Lake District
Whin Ben
413M
1355FT
About Whin Ben
Rising steeply from the shores of Buttermere, this rugged shoulder serves as a dramatic gateway to the Whiteside ridge. Its lower slopes are characterized by thick gorse and heather, giving way to a narrow, airy spine that offers immediate, spectacular views over the deep blue of Crummock Water and the High Stile range.
Key Statistics
Rank
577th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
4m
Nearest Town
Loweswater
Geology
The fell is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and a type of sandstone known as wacke.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY165212
Latitude
54.5797°N
Longitude
3.2921°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Whin' is a local term for gorse, a hardy evergreen shrub with yellow flowers that populates the lower slopes of the fell.
- •Alfred Wainwright regarded this ridge as the finest way to ascend Whiteside, describing the climb as a 'fine prospect' that rises 'steeply and cleanly' from the valley floor.
- •It forms the southern pillar of the entrance to Gasgale Gill, a deep and dramatic ravine that separates the Whiteside massif from Grasmoor.
- •The summit offers a unique low-level perspective of Low Ling Crag, the distinctive rocky finger that juts into Crummock Water far below.
- •Despite its modest height, the relentless gradient of the path ensures your heart rate will be that of someone standing on a much higher mountain.