High Snockrigg

About High Snockrigg

Rising steeply above Buttermere village, this grassy fell is often treated as a mere stepping stone to Robinson. However, its position as a Birkett top is well-earned, offering a spectacular aerial view looking straight down the length of Crummock Water towards the distant Loweswater and the Solway Firth.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is likely derived from the Old Norse 'snagi', meaning a projecting point or snout, combined with 'hriggr' for ridge. This accurately describes the way the hill's steep western face juts out like a blunt nose over the Buttermere valley.
• •While it was not given a dedicated chapter in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides—he considered it merely a shoulder of Robinson—it was later formalised as an independent summit by both Bill Birkett and Tim Synge.
• •The ascent from Buttermere via the path alongside Hassnesshow Beck is one of the most efficient ways to gain height in the district, though the unrelenting gradient makes it a stern test for hikers who haven't yet found their rhythm.
• •From the summit, the vista looking north-west is perfectly aligned with the gap between Mellbreak and Grasmoor, providing a framed perspective of Crummock Water that many larger fells fail to match.
• •Despite its modest height, the initial pull from the village is so vertical that many walkers have completed the majority of their day's physical exertion before they even realise they have reached a named summit.