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.

• •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.