Lake District
Snarker Pike
644M
2113FT
About Snarker Pike
Rising directly above Ambleside, this prominent shoulder on the southern ridge of Red Screes offers a grandstand view of Windermere. It is a steady, grassy climb that serves as the natural gateway to the higher Eastern Fells, providing an excellent vantage point to survey the Coniston range and the Langdale Pikes.
Key Statistics
Rank
214th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
6m
Nearest Town
Rydal
Geology
Snarker Pike is built from layers of volcanic rock, compressed ash, and sandy debris. These varied materials form the rugged, textured ground beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY390075
Latitude
54.4594°N
Longitude
2.9418°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'snar', meaning steep, combined with the Cumbrian 'pike' for a peaked hill, aptly describing the ridge's profile when viewed from the valley floor.
- •The ascent from Ambleside follows a remarkably straight line along the ridge, guided by a continuous dry stone wall that serves as a reliable navigation aid even when the mist rolls in from the surrounding fells.
- •From the summit cairn, the view south is exceptional, looking directly down the full length of Windermere with the site of the Roman fort, Galava, clearly visible in the valley below.
- •It is classified as a Synge, one of the tops identified by Tim Synge in his 1995 survey of the Lake District fells, though many walkers treat it merely as a waypoint on the way to the higher plateau of Red Screes.
- •It serves as a reliable psychological milestone for walkers; reaching the pike usually signals that the steepest part of the long pull out of Ambleside is finally over.