Lake District
Stainton Pike
498M
1634FT
About Stainton Pike
Rising above the wild moorlands between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley, this rocky outcrop offers a rugged, often secluded experience. Part of the Devoke Water circuit, its craggy summit provides an excellent vantage point for the Scafell massif and the Irish Sea, capturing the desolate beauty of the southwestern fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
423rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
20m
Nearest Town
Muncaster
Geology
Stainton Pike is formed from ancient volcanic lava and hardened ash. You are walking across a foundation of solid flows and compressed volcanic stones.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD152942
Latitude
54.3369°N
Longitude
3.3048°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Stainton is derived from the Old Norse 'steinn' and 'tūn', meaning a stony farmstead. While the name originally referred to the settlement in the valley, it perfectly describes the pike’s own boulder-strewn slopes.
- •Alfred Wainwright included the hill in his 'Outlying Fells of Lakeland' as part of a six-summit circuit, praising the area for its 'unspoilt naturalness' and the sense of freedom found away from the central hubs.
- •The summit offers a specifically clear profile of the Scafell range to the north, where the southern faces of Scafell and Slight Side appear particularly imposing across the Eskdale depression.
- •The hill is a key landmark on the circuit of Devoke Water; at 498 metres, it stands as one of the higher points on the rim of the plateau surrounding the Lake District’s largest tarn.
- •If you arrive from the direction of Hesk Fell, you will find that the 'Stain' in its name is a helpful reminder of what the local peat bogs intend to do to your trousers.