The Pike

The Pike rises 627 metres above the Cumbrian fells near Holmrook, and frankly, it's a proper grind to get up. The walk from the valley floor takes a good couple of hours depending on fitness, and you'll earn every metre of elevation gain. The views at the top spread across the Lake District's western edge - across to the Irish Sea on a clear day, and inland towards Scafell Pike and the higher peaks. It's bleak up there, genuinely wild, which is exactly why people come.

This isn't a tourist attraction with facilities or cafes. There's no visitor centre or car park infrastructure. You're walking moorland and fell, and that's the whole point. Walkers with proper boots and weather sense will find it worthwhile; families with young kids might struggle unless they're used to rough terrain. Allow three to four hours for a round trip from a lower starting point.

The nearby Fisherground Campsite sits just 4.7 miles away, making it decent base camp if you're tackling several fells in the area. Most people combine The Pike with other walks rather than making a day of it alone. Go when the weather's settled - this isn't somewhere you want to be caught in cloud or rain without proper kit. Free to access, naturally. Start early to maximise daylight, particularly between October and March when the days shrink fast.