High Tove: Height, Walks and Views in the Central Fells

High Tove is a broad, grassy fell on the watershed between Borrowdale and Thirlmere. At 515m, it belongs to the quieter, less sharply defined country of the Central Fells, where wet ground can demand more effort than the contours suggest. Its appeal lies in open moorland, the outlook towards the Helvellyn range and its close relationship with Watendlath, rather than a dramatic summit profile.

A moorland summit above Watendlath

High Tove stands east of Watendlath, on the broad ridge separating the Borrowdale side of the Lakes from Thirlmere. Its rounded shape is quite different from the craggy outlines of many better-known Lakeland summits. Grass, heather and areas of peat give this upland its character, with little of the sharp definition that makes a rocky pike easy to recognise from a distance.

The summit reaches 515m (1,690ft), at grid reference NY289165. Across the Thirlmere valley to the east, the Helvellyn range provides a much higher skyline. To the west lies the varied fell country around Borrowdale. The attraction is the contrast between High Tove's relatively gentle surface and the more strongly shaped mountains around it. Clear weather makes that setting much easier to appreciate; in cloud, the broad moorland offers fewer obvious landmarks.

High Tove among the Central Fells

High Tove appears in The Central Fells, Book Three of Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. It ranks 167th by height among the 214 Wainwrights. Although modest in elevation, it is part of an extensive area of upland rather than an isolated summit rising directly from a valley floor.

High Seat lies to the north along the ridge, with Bleaberry Fell farther north again. Armboth Fell is nearby to the east, while Raven Crag overlooks the northern end of Thirlmere. These neighbouring Wainwrights show the variety within this part of the Central Fells: broad, wet tops sit close to steeper wooded slopes and conspicuous crags. High Tove represents the open moorland side of that landscape, making most sense when considered alongside the surrounding ridge and valleys.

Walking character and the wet ground

For walkers, High Tove is particularly associated with boggy going. The ridge between High Tove and High Seat is well known for wet, peaty ground, and progress can be slower than the modest heights suggest. This is not a fell where a gentle-looking map necessarily promises easy walking underfoot.

Watendlath and the Thirlmere side are established starting areas for walks visiting High Tove, and the summit is often included with neighbouring Wainwrights. The character of an outing depends substantially on recent rainfall, visibility and how much of the ridge it includes. Waterproof footwear and sound navigation are sensible considerations here. Its understated terrain rewards attention to the ground as well as the wider view.

Where High Tove stands

Summit at grid reference NY289165 · open full map

The real High Tove

Walking High Tove

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

• High Tove and Armboth Fell from Thirlmere (walklakes.co.uk)
• High Tove and Armboth Fell (pawsexplorenorth.co.uk)
• Armboth Fell, High Tove & High Seat (masarnenramblers.com)

Weather on High Tove

Conditions estimated at summit height (515 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

High Tove on your wall

A painting of High Tove can bring home something less familiar than Lakeland's sharp ridgelines: the muted colour of moorland, a broad foreground and distant fells. As a print or canvas, it is a quiet reminder of days above Watendlath and Thirlmere.

Own “Sunlight On High Tove Snow Gullies” — our painting of High Tove → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Central Fells

• Armboth Fell 475 m
• High Seat 609 m
• Bleaberry Fell 590 m
• Raven Crag 461 m

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