Steel Fell [Dead Pike - Steel Fell]

About Steel Fell [Dead Pike - Steel Fell]

Rising steeply above the Dunmail Raise pass, this Central Fell serves as the gateway to the higher peaks of the Helvellyn range. Its grassy, triangular summit provides an excellent vantage point over Thirlmere and the Greenburn Valley, offering a quiet perspective before connecting onto the more rugged ridge towards Calf Crag.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse stál, which translates to 'steel' but in a topographical context refers to a steep, sharp ridge or spur. This describes the fell’s abrupt rise from the floor of Dunmail Raise.
• •Alfred Wainwright noted that while the climb from the top of the pass is short, it is 'unremittingly steep,' though he conceded that the directness of the route makes the summit a very accessible vantage point.
• •The fell forms a prominent cornerstone of the 'Greenburn Horseshoe,' a popular circuit from Grasmere that traverses the high ground around the Greenburn valley, including Calf Crag and Helm Crag.
• •The summit provides a direct, unhindered view across the gap of Dunmail Raise to the massive western face of Helvellyn and the deep trench of Thirlmere stretching away to the north towards the Skiddaw massif.
• •The highest point on the fell’s broad, boggy plateau is specifically named Dead Pike, a title that sounds considerably more ominous than the gentle, grassy mound actually warrants.
• •The ascent from the east is essentially a five-hundred-metre staircase made of grass; it is the ideal place to discover exactly how much you regret the previous night's pub dinner in Grasmere.