Whiteless Pike

Whiteless Pike is a striking, pyramid-shaped fell offering one of the most rewarding viewpoints in the North Western fells. While it serves as a shoulder to Grasmoor, the steep, relentless climb up Whiteless Breast makes it feel like a significant standalone peak with fantastic views over Buttermere.

• •Alfred Wainwright famously dubbed this fell the 'Weisshorn of Buttermere' due to its sharp, alpine-looking profile when viewed from the village or the shores of Crummock Water.
• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'hwit' and 'leas', meaning 'white meadows', a reference to the light-coloured bent grass that often covers its slopes in contrast to the darker heather nearby.
• •Geologically, the fell is part of the Skiddaw Group, meaning its slopes are composed of ancient sedimentary slates that create the smooth, steep gradients seen on its southern face.
• •The narrow ridge leading toward Wandope provides an exhilarating 'aerial' walkway that offers a perspective of the Coledale fells usually reserved for much higher peaks.
• •The direct ascent via Whiteless Breast is a brutal, calf-shredding staircase of turf that will have you questioning your fitness levels long before the summit cairn appears.