High Pike (Caldbeck)

About High Pike (Caldbeck)

Standing as the northernmost outlier of the Lakeland fells, this broad, grassy dome offers a gentler alternative to the rugged central crags. Easily accessible from Caldbeck, the summit features a distinctive slate bench and provides expansive, earned views across the Solway Firth toward the Southern Uplands of Scotland.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is straightforwardly English, with 'Pike' traditionally denoting a pointed peak. Ironically, High Pike is one of the most rounded fells in the Lake District, appearing more like a vast moorland dome than a sharp summit from most angles.
• •Alfred Wainwright described High Pike as a 'comfortable' fell and particularly praised the summit's amenities. He noted the unusual presence of a stone bench, built from local slate, which allows walkers to sit and survey the northern plains in relative luxury.
• •The eastern and northern slopes are scarred with the remains of the Caldbeck Fells mining industry. The Driggeth and Sandbed mines once extracted lead, copper, and barytes here, leaving behind spoil heaps and levels that hint at the area's industrial past.
• •From the 658m summit, the vista to the north is exceptional. On a clear day, the view stretches across the Solway Firth to the Criffel and the Galloway hills in Scotland, while to the south, the massive bulk of Skiddaw and Blencathra dominates the skyline.
• •The summit is home to a substantial stone seat, though given the notorious wind speeds on this exposed northern edge, you may find yourself using it more as a windbreak than a place for a relaxed picnic.