Low Pike

Infobox Mountain
Name = Low Pike
Photo = Low_Pike_and_WIndermere_from_High_Pike.jpg
Caption = Low Pike seen from High Pike, one kilometre to the north. Ambleside and Windermere lake are in the background.
Location = Cumbria, ENG
Range = Lake District, Eastern Fells
Elevation = 508 m (1,667 ft)
Grid_ref_UK = NY373077
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 90 OS "Explorer" 7
Prominence = 28 m
Parent peak = Dove Crag
Listing = Wainwright

Low Pike is a small fell in the English Lake District it has a modest height of 508 m (1,667 ft) and is situated three kilometres north of Ambleside. Low Pike is well seen from the streets of the town as the first prominent fell on the ridge which continues northwards for a further four kilometres to Fairfield. This ridge is part of the Fairfield horseshoe walk and Low Pike is most commonly ascended as part of this.

Topography

Despite it’s modest height Alfred Wainwright gave Low Pike a separate chapter in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells because:

"“it is sufficiently elevated above the deep valleys of Scandale and Rydale to give an impression of loftiness which exaggerates its modest altitude”."

Bill Birkett also mentions the fell in his “Complete Lakeland Fells” but it’s altitude is not sufficient to be noted on any other mountain lists.

Geology

The crest of the ridge consists of the dacitic welded lapilli-tuff of the Lincomb Tarns Formation. Andesite sills surround this. British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, "England & Wales Sheet 38": BGS (1998)]

Ascents

The direct ascent from Ambleside is straight-forward. Follow the signpost to Low Sweden Bridge from the centre of Ambleside, after reaching the bridge and crossing the Scandale Beck a high dry stone wall is followed for two kilometres along the spine of the ridge to reach the summit. A visit to High Sweden Bridge is recommended at the start of this walk, it is a typical Cumbrian Packhorse bridge in a lovely spot. It has no direct Scandinavian connection except that it comes from the Norse word ‘svithinn’ which means “land cleared by burning”. Most walkers who climb Low Pike will continue to the adjoining fells of the Fairfield Horseshoe, these are High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag and then Fairfield returning to Ambleside over the fell on the eastern side of Rydale Beck.

ummit and View

The top of the fell is a small rocky peak which requires a bit a bit of scrambling, the stone wall goes directly over over the peak giving no room for a cairn of any size. The view is restricted by surrounding higher fells but the Langdale and Coniston fells show well over the low ground at the head of Windermere, there is also a good aerial view of Ambleside and the head of Windermere lake.

References

* A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Eastern Fells, Alfred Wainwright, ISBN 0-7112-2454-4
* Complete Lakeland Fells, Bill Birkett, ISBN 0-00-713629-3