Kidsty Pike

About Kidsty Pike

This distinctive peak serves as the highest point on the original Coast to Coast Walk. Its sharp, conical profile stands out against the flatter ridges of the Far Eastern Fells, offering a vertiginous perspective straight down into the Riggindale valley and the blue expanse of Haweswater far below.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'kide-stig', meaning a path for young goats. 'Pike' is a traditional Cumbrian term for a peak with a sharp, well-defined profile, which distinguishes this hill from its more rounded neighbours.
• •Alfred Wainwright held the fell in high regard, noting that it is the only peak in the Far Eastern range that possesses a truly 'mountainous' shape when viewed from the valley floor of Mardale.
• •Riggindale, which drops away steeply from the summit, was famously home to England’s last resident golden eagles. Although the last lone male disappeared in 2016, the crags remain a site of significant ecological importance and are still monitored for returning raptors.
• •From the summit, the view west provides a clear sightline across the High Street range toward the Helvellyn massif, while the view east follows the long, lonely descent toward the village of Shap and the limestone plateaus beyond.
• •It is one of the few Lakeland summits where you are guaranteed to meet walkers carrying 65-litre rucksacks who look significantly more tired than you; they are usually five days into the Coast to Coast and questioning their life choices.