Lake District
Whiteside Pike
397M
1302FT
About Whiteside Pike
Located on the quiet eastern fringe of the Lake District near Longsleddale, this grassy outlier offers a sense of solitude rarely found in the central fells. Its distinctive summit is marked by a slender, well-built stone column, providing an excellent vantage point over the remote upper reaches of the Bannisdale valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
611th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
47
Nearest Town
Garnett Bridge
Geology
Whiteside Pike is built from layers of hardened mud and fine sandstone. These mixed silty and gritty rocks form the solid foundation beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY520015
Latitude
54.4068°N
Longitude
2.7399°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Old English 'hwit' (white) and 'side' (slope), likely referring to the pale, bleached appearance of the fell's bent-grass during the winter months.
- •Alfred Wainwright featured this hill in his 'Outlying Fells' guide, specifically recommending the approach from the A6 at Huck's Bridge as part of a quiet, rolling circuit that includes the neighbouring Lord's Seat.
- •The summit is crowned by a remarkably tall and neatly constructed stone pillar, which stands in stark contrast to the sprawling, often boggy moorland that characterises this part of the Far Eastern Fells.
- •From the summit column, walkers can look directly across the deep trench of Longsleddale to the more rugged silhouettes of Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts.
- •While the height of 397 metres may not appear daunting, the surrounding terrain requires a masterclass in tactical tussock-jumping to avoid the persistent bogs of the Bannisdale horseshoe.