High Stile

About High Stile

Standing as the apex of the magnificent ridge above Buttermere, this rugged Wainwright offers some of the most dramatic views in the Lake District. Its northern face drops steeply toward Bleaberry Tarn, providing a sharp, rocky contrast to the gentler, scree-covered slopes that lead south into Ennerdale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Old Norse 'stigill', meaning a steep path or narrow pass. This refers to the 'high path' along the ridge, which served as a historic route between the valleys of Buttermere and Ennerdale.
• •Alfred Wainwright ranked the view from the summit among the best in the fells, specifically noting the 'bird's-eye' perspective of Crummock Water and Buttermere. To the southeast, the vista is dominated by the massive profiles of Great Gable and the Scafell range.
• •The northern face features the massive Combe and Blea Crag, formed from Buttermere Granophyre. This hard igneous rock is distinct from the softer slates nearby, creating the rugged, broken ground that makes the north-eastern ascent so physically demanding.
• •High Stile is the highest point of the famous High Level Route, a three-peak ridge walk including Red Pike and High Crag. While the summit is a wide, stony plateau, the true highest point is marked by a cairn perched on the very brink of the northern precipice.
• •Despite the name, you will search in vain for an actual wooden ladder or fence-crossing at the top; the only 'stiles' you'll encounter are the punishingly steep natural ones made of rock and scree on the climb up from Burtness Wood.