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Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

By Dave Roberts   

on June 13, 2013    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, Lake District National Park, Lake District's Eastern Fells

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

6.76 km

Ascent

352 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

Moderate Walk

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Lake District Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

Red Screes is a peak easily reached from the Kirkstone Pass. You’re already an impressive 445m up, which is practically at the summit. Not quite, but only 350m of ascent will find you up top. There’s an easy path for the entire route, despite not appearing on the OS maps.

This is can also be used as an access route to ascend the fells towards Fairfield, or possibly as a descent, as a reasonably fit walker could easily tag Red Screes onto a round of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

The Route

1 – The route starts from the Kirkstone Pass car park, by crossing a stile at the end furthest from the pub. It’s easy to follow, and it is paved for most of the way to the summit.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

2 – The path continues, not following the line of the ROW on the map but instead following the blunt ridge marked Kilnshaw Chimney on the OK 1:25k map. After starting off nice and steady, the paved path becomes steps and the gradient in turn increases. The view back towards the Kirkstone Inn makes it appear close for most of the ascent, so it’s difficult to judge progress.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

3 – The path, about ¾ of the way up, turns back on itself, but the point is clearly waymarked. After some easy clambering, you can clearly see the corrie ahead that gives the peak it’s name.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

4 – Soon enough the path levels out and the terrain becomes grassy, with the summit plateau soon reached. From here, being a summit with a fair drop all around, there’s a fair view in all directions including Ullswater and Windermere. The most noteworthy feature however is the summit tarn, which has to be on anyone’s wild camping to-do lists.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

5 – You can descend back to the pass if you want a really short walk, or continue along the wide grassy ridge to Ambleside. This is an easy, grassy path that poses no problems other than becoming rather vague when it reaches a wall at 500m. While the best route is to follow more closely the route of the ROW to a stile, you can also follow the ridge more closely and cross a gate further down.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

6 – Beyond this, the path is easy to follow as it’s hemmed in by two walls for most of the descent. Eventually, the rough mountain pasture becomes more lush, and the mountain road from Ambleside to Kirkstone via the Struggle is reached. Soon after following the road downhill, you’ll be enjoying refreshments in Ambleside before you know it. Alternatively, you could follow the road back to the start of the walk.Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

This walk includes the Wainwright of Red Screes

This walk includes the Hewitt of Red Screes

This walk includes the Nuttall of Red Screes

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
6.76 km 352 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Moderate Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Lake District Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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