village of Braithwaite take the B5292 national road, just after the village at the parking on the left take the stairs that go up towards Grisedale. Follow this path to the top of Grisedale. Then straight towards Hobcarton Crag.

-Take the path on the left which goes down towards Coledale Hause. At this level, take the path on the left that descends between the two sides of the mountain and runs along the river.

-At the level of the mine, cross the river and continue straight on this paved path until you reach the car park then turn right at B5292 to go down to the village.

Have you walked Grisedale Pike?

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Find all our dog friendly walks in the Lake District National Park here. To discover our adventures in the United Kingdom it is here.

5 thoughts on “Walk Grisedale Pike, Lake District, England

    1. I think the way we did it is the easier one. I think both way will be ok it is just the scrambling part near Grisedale summit that might be harder if you go down instead of going up. But that is just my preference as I am more confident to scramble up that down.

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