{{More footnotes|date=July 2022}} {{Short description|Mountain in England}} {{about|the hill in Caldbeck|the hill in Scandale|High Pike (Scandale)}} {{Infobox mountain | name = High Pike | image = High_Pike_from_Bowscale_Fell.jpg | image_caption = High Pike seen across the Caldew valley from [[Bowscale Fell]], 5 km to the SE. | elevation_m = 658 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 69 | prominence_ref = | parent_peak = [[Knott, Caldbeck|Knott]] | listing = [[Hewitt (hill)|Hewitt]], [[Nuttall (hill)|Nuttall]], [[List of Wainwrights|Wainwright]] | location = [[Cumbria]], [[England]] | range = [[Lake District]], [[Northern Fells]] | grid_ref_UK = NY318350 | topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 90 [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Explorer'' 5 | map = United Kingdom Lake District | map_caption = Location in Lake District, UK | coordinates = {{coord|54.705|N|3.06|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} }} {{GB summits start}} {{GB summits entry | Name=Great Lingy Hill | Gridref=NY309339 | Height={{cvt|616|m}} | Status=Nuttall}} {{GB summits entry | Name=Hare Stones | Gridref=NY315344 | Height={{cvt|627|m}} | Status=Nuttall}} {{end}} [[Image:High Pike (Caldbeck) Summit.jpg|right|thumb|285px|High Pike summit with [[Carrock Fell]] in the background.]] '''High Pike''' is a [[fell]] in the [[Northern Fells|northern part]] of the English [[Lake District]], it is located {{convert|4.5|km|mi|abbr=off|frac=4}} south of [[Caldbeck]]. It has a height of {{convert|658|m|ft|0}} and is the most northerly of the Lakeland fells over {{convert|2000|ft|m|1|abbr=off}}, a widely used criterion for determining which summits are classified as mountains. It is a large fell with its northern slopes falling away towards the lower ground between Caldbeck and [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]. Like the neighbouring [[Carrock Fell]] it has been extensively mined and the wealth created by the abundant variety of [[mineral]]s on High Pike led to the saying ''"Caldbeck fells are worth all England else"''. This fell should not be confused with another Lake District [[High Pike (Scandale)|High Pike]] situated in Scandale near Ambleside.
==Summit== High Pike’s summit is of some interest, it is used as a [[beacon]] by the population of Caldbeck and a fire is lit to celebrate important events such as the [[Millennium celebrations|Millennium]] and [[coronation]]s. The summit also has a massive [[cairn]] which was originally a shepherds cottage and has become a ruin. There is a [[trig point]] which has been mounted with a plaque which says ''“To Celebrate Caldbeck Parish’s Millennium Celebrations”'', there is also a substantial wind shelter nearby which has also been built from the stones from the ruined cottage. However, the most unusual of High Pike’s summit fixtures is a [[slate]] bench which bears the inscription ''“In memory of Mick Lewis who loved all these fells”'', he died in 1944 aged 16 and a small add-on is in memory of his mother who died in 1970. Famous mountaineer [[Chris Bonington]] lives in nearby Caldbeck and is he is often to be seen walking his dog on High Pike, he told a local newspaper in May 2005
''"This (High Pike) is a hill I feel truly at home on, It has always been one I can return to after climbing some serious peak in the Himalaya or Alps and return to earth. It has the most wonderful changing moods. The light is ever-shifting across the fell making a kaleidoscope of colours, and its wildlife is fascinating."''
==Mining== The mines of High Pike, which all lie on its northern slopes, have yielded numerous minerals since the 16th century. In fact, the most famous, Roughtongill is reputed to have yielded twenty three different ores. [[Copper]] was extracted at the Sandbeds mine, while [[lead]] and copper was mined at Driggeth mine. Later, some of the mines were reopened during the Second World War for the extraction of [[Barium sulfate|barytes]], which was needed for the production of munitions. The last mine closed in 1966.
==Ascents== A direct ascent of High Pike is usually done from the north, starting around the Caldbeck area, however the fell is often climbed in conjunction with the nearby fells of [[Carrock Fell]], [[Knott, Caldbeck|Knott]] and [[Great Calva]] making a circular walk that starts and finishes near Mosedale to the south of Carrock Fell.
==Summit== High Pike’s position on the northern perimeter of the Lake District gives a fine view of the [[Solway Firth]] and the [[Scottish Borders|Scottish Border]] hills to the north. However the view south is severely curtailed by the bulks of [[Skiddaw]] and [[Blencathra]] and the main body of Lakeland is not seen well. High Pike has two subsidiary tops which are also classed as [[List of Nuttalls in England|Nuttall]] fells, '''Hare Stones''' {{convert|627|metre}} and '''Great Lingy Hill''' {{convert|616|metre}} lie to the south west of the main summit at a distance of 600 metres and one kilometre respectively.
==Geodesy== High Pike was the origin (meridian) of the 6 inch and 1:2500 Ordnance Survey maps for Cumberland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charlesclosesociety.org/files/153Meridians.pdf|format=PDF|title=198 years and 153 meridians, 152 defunct|website=Charlesclosesociety.org|access-date=6 July 2021|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026185105/https://www.charlesclosesociety.org/files/153Meridians.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Other sources== * ''A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, The Northern Fells'', Alfred Wainwright {{ISBN|0-7112-2458-7}} * ''Complete Lakeland Fells'', Bill Birkett, {{ISBN|0-00-713629-3}} * ''The Mountains of England and Wale''s, John and Anne Nuttall {{ISBN|1-85284-037-4}} * [http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/barytes.htm Mining Information] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060820020307/http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/townandcountry/viewarticle.aspx?id=207467 Chris Bonnington - ‘High Pike is the hill I feel really at home on’]
{{Northern Fells}} {{Authority control}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=February 2021}}
[[Category:Hewitts of England]] [[Category:Nuttalls]] [[Category:Fells of the Lake District]] [[Category:Caldbeck]]