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A guide to bagging Wainwright's Lakeland Fells.

The Eastern Fells

Low Pike

The Wainwright top at Low Pike
Low Pike summit cairn, looking north to Scandale Bottom and High Beckstones with the ridge wall on the left.
Photograph taken: 12th July 2019

Location map for Low Pike

Wainwright top at Low Pike

Context

Low Pike is a Wainwright in The Eastern Fells area of the Lake District National Park.

Location

Grid Ref
NY 37352 07840
BNG e,n
337352,507840
Lat/long
54.462055,-2.967965
GeoJSON
[-2.967965,54.462055]
///W3W
cringes.recitals.tiling
Feature
cairn on rock outcrop near wall

Elevation

Height
508m / 1,667ft
Drop
18.0m
Rank
172 / 214
Details
Locating Wainwright tops

It's easy to make the mistake of thinking that the Wainwright top is at the true summit of a fell. For many fells in the 214, this is not the case. Wainwright often chose a top because of its aspect or view rather than its height. This is what sometimes makes finding the Wainwright tops so confusing.

Locating a top is also complicated by the fact that features change over time. Cairns come and go, some grow and some shrink, fence posts are added or removed. Although the summit sketches in Wainwright's guides and the photographs in this guide are useful aids for identification, the features shown are subject to change, especially on popular fells. See Fleetwith Pike for an example of how cairns change.

Important: The accuracy of GPS on smartphones is ±5m at best but could be as much as 8m out. Please bear this in mind when using the location data.

Route planning

Fells
High Pike
Distance: Short1.1km
Ascent: Moderate179m
Time: Moderate29min
Details
There is one viable route from Low Pike

The Wainwright guides indicate “ridge routes” from each fell and although this is useful, it doesn't always allow for effective route planning. The routes shown here are the Wainwright ridge routes (indicated with ) plus any other viable routes (indicated with ), not necessarily linked by a ridge. This list provides a more comprehensive network of potential routes that can be used when planning days out on the fells.

All routes have been plotted in the OS Maps app. The distance, ascent and time values are those given for the plotted routes. Time values are for moderately fit walkers without breaks. They should therefore be considered minimum values for the purposes of route planning.

Classification

DoBIH No
2596
Local
Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Wainwright
Birkett
Lake District hills over 1,000ft listed in Bill Birkett's Complete Lakeland Fells. There are 541 Birketts, 211 are also Wainwrights.
Fellranger
Lake District hills included in Mark Richards' Fellranger walking series, a set of eight volumes inspired by the Wainwright guides. There are 230 Fellrangers, 209 are also Wainwrights. This is a curated list, not based on height criteria.
Synge
Lake District hills over 300m listed in Tim Synge's The Lakeland Summits. The book aims to list every significant summit over 300m in height within the National Park, 646 in total. It includes all 214 fells in Wainwright's Pictorial Guides, including Castle Crag at 290m.
Wainwright
Lake District hills included in volumes 1-7 of Wainwright's A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. There are 214 Wainwrights in all. This is a curated list, not based on height criteria.
National
Unclassified
Unclassified
A hill with no national classification.

Geology

Bedrock
Lincomb Tarns Tuff Formation
BGS code
LTA
Type
Igneous (extrusive)
Age
449.0 – 458.4 Ma
Period
Ordovician
Parent
Borrowdale Volcanic Group
Details
Members, formations and groups
Member
A smaller unit of rock that shares common charateristics and features, often used in geology to describe specific layers within a formation.
Formation
A larger unit of rock that is distinct from other formations above and below. A formation may include two or more members.
Group
A stratigraphic unit that includes two or more associated formations that are usually contiguous or contain significant features in common.
Suite
A geological unit containing intrusive, highly deformed, or metamorthic rocks of the same type, lacking discernable stratification.
Complex
A geological unit containing intrusive, highly deformed, or metamorthic rocks of different types, lacking discernable stratification.
Notes
These igneous rocks are volcanic in origin. Gaseous and rich in silica, they form explosive flows of pyroclastic deposits. They may include thin tuff and sandstone interbeds. Component members are recognised in some areas e.g. Thirlmere Tuff Member. Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected during a volcanic eruption.

