Parking
Use Stock Lane Car Park near the entrance to Grasmere (LA22 9SJ), or another signed public village car park. Walk into the centre of the village to join the route. Public toilets are available at Stock Lane.
Overview
About Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar
Why go
- Four named summit tops on one circuit
- Views over Grasmere, Rydal Water, and the central fells
Heads up
- 800 m of ascent with rough, eroded high paths
- Long walk back to Grasmere after the steep descent
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation68–727 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Grasmere: Riverside, Gingerbread and Lake0:00 / 1:20
“You're nearing Grasmere village, where you can combine a walk beside the River Rothay with a stop for the local gingerbread.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wordsworth Grasmere: Inside Dove Cottage
- Easedale Tarn: Waterfalls from Grasmere
- Rydal Water and Cave from White Moss
- Mill Bridge: Seat Sandal and the Grasmere View
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar
The routeThis is a 7.8-mile circular walk from Grasmere.
This is a 7.8-mile circular walk from Grasmere. That figure is the full circuit, including the village approach, the high ridge, the descent to Alcock Tarn, and the return along the Coffin Route. Allow about 5 to 6.5 hours for the whole day. The route rises roughly 800 metres, so the distance understates the work.
Up and overFrom the village, follow the lane beside Greenhead Gill, then climb steep engineered steps and…
From the village, follow the lane beside Greenhead Gill, then climb steep engineered steps and a narrow path through bracken to Stone Arthur. Continue over rougher, sometimes boggy ground to Great Rigg, then retrace a short way and take the ridge toward Heron Pike and Nab Scar. The high section is open fell, with no shade and little shelter.
What you getThe payoff is a chain of changing views rather than one single destination: Grasmere and Rydal…
The payoff is a chain of changing views rather than one single destination: Grasmere and Rydal Water appear below, with Windermere, the central fells, Fairfield, and the Helvellyn ridge opening out in clearer conditions. Expect rocky outcrops, grassy ridges, and broad fell scenery. Alcock Tarn is the quieter-feeling return highlight, followed by a long, gentler walk through the Coffin Route back to Grasmere.
Access and dogsDogs may come on the route, but keep them close and on a lead around livestock.
Dogs may come on the route, but keep them close and on a lead around livestock. The circuit includes stiles and a ladder stile with a dog tunnel, and the rough, exposed ground is a poor fit for unfit dogs. There is no dependable drinking water once you are away from the village, and the route has no regular facilities on the fell.
A useful comparisonThe Fairfield Horseshoe continues beyond this ridge into a longer, more committing circuit.
The Fairfield Horseshoe continues beyond this ridge into a longer, more committing circuit. Choose this route when you want several summits and high views without committing to the full horseshoe.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
