Cold Pike

Cold Pike stands above the Upper Duddon Valley at an elevation of 701 m (2,300 ft). Its prominence is around 46 m (151 ft) and it is listed as a Hewitt and a Nuttall as well as being a Wainwright. Its parent peak is Crinkle Crags, Cold Pike being one of three ridges sent out by that larger fell, and the two are often summited together as there is as little as ten minutes walking between them.

Cold Pike has three separate summits stretched across its plateau, each of which is listed as a Nuttall in its own right, and all are marked with a cairn. The lower two are not named on OS maps, but are commonly referred to as Cold Pike West Top and Cold Pike Far West Top. Views from the actual summit include, inevitably, a great outlook onto Crinkle Crags and Pike of Blisco, but the Langdale Pikes and the northern end of the Coniston Fells are well seen from here too. In good weather, the Pennines are visible above Windermere and above the Duddon Valley, a view of Morecambe Bay too.

Climbing Cold Pike

The summit of Cold Pike is most easily reached via Red Tarn from the carpark at summit of Wrynose Pass, just to the south. If a little more challenging a walk is required, there are various longer routes available from the Great Landgale valley.

Climbers looking to escape from the often-busy Black Crag on the neighbouring Pike of Blisco can find similar favourable conditions on Cold Pike Crag, a west-facing crag about 200 m (656 ft) west of Cold Pike’s summit. This can be easily reached from the top of Wrynose Pass.