Daylight

Tuesday, 9th June 2026

Daylight
17 hours 11 minutes
Dawn
03:43
(3:43am)
Sunrise
04:35
(4:35am)
Midday
13:11
(1:11pm)
Sunset
21:46
(9:46pm)
Dusk
22:39
(10:39pm)
Details
Daylight, dawn, dusk and midday
Daylight
The period of Daylight begins at sunrise and ends at sunset.
Dawn and dusk
The given figures are for Civil Dawn and Civil Dusk. These mark the start and end of Civil Twilight, that period before sunrise and after sunset when there is still enough light in the sky to easily undertake most outdoor activities without artificial light. However, do bear in mind that light levels during twilight will vary depending on cloud cover. Before dawn and after dusk, a headtorch is recommended.
Midday
Midday is the point, half way between sunrise and sunset, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Midday is also known as Transit or Solar Noon and may not be the same as noon in Civil Time (12 o'clock).
Notes
Aim to complete your walk before sunset, leaving the evening twilight period as a buffer in case the walk takes longer than expected. Always carry a headtorch.

Profile books featuring Low Pike

Bagging books featuring Low Pike

Walk books featuring Low Pike

  • Outstanding Walks Lake District

    Inspirational walks — Natural wonders — Treasured heritage

    Outstanding Walks Lake District
    Author
    Vivienne Crow
    Publisher
    Ordnance Survey
    Published
    7th October 2025
    ISBN
    978-0319092996
    Details
    Table of contents

    South Lakes and the Peninsulas

    Walk 1
    Arnside Knott
    Walk 2
    Whitbarrow
    Walk 3
    Seathwaite Tarn
    Walk 4
    Old Man of Coniston and Dow Crag
    Walk 5
    Wetherlam
    Walk 6
    Tarn Hows
    Walk 7
    Wray Castle and Blelham Tarn
    Walk 8
    Orrest Head and Allen Knott

    Central Lakes

    Walk 9
    The Langdale Valleys
    Walk 10
    Side Pike and Lingmoor Fell
    Walk 11
    Crinkle Crags and Bowfell
    Walk 12
    Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle
    Walk 13
    Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge
    Walk 14
    Loughrigg Tarn and the Brathay
    Walk 15
    Rydal Water and Grasmere
    Walk 16
    Fairfield
    Walk 17
    Wansfell Pike
    Walk 18
    Troutbeck Valley

    Western Lakes and Coast

    Walk 19
    Ravenglass and Muncaster
    Walk 20
    Devoke Water
    Walk 21
    Dalegarth and Eskdale
    Walk 22
    Greendale Tarn, Seatallan and Middle Fell
    Walk 23
    Scafell Pike via Lingmell
    Walk 24
    Hay Stacks
    Walk 25
    Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag
    Walk 26
    Buttermere
    Walk 27
    Rannerdale Knotts
    Walk 28
    Crummock Water
    Walk 29
    Loweswater

    Keswick and North-West Lakes

    Walk 30
    Great Gable
    Walk 31
    Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite
    Walk 32
    Castle Crag and the Jaws of Borrowdale
    Walk 33
    High Rigg and St John's in the Vale
    Walk 34
    Cat Bells
    Walk 35
    Barrow
    Walk 36
    Friar's Crag and Derwent Water
    Walk 37
    Castlerigg and Tewet Tarn
    Walk 38
    Latrigg
    Walk 39
    Lord's Seat and Broom Fell
    Walk 40
    Dodd
    Walk 41
    Skiddaw

    Ullswater and Eastern Lakes

    Walk 42
    Adam Seat and Harter Fell
    Walk 43
    Rough Crag and High Street
    Walk 44
    Brothers Water
    Walk 45
    St Sunday Crag
    Walk 46
    Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Grisedale
    Walk 47
    Glenridding and Lanty's Tarn
    Walk 48
    Silver Bay
    Walk 49
    Beda Fell
    Walk 50
    Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd
    Walk 51
    Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park
    Walk 52
    Pooley Bridge and Barton Park

    Northern Fells and North Cumbria

    Walk 53
    Bowscale Fell
    Walk 54
    High Pike and Carrock Fell
    Walk 55
    Caldbeck Village
    Walk 56
    Campfield Marsh and Bowness Common

    East Cumbria

    Walk 57
    Winder from Sedbergh
    Walk 58
    Smardale Gill
    Walk 59
    Sunbiggin Tarn and Great Asby Scar
    Walk 60
    Crosby Ravensworth Fell
    Notes

    This lovely book contains descriptions of 60 walks in the Lake District National Park. The walks are varied in length from 2km to 18km, and in grade from easy to challenging. Half of the walks include one or more Wainwrights. The book is beautifully illustrated with colour photographs. Walk descriptions are concise but clear. Route maps are small and diagrammatic, but each walk has a QR code that links to the walk on OS Maps.

