Lake District
Hawk Rigg
441M
1447FT
About Hawk Rigg
Tucked away on the northern flanks of the Wetherlam massif, this rugged Birkett offers a grandstand view of Little Langdale. It is a place of craggy outcrops and bracken, providing a quieter perspective on the Langdale Pikes and Lingmoor Fell than the busier summits rising directly above the valley floor.
Key Statistics
Rank
523rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
11m
Nearest Town
Little Langdale
Geology
Hawk Rigg is built from layers of hardened volcanic ash and stony fragments. These rugged rocks were formed by powerful eruptions that shaped the landscape.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY299014
Latitude
54.4040°N
Longitude
3.0806°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'hryggr', meaning a ridge or back, combined with the presence of birds of prey that still hunt over the fellside today.
- •Listed by Bill Birkett in his 1994 guide, the summit is often bypassed by walkers heading straight for Wetherlam’s higher peak, making it a peaceful spot for those who value solitude over summit height.
- •From the top, you get a perfectly framed view of Little Langdale Tarn directly below, with the distinctive serrated profile of the Langdale Pikes dominating the northern horizon across the valley.
- •The hill sits above the historic Tilberthwaite copper mining and slate quarrying district; the scarred landscape of the Greenburn valley to the west serves as a reminder of the area's industrial past.
- •It is the kind of summit where you can sit in undisturbed peace and watch crowds of walkers on the Pike of Blisco opposite, all while wondering if they realise you’re having a much better time for half the effort.