Lake District
Codale Head
732M
2402FT
About Codale Head
Sitting on the high ridge between High Raise and Sergeant Man, this stony plateau overlooks the dramatic glacial hanging valley of Codale. While frequently crossed by walkers traversing the central fells from Grasmere, its 732m summit provides a distinct, quieter vantage point above the popular waters of Easedale and Codale Tarns.
Key Statistics
Rank
130th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
15m
Nearest Town
Elterwater
Geology
You’re walking over ancient layers of hardened volcanic ash and sandy sediment. This rugged ground was formed from rocky debris settled after powerful, explosive eruptions.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY288090
Latitude
54.4720°N
Longitude
3.0989°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the valley it overlooks; 'Codale' likely combines the Old Norse 'dalr' for valley with a lost personal name or a descriptor for the stream that feeds into Easedale.
- •Though Alfred Wainwright did not grant it a dedicated chapter in his Pictorial Guides, Codale Head is a required summit for those completing the Birkett or Nuttall rounds, marking it as a distinct peak in the central Lake District.
- •The summit offers a spectacular, perpendicular view down onto Codale Tarn, a high-level corrie lake that remains hidden from the valley floor of Grasmere.
- •Looking south from the cairn, walkers are presented with a unique angle on the Langdale Pikes, where the back of Pavey Ark and the sharp peak of Harrison Stickle appear as a continuous wall of rock.
- •It is a summit frequently claimed by accident; many walkers heading for High Raise from the Easedale side pause here to catch their breath and only realize they have reached a named top when they check their GPS.