Sheffield Pike

Sheffield Pike stands in the Eastern Fells of the Lake District, a fell that rises between Glencoyne and Glenridding valleys. It forms part of the Helvellyn range and overlooks Ullswater from its high eastern ridge. The fell is reached by a broad grassy saddle from Stybarrow Dodd, passing White Stones and Green Side before climbing to the summit. Two lower ridges descend eastward, one through Glencoyne Wood to Ullswater, the other through Moss Crag to the same lake. The northern slopes drain into Glencoyne Beck, the southern into Glenridding Beck, while Mossdale Beck carries water from the eastern side. The fell is worth the journey for its dramatic separation of valleys and its mining history. The Greenside Mine once produced two and a half million tons of ore before closing in 1962. Remains of the mine, including spoil heaps and converted buildings now used as a Youth Hostel, still mark the lower slopes. Boundary stones and iron posts dated 1912 mark the division between the Howard and Marshall estates. The fell’s geology belongs to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, with andesite sheets and minor igneous intrusions visible near the summit. At the top, a broad cairn on a rocky outcrop marks the summit, surrounded by marshy ground and small tarns. A well-used sheep path above the southern crags offers the best views of upper Glenridding, framed by Catstye Cam and Helvellyn. The summit itself overlooks Glencoyne, though better views of Ullswater come from Heron Pike or the cairn above Black Crag. The fell’s steep flanks and crags, especially the Glenridding Screes, add to the rugged landscape. From the eastern col or Nick Head, routes lead back into the valleys below.