Route: Red Pike
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 5th July 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 8.6 miles
Ascent: 2,300 feet
Oddly, there are two Red Pikes within a couple of miles of each other. One is at Buttermere, the other is at Wasdale. This walk was based on the Wasdale fell
I parked near Netherbeck Bridge and walked beside Wast Water, turning uphill at Over Beck, and followed the Beck as far as Dore Head. There were a couple of people wild camping up here, fair enough, but they had a transistor radio playing loud music which could be heard all around, and I was tempted to give them a mouthful. It’s remote territory though, and my body may have remained undiscovered, so I carried on, keeping my curses to myself until the music was out of earshot
This minor episode was soon in the back of my mind as I attained the summit of Red Pike. What a thrilling situation, with the summit cairn overlooking fearful precipices – in fact it would be impossible to walk round the cairn, which is perched on the edge of a chasm
The swirling mist made the situation seem even more dramatic. The descent route was obvious – away from the sheer drops – and down towards Scoat Tarn
It was a long way back down to the valley, and pathless at times, but the gradient was easy. It had been a great walk with some dramatic mountain scenery
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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After leaving the car there’s a short walk along the road by the edge of Wast Water
The shapely summit of Yewbarrow, my route is along its left flank
Looking back to Wast Water at the beginning of the climb
Another view back over Wast Water
The way ahead - the summit of Red Pike can’t be seen, but it’s up there somewhere
Over Beck
The path peters out higher up, just aim for the gap ahead known as Dore Head
Looking back down the ascent route
Dore Head, the scrambly path up Yewbarrow can be seen, but my route lies the other way (thankfully)
The way up to Red Pike gets rockier, but it’s quite straighforward
Looking back to Dore Head, with Wasdale down below - the annoying campers mentioned earlier were still within earshot - grrrrrrr
Low Tarn, and Wast Water below it
Mosedale Beck
Summit cairn of Red Pike, perched on the edge of a precipice
There were no long distance views from the top, but plenty of excitement all the same
Looking back to Red Pike - the descent path follows the edge of the crags for a while
Atmospheric is one word for it - others spring to mind
I’m still following the edge of the crags, but will shortly turn left to head down the gentle slopes back to Wasdale
The pathless descent to Scoat Tarn
Scoat Tarn
It’s easy going, but a long way
Nether Beck - and a glimpse of Wast Water means that I’m on the home straight
Nearly back to the car now, and the Scafells come into view
I stopped the car shortly after the end of the walk, in order to savour this classic view back along Wast Water
