Grisedale Pike from Braithwaite

Grisedale Pike stands over Braithwaite at 791m, and the route guide WalkLakes describes its profile as distinctive. It climbs the north-east ridge in three steps: a grass path straight up through bracken to the minor top of Kinn, a wide heathery stretch over Sleet How, and then a narrowing crest that ends in a rough clamber on loose stones and rocky steps. WalkLakes says the ascent is not difficult and nothing on it counts as scrambling, but that the last section is best kept for a clear day, since the ground falls steeply to both sides.

From the summit the route follows the crag edge over Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head, crosses Sand Hill to Coledale Hause and drops into Coledale. Beside the path lie the buildings of Force Crag Mine, a scheduled monument and Site of Special Scientific Interest where lead, zinc and baryte were mined until a roof collapse closed it in 1990, the last mineral mine in the Lake District. The National Trust owns it and opens the buildings a few times a year for guided tours. Baryte was in particular demand in the Second World War, for explosives. The mine road leads back to the start, which is a small unsignposted parking area at the foot of Whinlatter Pass; WalkLakes adds that the school in Braithwaite allows parking at weekends and otherwise it is on-street.

WalkLakes gives 13.0km with 875m of ascent and a minimum time of just over four hours, grades the terrain as very rough boulder scree, and notes the path runs close to precipitous crags, so it marks the route potentially dangerous for a dog. It suits a walker ready for a long hill day who wants a Western Fells summit with real industrial history underfoot. It does not suit anyone wanting a short outing, or anyone uneasy beside steep drops. For the same view of Keswick and Derwentwater with far less climbing, Catbells is 5.6km and tops out at 451m.