{{Short description|Mountain in the English Lake District, Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox mountain | name = High Spy | image = High_Spy_from_Maiden_Moor.jpg | image_caption = High Spy from the fell of [[Maiden Moor]]<br />2 km to the north | elevation_m = 653 | elevation_ref = | prominence = ''c.'' {{convert|148|m|ft|abbr=off}} | parent_peak = [[Dale Head]] | listing = [[List of Wainwrights|Wainwright]], [[Hewitt (hill)|Hewitt]], [[Nuttall (hill)|Nuttall]] | translation = High Look Out | language = [[Old English]] | location = [[Cumbria]], [[England]] | range = [[Lake District]], [[North Western Fells]] | grid_ref_UK = NY234162 | topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 89, 90 [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Explore Outdoor Leisure'' 4 | map = United Kingdom Lake District | map_caption = Location in Lake District, UK | coordinates = {{coord|54.534|N|3.185|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} }}
{{GB summits start}} {{GB summits entry |Name=High Spy North Top |Gridref=NY236171 |Height={{convert|634|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Status=Nuttall}} {{end}}
[[File:Summit tarn on High Spy.jpg|right|thumb|265px|View west to the [[Grasmoor]] group of hills from the small tarn on the summit ridge.]] '''High Spy''' is a [[fell]] in the [[England|English]] [[Lake District]] it is situated on the ridge that separates the [[Newlands Valley]] from [[Borrowdale]], eight kilometres (five miles) south of [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]].
==Topography== The fell reaches a height of {{convert|653|m|ft|abbr=off}} and is defended by crags to the east and west as it falls away steeply to the valleys. It is a distinctive fell that has {{convert|148|m|ft|abbr=off}} of [[topographic prominence]] from the higher adjoining fell of [[Dale Head]] and so misses being a [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]] by only two metres. Geologically the fell is made up of [[Borrowdale Volcanics]]. The meaning of the fell's name is obscure but may mean a “lookout post”, referring to some lost fort in the area. In the past it has been known as Scawdel Fell and Lobstone Band and these names are still used on maps to label other parts of the fell.<ref name="ukonline">:[http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sw.rae/fells.htm ukonline.co.uk.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718190249/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sw.rae/fells.htm |date=2006-07-18 }} details of fells name and translation.</ref> [[File:High Spy from Dale Head.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Seen from the slopes of [[Dale Head]]. Eel Crags falls steeply to the Newlands Valley]] The summit has an impressive [[cairn]] which has been known to be [[Vandalism|vandalised]] on occasions but always seems to gets rebuilt by other walkers. The top of the fell is relatively flat for a distance of about {{convert|2.5|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=off}} in a north-to-south direction and the impressive Eel Crags fall away vertically on the Newlands side of the fell, these crags are popular with [[Climbing|rock climbers]] with the quality of the rock being very good. '''High Spy North Top''' stands almost a kilometre north of the main top; it has a height of {{convert|634|m|ft|abbr=off}} and is also classed as a [[List of Nuttalls in England|Nuttall]], with a fine view of [[Derwent Water]]. {{convert|600|m|yd|abbr=off}} north of the main summit is a small unnamed tarn.<ref name="Nuttall">''"The Mountains of England and Wales Vol. 2 - England"'', John & Anne Nuttall, {{ISBN|1-85284-037-4}}, Page 34 Gives route details and info on North Top.</ref>
==Ascents== High Spy is often climbed as part of the [[Newlands horseshoe|Newlands Horseshoe]] ridge walk but can be ascended directly despite being defended by crags on both its Newlands and Borrowdale sides. From Borrowdale a path goes from Rosthwaite and climbs through the disused Rigg Head Quarries to reach the [[Mountain pass|col]] linking High Spy to Dale Head and then up the south ridge to the summit passing a small unnamed [[Tarn (lake)|tarn]] just before the top. From this side it is also possible to start from Grange and use an old drove road to get through the barrier of Blea Crag and then approach the summit. A [[scrambling]] route also starts from Grange, going via Hollows Farm it tackles the rocky rake of Nitting Haws directly.<ref name="Evans">''"Scrambles In The Lake District - North"'', R. Brian Evans, {{ISBN|1-85284-463-9}}, Page 138 Gives details of scrambling route from Grange.</ref> From Little Town in the Newlands valley an old mine road zig zags up to the col between the fell and Dale Head to then reach the top by the south ridge.<ref name="Wainwright">''"A Pictorial Guide to Lakeland Fells, The North Western Fells"'', Alfred Wainwright, {{ISBN|0-7112-2459-5}}, Gives general details of fell and routes.</ref><ref name="Birkett">''"Complete Lakeland Fells"'', Bill Birkett, {{ISBN|0-00-713629-3}}, Gives general details of fell and routes.</ref>
==Mining== The latter route passes the Castlenook [[lead]] mine at the foot of the fell on the Newlands side, this mine, formerly owned by the Company of Mines Royal, started production in the 1860s and continued until 1918 when cheaper imports led to its closure. There are also signs of trial levels higher up the steep slope.<ref name="mining">:[http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lgaz/lk02244.htm Old Cumbria Gazetteer.] Gives details of Castlenook mine.</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{North Western Fells}}
[[Category:Hewitts of England]] [[Category:Fells of the Lake District]] [[Category:Nuttalls]]