Lake District
Cold Pike Far West Top
669M
2194FT
About Cold Pike Far West Top
Sitting as a rugged satellite of Crinkle Crags, this rocky Nuttall rises above the high-level plateau between Red Tarn and the Duddon Valley. It offers a wilder, less-trodden perspective of the Scafell massif and the Langdale Pikes compared to its more famous Wainwright neighbor just to the east.
Key Statistics
Rank
189th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
18.1m
Nearest Town
Ulpha
Geology
You are standing on ancient lava flows layered with volcanic sand and compressed ash. These hardened eruptions created the rugged foundation of the fell beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY256037
Latitude
54.4235°N
Longitude
3.1477°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse pík, meaning a peaked or pointed hill. Given its exposed position overlooking the Duddon Valley, the 'Cold' prefix is a literal description of the biting winds that frequently rake across its rocky, high-altitude plateau.
- •This is a rare case where the main summit is actually lower than its subsidiary tops. While the official Wainwright summit of Cold Pike stands at 648 metres, this Far West Top reaches 668.7 metres, earning it a separate classification as a Nuttall.
- •The summit provides a spectacular, close-up profile of the southern face of the Crinkle Crags, offering a clear view of the intimidating 'Bad Step' and the rugged ascent path winding through the rock tiers.
- •This top is recognised as a Synge, one of the fells documented by Tim Synge in his 1995 survey of the Lake District's 2,000-foot mountains.
- •Peak baggers may find it ironic that Alfred Wainwright chose the lower, eastern summit for his Pictorial Guides, meaning many walkers unknowingly bypass the highest point of the ridge on their way to the 'official' top.