Lake District
High Pikehow
574M
1883FT
About High Pikehow
Rising above the Nether Beck valley, this rugged shoulder of Haycock offers a quiet, uncrowded alternative to the busier Wasdale summits. Its rocky, heathery character provides a fine vantage point over the deep trough of Wast Water and the screes of Illgill Head, tucked away from the main tourist thoroughfares.
Key Statistics
Rank
292nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
2m
Nearest Town
Wasdale
Geology
You are walking across an ancient volcanic landscape. These slopes are built from hardened lava flows and magma that cooled underground to form the tough rocks beneath you.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4777°N
Longitude
3.3226°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a classic Cumbrian tautology, combining the Old Norse 'pík' (pointed hill) and 'haugr' (mound or hill), essentially naming it 'High Peak-Hill'.
- •It is classified as a Synge, a list compiled by Tim Synge focusing on tops with a re-ascent of at least 30 metres, which often highlights interesting rocky outcrops that larger guides overlook.
- •The summit provides a superb, clear perspective across the valley to the sharp arête of Steeple and the sprawling crags of Scoat Fell, views that are often obscured from the higher plateau of Haycock itself.
- •The hill is a key landmark for walkers navigating the pathless southern slopes of the Western Fells when ascending from the shores of Wast Water via the Nether Beck approach.
- •It remains one of the few places in the Lake District where you can enjoy a genuine sense of isolation while remaining in full view of the crowded Scafell massif across the valley.