Lake District
Pike of Blisco
703M
2306FT
About Pike of Blisco
Pike of Blisco is a prominent, conical fell positioned between Great and Little Langdale. It’s a popular climb from the top of Wrynose Pass or Blea Tarn, offering a relatively quick ascent with rugged, rocky terrain and some of the best views of the Langdale Pikes.
Key Statistics
Rank
155th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
177
Nearest Town
Elterwater
Geology
The Pike of Blisco is built on layers of volcanic sand and ash, mainly from andesite and dacite flows in the Birker Fell Andesite and Blisco Sandstone units.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4281°N
Longitude
3.1249°W
Did You Know?
- •The fell is composed primarily of Scafell Dacite, a hard volcanic rock that forms the rugged crags and steep slopes characteristic of the Southern Fells.
- •While 'Pike' is a common term for a peaked mountain, 'Blisco' likely has Old Norse roots, possibly relating to 'bliss' or 'blae', referring to a shining or bare hill.
- •The summit plateau is distinctive for its two massive stone cairns; the westernmost pile marks the 703m high point, while the eastern one serves as a superior vantage point for viewing the Langdale Pikes.
- •Historically, the southern slopes were known for 'Red Earth', an iron-rich soil used by local farmers as 'ruddle' to mark their Herdwick sheep for identification.
- •The stone-pitched path from Wrynose Pass is so neatly laid it feels like walking up a suburban driveway, right until the steep gradient and inevitable Cumbrian drizzle remind you exactly where you are.