Arthur's Pike

From the lower end of Ullswater you see the north west face of Arthur's Pike climb in several tiers of crag above the fields and the lakeside road. The top is less dramatic: a grassy plateau set back from the edge, with scattered rocky knolls. The remains of an old beacon, a column of stones, stand on the brink of the crags, and that is the spot to look from. The view runs north to the foot of the lake and Pooley Bridge.

The fell is a shoulder of Loadpot Hill, cut off from its twin, Bonscale Pike, by the ravine of Swarthbeck Gill. The direct way up starts from Swarthbeck on the Howtown road. A good path works round the north end of the crags to White Knott, and from there you head south over rough grass. There is no clear path to the summit cairn itself. The go4awalk round from Howtown climbs by Lock Bank, White Knott and Barton Fell, carries on to Loadpot Hill, and comes back over Bonscale Pike and down beside Swarthbeck Gill. That is about 13.5 km with around 600 m of climbing.

Parking near Howtown is very limited. Walk Lakes points to a few informal spaces on the zigzags up to Martindale Hause and a couple more at the top. The Ullswater steamer calls at Howtown pier, but check the time of the last boat before you set off.

You can also come at the fell from the north, following the High Street Roman road south from Pooley Bridge or Helton, or walk north to it from Loadpot Hill. The Roman road passes just south east of the summit, and a marshy dip separates Arthur's Pike from Loadpot Hill.