Lake District
High Seat
609M
1998FT
About High Seat
Dominating the high, peat-heavy ridge between Borrowdale and Thirlmere, this central Wainwright offers a superlative vantage point. While the terrain is famously sodden, the summit provides an exceptional aerial perspective of Derwent Water, Skiddaw, and the long, rippled spine of the Helvellyn range across the valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
262nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
162m
Nearest Town
Borrowdale
Geology
You are walking across ancient layers of solidified lava. Some of these volcanic rocks even contain tiny garnet crystals embedded within the stone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY287180
Latitude
54.5526°N
Longitude
3.1038°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Old Norse 'setr', meaning a mountain pasture or shieling, though it also aptly describes the fell's position as a high vantage point overlooking the surrounding valleys.
- •Alfred Wainwright's assessment of the terrain was typically blunt; he noted that anyone reaching the summit with dry boots must have made the ascent during a significant drought.
- •The summit marks the highest point on the long, undulating ridge that connects Bleaberry Fell to the north with Ullscarf to the south, effectively forming the watershed between the Derwent and Thirlmere catchments.
- •The summit cairn is built upon a small outcrop of rock, providing a rare dry island in a landscape otherwise defined by deep peat hags and cotton grass.
- •Navigating the plateau in mist requires careful compass work, as the broad, featureless nature of the ridge can easily lead the unwary into the convoluted drainage channels of the central moss.