Lake District
Langhowe Pike
405M
1329FT
About Langhowe Pike
Rising above the moorland south-west of Shap, this rocky outcrop has a rougher character than the surrounding peat bogs. It sits directly on the historic Old Corpse Road, providing a clear view down into the Swindale valley and across to the higher, rounded bulk of Seat Robert.
Key Statistics
Rank
594th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
20m
Nearest Town
Rosgill
Geology
You are trekking over ancient lava flows and layers of hardened volcanic ash. These durable rocks were created by explosive eruptions and settling volcanic debris.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY529131
Latitude
54.5111°N
Longitude
2.7282°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a blend of Old Norse and Middle English; langr and haugr mean 'long hill', while 'Pike' was added later to describe its distinctive rocky top.
- •It is a significant landmark on the Old Corpse Road, the ancient track used to transport the dead from the remote Mardale valley to the consecrated graveyard at Shap before Mardale had its own church.
- •Alfred Wainwright included the hill in his 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland', noting it as a primary waypoint on the circular walk from Swindale that also takes in the higher ground of Seat Robert.
- •The summit offers a specific view of the meandering Swindale Beck as it flows toward the Eden Valley, framed by the steep, dark cliffs of Gouther Crag to the north-west.
- •While its status as a 'Pike' suggests a sharp peak, the surrounding terrain is famously damp; it is a hill where your choice of waterproof boots is tested far more rigorously than your climbing ability.