    Purchase
    Buy this book at Amazon
  • Lake District: High Level & Fell Walks

    Walking in the Lake District — the highest mountains in England

    Lake District: High Level & Fell Walks
    Author
    Vivienne Crow
    Publisher
    Cicerone Press
    Published
    21st February 2024
    ISBN
    978-1786312266
    Details
    Table of contents

    Walks from the Keswick area

    Walk 1
    Skiddaw via Ullock Pike
    Walk 2
    Blencathra and its neighbours
    Walk 3
    Coledale Horseshoe
    Walk 4
    Newlands Round
    Walk 5
    Causey Pike, Knott Rigg and Robinson
    Walk 6
    Helvellyn range, end to end

    Walks from Borrowdale and Buttermere

    Walk 7
    Scafell Pike
    Walk 8
    Glaramara and Allen Crags
    Walk 9
    Great Gable (from Honister)
    Walk 10
    Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
    Walk 11
    Grasmoor and Gasgale Crags

    Walks from the Western Valleys

    Walk 12
    The High Stile ridge
    Walk 13
    Great Gable (from Wasdale Head)
    Walk 14
    Pillar and Red Pike [Wasdale]
    Walk 15
    Scafell

    Walks from Coniston and Langdale

    Walk 16
    The Coniston Fells
    Walk 17
    The Langdale Pikes
    Walk 18
    Pike o'Blisco and Crinkle Crags
    Walk 19
    Bow Fell (Bowfell) and the Mickleden Round

    Walks from Ambleside, Grasmere and Windermere

    Walk 20
    Fairfield Horseshoe
    Walk 21
    Helm Crag and Blea Rigg
    Walk 22
    Kentmere Round

    Walks from the Ullswater area

    Walk 23
    Helvellyn via the edges
    Walk 24
    Deepdale Round
    Walk 25
    Caiston Glen Round
    Walk 26
    Hartsop Dodd and Gray Crag
    Walk 27
    High Street and Harter Fell [Mardale]
    Walk 28
    A Martindale Round
    Walk 29
    Place Fell and Beda Fell
    Walk 30
    Matterdale and The Dodds
    Notes

    An excellent book detailing 30 walks, all of which include at least one Wainwright. They are all day walks, taking in some of the highest fells in the Lakes. The book is illustrated with useful photographs and clear route maps based on the OS 1:50,000 series.

    Purchase
    Buy this book at Amazon
  • Lake District: Ridge Walks & Scrambles

    Challenging high-level routes in the Lake District

    Lake District: 
Ridge Walks & Scrambles
    Author
    Carl Rogers
    Publisher
    Northern Eye Books
    Published
    28th July 2021
    ISBN
    978-1908632838
    Details
    Table of contents
    Walk 1
    Fairfield Horseshoe
    Walk 2
    Kentmere Horseshoe
    Walk 3
    Deepdale Horseshoe
    Walk 4
    The Boredale Horseshoe
    Walk 5
    Coledale Horseshoe
    Walk 6
    Little Dale Round
    Walk 7
    High Street by Rough Crag
    Walk 8
    Mosedale Horseshoe
    Walk 9
    Striding & Swirral Edges
    Walk 10
    Blencathra's ridges
    Notes

    This small format book describes just 10 walks but they are all classics and include most of the big horseshoe walks and those that include high-level ridges and/or Grade 1 scrambles. Each walk description is illustrated with photographs and a clear route map on an OS 1:50,000 map base.

    Purchase
    Buy this book at Amazon
  • The High Fells of Lakeland

    Mountain Walks

    The High Fells of Lakeland
    Author
    Terry Marsh
    Publisher
    Ordnance Survey
    Published
    26th November 2018
    ISBN
    978-0319091111
    Details
    Table of contents

    North and North West Lakeland

    Walk 1
    High Pike [Caldbeck] and Carrock Fell
    Walk 2
    Skiddaw
    Walk 3
    Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags and Souther Fell
    Walk 4
    Blencathra: Sharp Edge and Scales Fell
    Walk 5
    Blencathra: Hall's Fell Ridge and Doddick Fell
    Walk 6
    Causey Pike, Crag Hill (Eel Crag) and Grisedale Pike
    Walk 7
    Hindscarth and Robinson
    Walk 8
    Grasmoor

    Western Lakeland

    Walk 9
    Red Pike [Buttermere], High Stile and High Crag
    Walk 10
    Pillar, Red Pike [Wasdale] and Yewbarrow
    Walk 11
    Scafell Pike
    Walk 12
    Great Gable
    Walk 13
    Base Brown, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts

