{{Short description|Mountain in Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Low Pike | image = Low_Pike_and_WIndermere_from_High_Pike.jpg | image_caption = Low Pike seen from High Pike, one kilometre to the north. Ambleside and Windermere lake are in the background. | elevation_m = 508 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 28 | prominence_ref = | parent_peak = [[Dove Crag]] | listing = [[List of Wainwrights|Wainwright]] | location = [[Cumbria]], [[England]] | range = [[Lake District]], [[Eastern Fells]] | grid_ref_UK = NY373077 | topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 90 [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Explorer'' 7 | map = United Kingdom Lake District | map_caption = Location in Lake District, UK | coordinates = {{coord|54.46079|N|2.96874|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} }}

'''Low Pike''' is a small [[fell]] in the [[England|English]] [[Lake District]]. It has a modest height of 508 m (1,667 ft) and is situated three kilometres north of [[Ambleside]]. Low Pike is well seen from the streets of the town as the first prominent fell on the ridge which continues northwards for a further four kilometres to [[Fairfield (Lake District)|Fairfield]]. This ridge is part of the [[Fairfield horseshoe]] walk and Low Pike is most commonly ascended as part of this.

==Topography== Despite its modest height, [[Alfred Wainwright]] gave Low Pike a separate chapter in his ''[[Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells]]'' because "it is sufficiently elevated above the deep valleys of Scandale and Rydale to give an impression of loftiness which exaggerates its modest altitude." [[Bill Birkett]] also mentions the fell in his “Complete Lakeland Fells”, but its altitude is not sufficient to be noted on any other [[Hill lists in the British Isles|mountain lists]].{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

[[File:Low Pike, from north.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Low Pike from the descent from High Pike.]]

==Geology== The crest of the ridge consists of the [[dacite|dacitic]] welded [[lapilli tuff]] of the Lincomb Tarns Formation. [[Andesite]] sills surround this.<ref name="BGS">[[British Geological Survey]]: 1:50,000 series maps, ''England & Wales Sheet 38'': BGS (1998)</ref>

==Ascents== The direct ascent from Ambleside is straightforward. A signpost points to Low Sweden Bridge from the centre of Ambleside; after reaching the bridge and crossing the Scandale Beck a high [[dry-stone wall]] is followed for two kilometres along the spine of the ridge to reach the summit. A visit to High Sweden Bridge may be incorporated at the start of this walk; it is a typical [[Cumbria]]n [[Packhorse bridge]]. It has no direct [[Scandinavia]]n connection except that its name comes from the [[Old Norse language|Norse]] word ‘svithinn’ which means “land cleared by burning”. Most walkers who climb Low Pike continue to the adjoining fells of the Fairfield Horseshoe–[[High Pike (Scandale)|High Pike]], [[Dove Crag]], [[Hart Crag]], Fairfield, [[Great Rigg]] and [[Heron Pike]]–before returning to Ambleside.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Summit== The top of the fell is a small rocky peak which requires a bit of scrambling; the stone wall goes directly over the peak giving no room for a cairn of any size. The view is restricted by surrounding higher fells but the [[Great Langdale|Langdale]] and [[Furness Fells|Coniston]] fells show well over the low ground at the head of [[Windermere]]; there is also a good aerial view of Ambleside and the head of Windermere lake.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

== References == {{Commons category|Low Pike (Scandale)}} * A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Eastern Fells, Alfred Wainwright, {{ISBN|0-7112-2454-4}} * Complete Lakeland Fells, Bill Birkett, {{ISBN|0-00-713629-3}} {{reflist}}

{{Eastern Fells}}

[[Category:Fells of the Lake District]]