High Pike (Caldbeck): 658m Height, Walks and Views
High Pike (Caldbeck) is a broad, open fell on the northern edge of Lakeland, rising to 658m above the countryside south of Caldbeck. Its appeal lies in space rather than sharp ridges: grassy slopes, a well-marked summit and long views towards the Solway Firth and southern Scotland. Walkers who enjoy the quieter character of the Northern Fells will find plenty to appreciate here.
High Pike (Caldbeck) at a glance
How high is High Pike (Caldbeck)? High Pike (Caldbeck) is 658 metres (2,159 feet) high, the 107th highest of the 214 Wainwrights.
| Height | 658 m (2159 ft) — 107 of the 214 Wainwrights |
|---|---|
| Wainwright book | Book 5: The Northern Fells |
| OS grid reference | NY318350 |
| Region | Northern Fells |
An open summit above Caldbeck
High Pike belongs to the rolling uplands south of Caldbeck, where the Northern Fells meet the lower country of northern Cumbria. Its broad outline is quite different from the craggy profiles associated with central Lakeland. Grass and heather give much of the fell its character, while old workings interrupt slopes that might otherwise look entirely natural. The distinction matters here: this is a landscape shaped by industry as well as weather and grazing.
The summit, at grid reference NY318350, has a trig point, a stone shelter and a memorial bench. On a clear day, the outlook reaches across the Solway Firth towards the hills of southern Scotland. Looking back into Lakeland brings the higher Northern Fells into the picture, including Skiddaw and Blencathra. The openness of the foreground is an important part of the view.
High Pike in the Northern Fells
High Pike appears in Alfred Wainwright's fifth volume, The Northern Fells. At 658m (2,159ft), it ranks 107th in height among the 214 Wainwrights. The Caldbeck qualifier distinguishes it from the High Pike above Ambleside, which belongs to the Eastern Fells. For anyone keeping a fell list or searching for walking information, that distinction is worth checking.
Carrock Fell, Knott, Great Sca Fell and Bowscale Fell are neighbouring Wainwrights in this northern group. Carrock Fell offers a particularly useful contrast, with a rockier summit and the remains of an ancient hillfort. High Pike is often combined with Carrock Fell, while longer outings can explore the broad uplands towards Knott. Caldbeck and the surrounding villages provide familiar starting areas for walks, though the appropriate approach depends on distance, conditions and experience.
A fell with a mining past
The Caldbeck Fells are well known for their mineral deposits and long mining history. Roughton Gill and other workings around High Pike belong to a wider industrial landscape in which lead and copper were among the metals sought. Spoil heaps and disused workings remain visible, giving these open slopes a more complicated history than their quiet appearance first suggests.
That history is part of High Pike's interest, but old mine workings should be treated cautiously and never entered. Above them, the summit offers a straightforward pleasure: room to pause and take in the northern horizon. Its modest profile should not disguise its exposure; cloud and wind can make these broad uplands demanding places to navigate.
Where High Pike (Caldbeck) stands
Summit at grid reference NY318350 · open full map
The real High Pike (Caldbeck)
Walking High Pike (Caldbeck)
We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:
- High Pike from Caldbeck - 🐝🐝+ Group (ramblers.org.uk)
- High Pike (Caldbeck) – The 214 Wainwright fells: without a car (214wainwrights.wordpress.com)
- Carrock Fell and High Pike (pawsexplorenorth.co.uk)
Weather on High Pike (Caldbeck)
Conditions estimated at summit height (658 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.
High Pike (Caldbeck) on your wall
A painting of High Pike can bring home something of that open northern skyline: the broad fell, changing cloud and distant Solway light. As a print or canvas, it offers a quiet reminder of days above Caldbeck, without needing a dramatic ridge to hold your attention.
Own “High Pike Deep Blue Valley” — our painting of High Pike (Caldbeck) → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork
Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Northern Fells
- Carrock Fell 662 m
- Knott 710 m
- Great Sca Fell 651 m
- Bowscale Fell 702 m
Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.