    South and Central Lakeland

    Walk 14
    Crinkle Crags and Bowfell
    Walk 15
    Harrison Stickle and Pike o'Stickle
    Walk 16
    Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag
    Walk 17
    Wetherlam

    Eastern Lakeland

    Walk 18
    Great Dodd and Clough Head
    Walk 19
    Sheffield Pike
    Walk 20
    Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Grisedale
    Walk 21
    Fairfield
    Walk 22
    St Sunday Crag
    Walk 23
    Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Thornthwaite Crag
    Walk 24
    High Street and Harter Fell [Mardale]
    Notes

    This excellent book is one of three Pathfinder Guides covering the Lake District and written by Terry Marsh. It describes 24 walks, all of which include one or more Wainwrights. The highlights are the detailed point-to-point descriptions and the clear, detailed route maps on OS 1:25,000 bases.

    Purchase
    Buy this book at Amazon
  • Classic Fell Walks in the Lake District

    A guide to Lakeland’s finest fell walking rounds

    Classic Fell Walks in the Lake District
    Author
    Carl Rogers
    Publisher
    Mara Books
    Published
    1st May 2011
    ISBN
    978-190251224
    Details
    Table of contents

    The North

    Walk 1
    Blencathra by Sharp Edge & Hall's Fell ridge
    Walk 2
    Skiddaw by Ullock Pike
    Walk 3
    Coledale Horseshoe
    Walk 4
    Robinson & Hindscarth from Little Town
    Walk 5
    Whiteside & Grasmoor from Crummock Water

    The West

    Walk 6
    High Stile from Buttermere
    Walk 7
    Haystacks & Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere
    Walk 8
    Scafell Pike & Great End from Wasdale Head
    Walk 9
    Scafell from Eskdale
    Walk 10
    The Mosedale Horseshoe from Wasdale Head
    Walk 11
    Great Gable & Kirk Fell from Wasdale Head

    The East

    Walk 12
    Helvellyn by Striding Edge & Swirral Edge
    Walk 13
    Deepdale Horseshoe — Fairfield & St Sunday Crag
    Walk 14
    High Street from Haweswater

    The South

    Walk 15
    The Kentmere Horseshoe
    Walk 16
    The Fairfield Horseshoe
    Walk 17
    The Langdale Pikes
    Walk 18
    Pike o'Blisco & Crinkle Crags from Great Langdale
    Walk 19
    Bowfell & Esk Pike from Great Langdale
    Walk 20
    The Coniston Fells
    Notes

    Carl Rogers describes 20 of the classic Lakeland walks, including the Kentmere Horseshoe, the Fairfield Horseshoe and the Langdale Pikes. Route mapping uses OS 1:50,000, the route descriptions are detailed, and the book is illustrated with excellent photographs.

    Purchase
    This book is out of print but you may find it at AbeBooks

Maps featuring Low Pike

  • The English Lakes: South-Eastern Area

    Windermere, Kendal and Silverdale

    The English Lakes: South-Eastern Area
    Series
    OS Explorer
    Publisher
    Ordnance Survey
    Scale
    1:25,000
    ISBN
    978-031926333
    Details
    Features and visual style

    OS Explorer

    A sample of the OS Explorer map showing Crummock Water.

    The Ordnance Survey Explorer map clearly shows public rights of way and visible footpaths. It is printed on paper, so not ideally suited to use on the fells unless you buy the encapsulated (Active Map) version or use a map case. The visual style is more illustrative than diagramatic with a good balance of detail and clarity.

    Notes

    A good general purpose leisure map with full UK coverage. The Explorer maps are good for getting to know the terrain and for route planning. Each one comes with a digital version for use with the OS Maps app.

    Purchase
    Buy this map at Amazon
  • Lake District: East

    Ullswater, Haweswater and Kentmere

    Lake District: East
    Series
    Superwalker XT25
    Publisher
    Harvey Map Services Ltd
    Scale
    1:25,000
    ISBN
    978-185137547
    Details
    Features and visual style

    Superwalker XT25

    A sample of the Harvey XT25 map showing Crummock Water.

    The Harvey Superwalker XT25 map is ideally suited to use on the fells. It's printed on lightweight polyethylene, which is waterproof and tearproof. The maps use standard UK grid references and are compatible with OS maps. The visual style is designed for walkers with prominent contours and clear styling of crags and other landscape features. Public and visible footpaths are also shown.

    Notes

    A good special purpose map, it's specifically designed for walkers but is only available for mountain areas and long-distance footpaths. The Lake District sheets have all the Wainwrights clearly labelled.

    Purchase
    Buy this map at Amazon