High Pike (Scandale) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Pike |
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Looking up to High Pike from Low Pike.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 656 m (2,152 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 5 m |
| Parent peak | Dove Crag |
| Listing | Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 High Pike
Location in Lake District
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Eastern Fells |
| OS grid | NY373088 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 90 OS Explorer 7 |
High Pike is a well-known fell (which means a hill or mountain) in the beautiful Lake District of England. It stands about five kilometers north of the town of Ambleside. This High Pike is part of the Eastern Fells mountain range.
It's important not to confuse this High Pike with another one in the Lake District, which is located in the Northern Fells. This High Pike reaches a height of 656 meters (about 2,152 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, people call it Scandale Fell, but that name really only describes the higher ground at the top of Scandale valley.
Exploring High Pike's Landscape
When you look at High Pike from the south, especially near High Sweden Bridge close to Ambleside, it seems like a lonely peak. It has steep cliffs on its eastern side. However, High Pike is actually just a small rise on a long ridge that stretches south from a bigger fell called Dove Crag.
High Pike only rises about five meters (16 feet) higher than the land around it. This small difference means it doesn't quite qualify as a "Nuttall" – a type of mountain listed by height. Even so, famous fell walkers like Alfred Wainwright and Bill Birkett have written about High Pike in their books about the Lakeland Fells. This shows it's still an important and interesting place to visit.
Climbing High Pike: Popular Routes
Many people climb High Pike as part of a longer, popular walk called the Fairfield horseshoe. If you start your climb from Ambleside, you head north from the town center. You'll pass by Low Sweden Bridge to reach the open fellside.
From there, you follow a large stone wall. This wall guides you first over a smaller hill called Low Pike. Then, you go down into a dip about 480 meters (1,575 feet) high. After that, you climb up to the flat, grassy top of High Pike. At the summit, you'll find a stone cairn (a pile of stones) right on the edge of the cliffs, looking out over Scandale valley.
Views from the Summit
From the top of High Pike, some of the views are blocked by even taller fells nearby. However, you can still enjoy a great view of the Far Eastern Fells mountain range. This view is especially clear over the Scandale Pass. You also get an excellent view of Ambleside town and the northern end of Windermere, England's largest natural lake.
