Whiteside [Whiteside West Top]

About Whiteside [Whiteside West Top]

Whiteside offers one of the most dramatic views in the North Western fells, looking straight down the length of Crummock Water. The ridge walk connecting it to Hopegill Head is thrillingly narrow, though the real test is the unrelenting, steep ascent from the Lanthwaite Green side.

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Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Old Norse 'hvit' and Old English 'side', likely describing the pale, weathered Skiddaw Slate screes on its southern flanks that catch the sun above Gasgale Gill.
• •Geologically, the fell is formed from the Kirk Stile Formation of the Skiddaw Group, which creates its characteristic smooth, steep slopes rather than the craggy outcrops found in the Borrowdale Volcanics.
• •The ridge between Whiteside and Hopegill Head, known as Whiteside Edge, provides one of the finest high-level promenades in the District, offering an exhilaratingly narrow path with steep drops into the valley below.
• •There is a long-standing debate over the summit; Alfred Wainwright identified the 707m western end as the top for its superior views, even though the fell's true geographical high point is 719m further east along the ridge.
• •The direct path from Lanthwaite Green is essentially a 500-metre vertical treadmill of scree and grass that serves as an excellent way to discover exactly how much you regret that extra pint in Buttermere the night before.