Hopegill Head facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hopegill Head
Hopegill Head seen from Grisedale Pike. Hobcarton Crag is beneath the fell. The grassy hill on the left is Sand Hill.
Highest point
Elevation	770 m (2,530 ft)
Prominence	97 m (318 ft)
Parent peak	Grisedale Pike
Listing	Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall
Naming
English translation	Source of Hope Gill
Geography
Hopegill Head Location in Lake District Show map of Lake District Hopegill Head Location in Allerdale Show map of Allerdale
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, North Western Fells
OS grid	NY185221
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90, OS Explorer Outdoor Leisure 4

Hopegill Head is a mountain, also called a fell, located in the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria, England. It stands about nine kilometers (5½ miles) west of the town of Keswick. You can see it clearly from the B5292 road as you cross the Whinlatter Pass.

Exploring Hopegill Head

Hopegill Head is the middle of three fells that form a long ridge. This ridge stretches eight kilometers from Braithwaite all the way to the northern end of Crummock Water. The other two fells on this ridge are Grisedale Pike and Whiteside.

What's in a Name?

Locally, people sometimes call this fell "Hobcarton Pike." This is because it sits at the top of a valley called Hobcarton Gill. However, the official maps from the Ordnance Survey call it Hopegill Head. This name comes from Hope Gill, another valley that runs northwest from the summit.

How Tall is Hopegill Head?

Hopegill Head reaches a height of 770 meters (2526 feet). It also has two smaller peaks nearby. These are called Ladyside Pike (703 meters / 2306 feet) and Sand Hill (756 meters / 2480 feet). Both of these smaller peaks are recognized as "Nuttalls," which means they are significant hills in England and Wales.

The Amazing Hobcarton Crag

One of the most impressive parts of Hopegill Head is Hobcarton Crag. This is a huge cliff, about 130 meters (417 feet) high. It drops very steeply down to Hobcarton Gill on the northeast side of the fell.

Climbing on the Crags

These cliffs are made of a type of rock called Skiddaw Slate, which is quite crumbly. This makes them not very good for regular rock climbing. However, in winter, when they are covered in ice, they are great for ice climbing! Some famous ice climbing routes here are Thompson’s Chimney and Cave Route.

Special Plants on the Crags

The National Trust owns these crags. They are the only place in England where you can find a special plant called Viscaria alpina, also known as the red alpine catchfly.

The Rocks of Hopegill Head

The main rocks you'll find at Hopegill Head are mudstone and siltstone from something called the Kirkstile Formation. If you look to the north, you might also see older rocks. These are greywacke sandstone from the Loweswater Formation.

Climbing Hopegill Head

There are many ways to climb to the top of Hopegill Head. Many hikers reach it by walking along the ridge from Grisedale Pike or Whiteside.

Other Routes to the Top

You can also start your climb from the Vale of Lorton. Another popular way is from the Whinlatter Pass road, following the northwest ridge. This route takes you over the smaller peak of Ladyside Pike.

The Coledale Round

Many people also reach Hopegill Head by passing over Sand Hill. This is often part of a longer, exciting walk called the Coledale Round. This is an 18-kilometer (about 11-mile) horseshoe-shaped walk. It includes several other fells in the Coledale area, such as Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag, Sail, Scar Crags, and Causey Pike.

The Summit Views

Reaching the top of Hopegill Head is a fantastic experience! The summit is a small, pointed peak right on the edge of Hobcarton Crag. From here, you get amazing views in every direction. On a clear day, you might even see the Isle of Man far away in the Irish Sea. You can also spot the hills of the Scottish Borders. Looking to the east, the entire Helvellyn range looks impressive.