Birkhouse Moor: 717.6m Height, Walks and Views

Birkhouse Moor is the broad fell on Helvellyn’s eastern approach, rising above Glenridding between the Glenridding valley and Grisedale. At 717.6m, it is substantial ground, though walkers bound for Striding Edge can treat it as little more than a staging post. Give it some attention and its appeal becomes clear: open slopes, views towards Ullswater and a close relationship with the sharper ridges ahead.

A broad shoulder above Glenridding

Birkhouse Moor belongs to the long eastern shoulder of Helvellyn. Its rounded, grassy upper ground contrasts with the rockier skyline beyond, while its position between the Glenridding valley to the north and Grisedale to the south gives it a clear identity. It is less a solitary peak than a substantial part of the rising ground that leads into the Helvellyn range.

A stone wall is a characteristic feature of the upper fell, crossing terrain that can feel spacious rather than sharply defined. Looking east, Ullswater provides the principal lowland focus, with Glenridding below. Looking towards Helvellyn, the interest changes: Catstye Cam and the ridges around Red Tarn give the scene a much more rugged character. That contrast is central to Birkhouse Moor’s appeal.

Birkhouse Moor in the Eastern Fells

Alfred Wainwright included Birkhouse Moor in The Eastern Fells, the first book of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Its recorded height is 717.6 metres, or 2,354 feet, placing it 78th among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY363159. Those figures describe a sizeable fell, even if its proximity to Helvellyn can make it seem a supporting summit.

Nearby Wainwrights include Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike on the other side of the Glenridding valley, Catstye Cam to the north-west, and St Sunday Crag across Grisedale. Together they place Birkhouse Moor within a particularly varied corner of the Eastern Fells. Woodland and lakeside settlement lie below, while high ridges and steep-sided corries dominate the ground towards the main range.

The connection with Striding Edge

Birkhouse Moor is best known through its association with the approach to Striding Edge. The familiar ascent from Glenridding by Mires Beck reaches its upper ground, while the Hole-in-the-Wall lies on the onward connection towards the ridge. For many walkers, this is where a day on Helvellyn begins to take on its high-fell character, with the scrambling terrain still ahead.

That association should not obscure the distinction between the fell and the famous ridge. Striding Edge involves exposed scrambling; visiting Birkhouse Moor need not include it. The summit can be an objective in its own right, particularly for walkers interested in Ullswater views or completing the Wainwrights. Dedicated walking guides are the place to compare approaches, distances and the demands of any onward route.

Where Birkhouse Moor stands

Summit at grid reference NY363159 · open full map

The real Birkhouse Moor

Walking Birkhouse Moor

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Glenridding, Red Tarn, and Catstye Cam Circular (alltrails.com)
• Wainwright Walk 15 – Birkhouse Moor and Red Tarn (exploringthelandscape.com)
• Birkhouse Moor - Wainwright (walkhighlands) (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Weather on Birkhouse Moor

Conditions estimated at summit height (718 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Birkhouse Moor on your wall

A painting of Birkhouse Moor can recall more than a summit reached: the open ground above Glenridding, Ullswater behind you, and Helvellyn drawing closer. On a wall at home, those familiar shapes offer a quiet connection to a well-loved part of the Eastern Fells.

Own “Birkhouse Moor Snowy Ridge” — our painting of Birkhouse Moor → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Eastern Fells

• Sheffield Pike 676 m
• Catstye Cam 890 m
• St Sunday Crag 841 m
• Glenridding Dodd 442 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.