Fleetwith Pike Summit & View of Buttermere

A conspicuous peak at the head of delightful Buttermere, hikes to Fleetwith Pike have enthralled generations of ramblers. When seen from the Honister Pass, its northern cliffs and crags give the fell an aura of impregnability but it is actually wonderfully accessible and easy to link with a number of other Wainwrights.

Discover superb views and great adventures

Buttermere is one of the prettiest regions in the Lake District and it is seen beautifully from the summit of Fleetwith Pike; some champion this as the finest view in the national park. Also splendid is the view across to the neighbouring Haystacks and beyond to the giants of the Western Fells: domed Great Gable, imperious Pillar and the superb High Stile range.

There are a number of walking routes to Fleetwith Pike’s summit, most starting either from Buttermere or from the car park at Honister Pass, which at 1,167 feet (356 m) does some of the leg work for you. Fleetwith Edge, the distinctive ridge that rises almost straight from Gatesgarth Farm to the summit, has no technical difficulties, despite appearances.

Fleetwith Pike’s Honister Crag is home to the Lake District’s only via ferrata, as well as the Honister Slate mine, still operational today. Quarry ruins can be found to the south east of the summit and two bothies have been developed from abandoned buildings: Warnscale Bothy and Dubs Hut.

Other than a night in a bothy or a wild camp, Buttermere and Borrowdale are the best places to seek accommodation and both have a wealth of options. It is very rare that Fleetwith Pike warrants the use of ice axes and crampons in winter.