Grisedale Pike

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Grisedale Pike
Grisedale Pike seen from the fell of Barrow, 3 km to the east
Elevation	791 m (2,593 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District, North Western Fells
Prominence	c. 189 m
OS grid reference	NY198225
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt, Wainwright, Nuttall

Name	Grid ref	Height	Status
Listed summits of Grisedale Pike
Hobcarton Crag	NY193220	739 m (2425 ft)	Hewitt, Nuttall
Hobcarton End	NY194235	634 m (2080 ft)	Nuttall

Grisedale Pike is a fell in the Lake District, Cumbria, England situated 7 km west of the town of Keswick in the north-western sector of the national park. At a height of 791 m (2593 feet) it is the 40th highest Wainwright in the Lake District; it also qualifies as a Hewitt, Marilyn and Nuttall. Grisedale Pike presents a striking appearance when viewed from the east, rising to a perfect pyramidal peak and has the nickname of “The Matterhorn of Lakeland”. It possesses two subsidiary summits: Hobcarton Crag and Hobcarton End.

Grisedale Pike is a large fell throwing down three long ridges to the valley floors and two shorter ones that link to the adjoining fell of Hopegill Head and the strategically important Coledale Hause which links the fell the rest of the Coledale Fells. It is bounded to the west by the four kilometre valley of Coledale and to the north by the Whinlatter Pass which carries the B5292 motor road. The village of Braithwaite sits at the foot of the long eastern ridge, and some of the northern slopes have been planted by the Forestry Commission, with the Hospital Plantation occupying much of the valley of Grisedale.

The Coledale side of the fell has been extensively mined, with the Force Crag mine being the last working lead mine in the Lake District before closing in 1990; it also produced zinc and barite. The mine has had many owners and been closed and reopened regularly since the early nineteenth century. The mine suffered a major collapse in 1990 which led to the owners, the New Coledale Mining Company, deciding to close it.

The majority of ascents of Grisedale Pike usually start at the village of Braithwaite using a well blazed trail up the eastern ridge. An alternative ascent starts at a car park in Hospital Plantation near the top of the Whinlatter Pass and goes up the northern ridge taking in the “Nuttall” top of Hobcarton End before continuing to the summit. From the same starting point it is possible to climb the fell up the north eastern ridge following a ruined dry stone wall.

Grisedale Pike is often included in the circular walk called the Coledale Round, a 17.5 kilometre walk starting and finishing at Braithwaite. It includes the other fells of Hopegill Head, Eel Crag, Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike with over 1300 metres of ascent. The view from the top of the fell is comprehensive with the Cumbrian coast in view to the west and the Pennines seen in the distance to the east. Grisedale Pike has a subsidiary top, 800 metres to the south west of the main summit, it is unnamed on maps but has been given the name of Hobcarton Crag by writers, at 739 metres (2425 feet) it has Nuttall and Hewitt status.