Western Fells · Book 7

Red Pike [Wasdale]

Red Pike [Wasdale] is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 826 m (2,710 ft) it is the 26th highest of the 214 and the 4th highest in the Western Fells.

Height: 826 m; 2,710 ft
Rank: 26; of 214
In area: 4; of 33
Difficulty: Difficult

Red Pike [Wasdale] in the Western Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Colin Park via Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Red Pike [Wasdale]

A steep, muscular top on the Wasdale arm of the horseshoe. Rough ground and punchy gradients deliver huge looks over Wastwater and out to the coast. Often paired with Scoat Fell and Yewbarrow for a full-value circuit.

There are two Red Pikes about three miles apart. This is the higher, 826 m, on the ridge north of Wast Water. Start from the small car park at Overbeck Bridge (NY 167 068) or from the National Trust car park at Lake Head, which has toilets and sits about 1.5 km up the road. From Overbeck a pitched path climbs through gorse and bracken, and then a path traverses the side of Yewbarrow above Over Beck to Dore Head, the col below Stirrup Crag. The head of Over Beck is the last water until Black Sail Pass on the full round.

From Dore Head the south ridge climbs rocky steps and gets past a small crag by an easy gully, staying close to the edge of the Mosedale crags. Another route follows the long western slopes from Overbeck past Low Tarn. From Mosedale there is a long climb on scree, though the slopes by Black Comb are easier.

The Chair

Just before the summit you pass The Chair, a wind shelter built on a rock outcrop in the shape of an armchair, facing south. The summit cairn sits right on the brink of the Mosedale crags, so take care there. The Scafells and the Wasdale Screes show well, but Scoat Fell and Pillar block the view north.

Red Pike usually opens the Mosedale Horseshoe, with Scoat Fell and Pillar and often Yewbarrow and Kirk Fell too. Walk Lakes' version from Lake Head, which goes on to Black Crag and Pillar and returns by Black Sail Pass and the Wasdale Head Inn, is 17.4 km with 1,104 m of ascent. It is rated challenging, with some boulder clambering and loose scree.

In winter

The path from Dore Head runs close to the Mosedale crags and the summit cairn stands right on their edge, so in snow or mist keep well back. On the full horseshoe the Dore Head and Wind Gap screes are escape routes of last resort, and the round is long for a short winter day.

Great Views
Potentially Dangerous
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Red Pike (Wasdale), Walk Lakes: A Mosedale Horseshoe. Updated 22 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 165 106
Latitude: 54.48391° N
Longitude: 3.28985° W
Area: Western Fells

Walking up Red Pike [Wasdale]

The nearest car park on foot is Lake Head Car Park, 4.6 km (2.9 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Lake Head Car Park

Distance: 4.6 km; 2.9 miles, one way
Ascent: 897 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 2 h 18 min; Allow 1 to 3 hours

Height in metres along the path from Lake Head Car Park to the summit.

Times use Naismith’s rule, 5 km/h on the flat plus extra time for the climb, with Langmuir’s corrections. It’s a rule of thumb for the way up only, so add stops, weather and the walk back down.

The route follows paths mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors and isn’t a guided line. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Red Pike [Wasdale] questions

Is Red Pike [Wasdale] a Wainwright?

Yes. Red Pike [Wasdale] is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 7, The Western Fells.

How high is Red Pike [Wasdale]?

Red Pike [Wasdale] is 826 metres (2,710 feet) high. That makes it the 26th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 4th highest in the Western Fells.

Where do you park for Red Pike [Wasdale]?

The nearest car park on foot is Lake Head Car Park, 4.6 km (2.9 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Red Pike [Wasdale]?

From Lake Head Car Park it is 4.6 km with 897 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 2 h 18 min, so allow 1 to 3 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Red Pike [Wasdale]?

Upfell rates Red Pike [Wasdale] as difficult, and parts of it can be dangerous in poor weather or visibility. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Red Pike [Wasdale]?

The closest are Scoat Fell (841 m, 1.0 km NW), Steeple (819 m, 1.3 km NW) and Pillar (892 m, 1.6 km N).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Red Pike [Wasdale]?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 165 106, or 54.48391, -3.28985 in latitude and longitude.