Esk Pike

Esk Pike is a fell in the English Lake District, part of the cirque of hills forming the head of Eskdale. It stands among the Southern Fells, a horseshoe of peaks that curves around the north of Upper Eskdale. The fell is not the highest in this group but holds a central position above the valley. To the north-west lies Esk Hause, a broad saddle with several important paths crossing it. The landscape here is complex, with valleys like Langstrath and Grains Gill shaping the terrain.

Esk Pike is worth the journey for its dramatic topography and fine views. The fell’s summit offers a wide panorama that includes the Scafells, the Eastern and Northern Fells, Derwentwater, and a section of Windermere. Ore Gap, a col to the south-east, separates Esk Pike from Bow Fell and is known for its red soil due to haematite. Angle Tarn, a round tarn north of the gap, sits in a corrie beneath Hanging Knotts and feeds into the Langstrath. The south ridge of Esk Pike descends into Upper Eskdale, dividing the Esk from Lingcove Beck.

Visitors to Esk Pike find a stony summit marked by a small cairn on the highest craggy outcrop. The approach from Ore Gap involves a series of steps, while the route from Esk Hause is rough and eroded. The south ridge offers subsidiary tops like Pike de Bield, Scar Lathing, and Throstlehow Crag, each with striking features. Lingcove Bridge, an old packhorse bridge, serves as a focal point for those approaching from the south. The fell’s central position provides glorious views of the surrounding fells and lakes.