Lake District
Whiteless Pike
660M
2165FT
About Whiteless Pike
Whiteless Pike is a striking, pyramid-shaped fell offering one of the most rewarding viewpoints in the North Western fells. While it serves as a shoulder to Grasmoor, the steep, relentless climb up Whiteless Breast makes it feel like a significant standalone peak with fantastic views over Buttermere.
Key Statistics
Rank
199th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
36.2m
Nearest Town
Buttermere
Geology
You’re walking on ancient mudstone and siltstone layers from the Kirk Stile and Buttermere formations, quietly preserving the valley’s sedimentary past.
Find It
Latitude
54.5594°N
Longitude
3.2693°W
Did You Know?
- •Alfred Wainwright famously dubbed this fell the 'Weisshorn of Buttermere' due to its sharp, alpine-looking profile when viewed from the village or the shores of Crummock Water.
- •The name likely derives from the Old English 'hwit' and 'leas', meaning 'white meadows', a reference to the light-coloured bent grass that often covers its slopes in contrast to the darker heather nearby.
- •Geologically, the fell is part of the Skiddaw Group, meaning its slopes are composed of ancient sedimentary slates that create the smooth, steep gradients seen on its southern face.
- •The narrow ridge leading toward Wandope provides an exhilarating 'aerial' walkway that offers a perspective of the Coledale fells usually reserved for much higher peaks.
- •The direct ascent via Whiteless Breast is a brutal, calf-shredding staircase of turf that will have you questioning your fitness levels long before the summit cairn appears.