Dollywaggon Pike

Grisedale Tarn lies under the south slope of Dollywaggon Pike, the last top at the southern end of the Helvellyn ridge, with Seat Sandal and Fairfield across the water. Smooth grass runs down the west side towards Thirlmere. The east side, above Grisedale, is a tangle of crag, boulder and scree.

For the shortest climb, park in the lay-by just over the top of Dunmail Raise on the Ambleside side (NY 328 116), which has room for a few cars. Walk back up to the crest, go through the gate, and follow Raise Beck up its ravine to Grisedale Tarn. The path is steep, rough and wet in places. From the tarn a stone-pitched path zigzags up the south slope to the top, and the bends take the sting out of the gradient. You can also come from Grasmere via the tarn, or from Wythburn by the busy Helvellyn path.

From Patterdale, the line to look for is The Tongue, a rocky ridge that climbs in steps straight to the summit, with Ruthwaite Cove on one side and Cock Cove on the other. It is a long way round, and rocky rather than grassy, and Spout Crag at its foot needs a short detour.

The summit is grassy, with a small cairn and a bigger one a little to the west above Ruthwaite Cove. A metal post nearby marks the parish boundary. The best views are across Grisedale, with Fairfield and Great Rigg to the south.

Before Thirlmere was turned into a reservoir, water off this one fell reached the sea at Morecambe Bay, the Irish Sea and the Solway Firth. The name may come from Old Norse words for a giant and for lifted.