White Pike (Birkby Fell)

Tucked away in the quiet southwest, this rocky summit provides a wild, rugged perspective on the Eskdale fells. Rising above the expansive moorland of Birkby Fell, its crest offers a sense of isolation and a striking vantage point over the dark, sprawling waters of nearby Devoke Water.

• •The name 'White Pike' likely refers to the pale, weather-bleached appearance of the rhyolite rock outcrops, while 'Birkby' derives from the Old Norse Byrkibær, meaning a settlement near birch trees.
• •Alfred Wainwright included White Pike in his 'Devoke Water Circuit' within The Outlying Fells of Lakeland, noting that the area is rich in prehistoric remains and offers a solitude rarely found in the central fells.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the Scafell range from the south; the massive profiles of Scafell Pike and Slight Side appear particularly imposing across the valley of Eskdale.
• •To the west, the view opens up over the Ravenglass estuary to the Irish Sea, where the Isle of Man is a frequent sight on the horizon on clear, high-pressure days.
• •The terrain surrounding the pike is notoriously sponge-like, ensuring that any walker who spends too much time admiring the sea will likely finish the day with very traditional, very wet Cumbrian boots.