Red Pike (Buttermere)

About Red Pike

This Red Pike is not to be confused with the one around 5 km (3 mi) away in Wasdale. This fell lies in the Western Fells area of the Lake District and is part of the High Stile range which separates Ennerdale from Buttermere valley. Its elevation is 755 m (2,477 ft) above sea level and its prominence is around 40 m (131 ft), so is listed as a Wainwright, a Nuttall and a Hewitt.

The name ‘Red Pike’ comes from the red colouring of the syenite in the rock and subsoil of the fell. The final approach to the summit is steep on three sides, but the summit area itself is a level, grassy patch of ground marked by a large cairn. There are impressive views of some of the Lake District’s best known bodies of water, with Derwentwater, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Ennerdale Water and Loweswater all being visible from the summit on a clear day.

Climbing Red Pike

The ascent from Buttermere is a very popular route: Wainwright recommends taking the slightly longer path that takes in the impressive Scale Force waterfall. Common walks usually cover the three linked tops of the High Stile range: High Stile itself, Red Pike and High Crag, undertaken in a circular route from Buttermere. This can be extended along the whole High Stile ridge if wishing to extend the walk and complete a good number of Wainwrights, by including Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike.

The walk along the ridge running from Red Pike to Haystacks is regarded as one of the best in the area, with striking views of the Scafells, Great Gable and Pillar.