Lake District
Causey Pike
637M
2089FT
About Causey Pike
Rising above the Newlands Valley, this distinctive fell is instantly recognisable by its prominent summit "knobble". The ascent from Braithwaite offers a steep but rewarding scramble onto a ridge that feels far loftier than its 637 metres. It serves as a natural gateway to the high, rolling circuit of the Coledale Round.
Key Statistics
Rank
221st Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
40m
Nearest Town
Stair
Geology
The path beneath you consists of layers of hardened mud, silt, and sand. These stones form the solid foundation of the fell.
Find It
Latitude
54.5768°N
Longitude
3.2101°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is thought to derive from the word "causeway," specifically referring to the ancient, zig-zagging tracks constructed to allow packhorses to navigate the steep terrain during the fell's mining heyday.
- •Alfred Wainwright was particularly taken by its silhouette, noting that while many Lakeland fells have rounded tops, Causey Pike is "a peak that looks like a peak" due to its distinctive series of summit mounds.
- •The fell’s northern face contains the remains of one of the very few cobalt mines in the Lake District. Opened in the mid-19th century to produce blue pigment for the pottery industry, the venture failed because the ore was too difficult to separate from the surrounding rock.
- •From the summit, you are rewarded with a perfectly framed view down the length of the Newlands Valley, with the bulky mass of Skiddaw and the jagged profile of Blencathra dominating the northern horizon.
- •The final scramble up the "knobble" is brief but unexpectedly hands-on, often providing a rude awakening to walkers who expected a gentle afternoon stroll based on the fell's modest elevation.