Lake District
Dollywaggon Pike
858M
2816FT
About Dollywaggon Pike
Dollywaggon Pike marks the dramatic southern end of the Helvellyn range. It’s best known for the gruelling stone zig-zags rising from Grisedale Tarn and its steep eastern crags that drop into the quiet Ruthwaite Cove, offering a rugged, less-crowded alternative to its famous northern neighbour.
Key Statistics
Rank
30th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
50.3m
Nearest Town
Patterdale
Geology
The summit is built of layers of volcanic ash and reworked lava fragments, layered with soft volcanic mudstone, forming a rugged but gently sloping fell.
Find It
Latitude
54.5087°N
Longitude
3.0112°W
Did You Know?
- •The fell’s eastern face overlooks Ruthwaite Cove, which contains the ruins of Ruthwaite Lodge, a former mining hut later used as a climbing base by the legendary mountaineer Bentley Beetham.
- •Linguists suggest the name may stem from the Old Norse 'Dolgr' (giant) and 'vegn' (path), though local folklore often links it more colourfully to lost property or Victorian farm sleds.
- •Geologically, the summit is part of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, featuring rugged rhyolitic tuffs that have resisted erosion more effectively than the softer shales found further south in the district.
- •Grisedale Tarn, sitting at the fell's southern foot, is the focal point of a local legend claiming the crown of King Dunmail was thrown into its depths after his final defeat in 945 AD.
- •The 'Dollywaggon Zig-zags' are a masterclass in path engineering, though they have a nasty habit of making your knees feel like they've been through a structural integrity test by the time you reach the top.