Fleetwith Pike: Height, Walks and Views of Buttermere

Fleetwith Pike gives the head of Buttermere much of its distinctive shape. Its steep western ridge rises from near the lakeshore, drawing the eye straight towards the summit. At 648.9 metres, it is far from the highest of the Western Fells, but its position makes it a memorable viewpoint. Walkers come for the ridge, the outlook along Buttermere and the contrast between open fell and working slate country.

The fell above the head of Buttermere

Seen from Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike has a sharply defined profile: a steep ridge climbing from the valley floor, with craggy slopes falling away on either side. This is Fleetwith Edge, the fell’s best-known approach and a prominent feature in photographs looking towards the head of the lake. Its apparent compactness from below is deceptive; beyond the summit, higher ground extends eastwards towards the Honister quarries.

The summit outlook is especially rewarding along Buttermere towards Crummock Water. The lakes provide a strong sense of depth, framed by the surrounding fells rather than lost in a distant panorama. The High Stile ridge stands across the valley, while Haystacks is a close neighbour. Fleetwith’s appeal lies as much in these relationships as in its height: water, farmland, crag and ridge are all clearly readable from above.

Honister and the slate workings

Fleetwith Pike’s eastern side belongs to a different landscape from its familiar western face. Honister Slate Mine occupies the fell above Honister Pass, the road crossing between Borrowdale and the Buttermere valley. Quarry faces, spoil heaps and access tracks record the extraction of the green slate for which Honister is known.

This is not simply an abandoned industrial landscape. Honister remains a working slate mine as well as a visitor attraction. The workings are an important part of Fleetwith Pike’s identity, showing how closely Lakeland’s fells are bound to the livelihoods of the valleys below. From different viewpoints, the same fell can appear either an unbroken mountain ridge or a place visibly shaped by quarrying. Both impressions belong to its character.

Fleetwith Pike among the Western Fells

Fleetwith Pike appears in The Western Fells, Book Seven of Alfred Wainwright’s pictorial guides. Its recorded height is 648.9 metres, or 2,129 feet, placing it 116th among the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY205141.

Neighbouring Wainwrights include Haystacks, Grey Knotts, Brandreth and Green Gable, placing Fleetwith within a varied area of ridges, tarns and high ground around Honister. Walks on the fell range from outings focused on Fleetwith itself to longer days incorporating neighbouring summits. The steepness of Fleetwith Edge deserves respect: modest height does not mean easy ground. Dedicated route guides are the right place to compare approaches, terrain and the demands of a particular walk.

Where Fleetwith Pike stands

Summit at grid reference NY205141 · open full map

The real Fleetwith Pike

Walking Fleetwith Pike

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Fleetwith Pike: The Easy Route (livingwiththewolf.co.uk)
• Lake District Walk: Fleetwith Pike via Fleetwith Edge (walklakes.co.uk)
• Fleetwith Pike Walk from Honister | Iconic Lake District Fell (honister.com)

Weather on Fleetwith Pike

Conditions estimated at summit height (649 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Fleetwith Pike on your wall

Fleetwith Pike’s strong outline and the long reach of Buttermere give a painting a clear sense of place. A print or canvas of this view can bring back a familiar walk, or simply keep a well-loved corner of the Western Fells in sight at home.

Own “Fleetwith Pike in Vivid Sunlight” — our painting of Fleetwith Pike → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Western Fells

• Haystacks 597 m
• Grey Knotts 697 m
• Brandreth 715 m
• Green Gable 800 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.