Wandope

About Wandope

Wandope is a broad, high-altitude plateau that offers a surprisingly peaceful vantage point compared to its busier neighbors. While its summit is relatively flat and grassy, the eastern edge drops away into the spectacular glacial cirque of Addacomb Hole, providing incredible views across the Newlands Valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is thought to derive from the Old Norse 'vándr', meaning difficult or treacherous, and 'hop', an enclosed valley, specifically referring to the steep, craggy bowl of Addacomb Hole on its eastern flank.
• •Geologically, the fell is part of the Skiddaw Group, consisting mainly of laminated mudstone and siltstone, which results in the smoother, grassier slopes characteristic of the North Western fells compared to the rugged central peaks.
• •The summit plateau is so remarkably level that it lacks a distinct peak; the highest point is marked only by a modest cairn situated near the edge of the steep drop into the valley of Sail Beck.
• •Wandope provides a vital habitat for the Dotterel, a rare mountain bird that occasionally uses the high, stony plateaus of the Lake District as a stopping point during its spring migration to the Scottish Highlands.
• •Wandope is the master of the 'stealth summit'; because the climb from the main ridge connecting to Crag Hill is so negligible, many hikers bag this 2,500ft peak without even realizing they’ve finished the ascent.