Esk Pike

About Esk Pike

Esk Pike in the Southern Fells has an elevation of 885 m (2,904 ft) with a prominence measuring 105 m (344 ft), meaning it is listed as a Hewitt and Nuttall as well as a Wainwright. Its parent peak is Bowfell and it stands at the head of the Eskdale valley. Despite its great height, it is somewhat overshadowed by the higher peaks of Great End and Bowfell. It is also the furthest away from the valley and road access and is therefore often much quieter than other fells in the Lake District.

There is a small cairn on an outcrop of rock marking the highest point on an extremely stony summit. From here, there are magnificent views of Eskdale, the Scafells, the Eastern and Northern Fells. Visible from here are also Derwentwater and a section of Windermere.

Climbing Esk Pike

Many visit the summit of Esk Pike after an ascent of Bowfell via The Band or having climbed from Borrowdale over Glaramara and Allen Crags.

Common starting points for a direct ascent are Brotherikeld and Borrowdale. Many of these routes go via Esk Hause, a depression which marks the important meeting point for walkers’ paths from Borrowdale in the north to Eskdale in the south. A lower path, referred to as the ‘false’ Esk Hause, runs east to west from Langdale to Wasdale.