Grike

Grike is a fell in the Western Fells of the Lake District, standing near Ennerdale Water in Cumbria. It belongs to the Lank Rigg group, the most westerly hills in the national park, where the land slopes down toward the coastal plain. The fell can be climbed from villages like Kinniside or Ennerdale Bridge, with paths leading up from the valley floor. Its southern slopes are planted with conifers that run down to the River Calder’s headwaters. The northern side is also forested where the ground allows, while the Ennerdale face is cut by deep gullies such as Ben Gill and Red Gill. The fell’s summit is marked by a large stone cairn known locally as Stone Man, alongside two smaller ones. A weather station now stands beside the cairns, recording conditions on the exposed dome. From the top, the view stretches toward the sea, though Crag Fell blocks part of the eastern panorama. The Western Fells form a clear horseshoe, with distant peaks like Skiddaw and Fairfield appearing on the horizon. Ennerdale Water’s foot is also visible, linking the fell to the valley below. Paths to the summit start from Ennerdale Bridge or the lake’s outflow, where a lane leads to Crag Farm. Walkers can follow a clear route up to Crag Fell before turning toward Grike’s slopes. Another route follows the Coldfell road, which once served iron mines beneath the fell. This track crosses ridges like Heckbarley and Blakeley Raise before skirting Grike’s wooded southern flank. The mining history adds a layer of interest, with old levels driven into the hillsides during the 19th century.