Stile End

About Stile End

Rising above Braithwaite, this heathery shoulder is often treated as a mere stepping stone on the Coledale Horseshoe. However, its position offers a front-row seat to the impressive crags of Grisedale Pike and the scree-covered flanks of Outerside, making it a peaceful, accessible objective with its own distinct character.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely identifies the site of a historic boundary or enclosure, marking where a path once crossed a fence or wall via a stile to reach the higher grazing lands of the Coledale valley.
• •While overlooked by Alfred Wainwright in his Pictorial Guides, the hill is a recognized Birkett and Synge, appealing to those seeking a more granular exploration of the Lake District’s smaller tops.
• •The summit provides a unique vantage point over the Force Crag Mine at the head of the valley, the last mineral mine to work in the Lake District, framed by the massive northern face of Eel Crag.
• •The climb from Braithwaite follows an old packhorse route that maintains a steady, manageable gradient, offering a gentler alternative to the brutal, direct ridge lines of the higher fells nearby.
• •It is the definitive 'bonus peak' of the North Western fells; many walkers reach the summit by accident while traversing toward Outerside, only realizing they have conquered a hill when the path begins to drop.
• •From the summit, the view eastward is particularly rewarding, offering a clear sightline across the Vale of Keswick toward the looming mass of the Skiddaw range.