Nethermost Pike

Nethermost Pike (891 m / 2,923 ft) is one of the highest fells in the Lake District, yet it sees only a fraction of the crowds on neighbouring Helvellyn. That is its appeal: a big, high summit with superb views that most walkers simply stride across without stopping.

It sits on the main ridge of the Helvellyn range, just south of Helvellyn itself, and its eastern face drops in dramatic crags above Nethermost Cove. Pause on the rocky east edge (carefully) for one of the finest viewpoints on the whole ridge, looking down to Grisedale and across to St Sunday Crag.

Sources: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

Yes. Nethermost Pike is one of the 214 Wainwrights, described in Book One of Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, The Eastern Fells. It is part of the Helvellyn group and is frequently bagged on the same outing as Helvellyn and Dollywaggon Pike.

Nethermost Pike is most often climbed as part of a Helvellyn ridge walk rather than on its own, because it sits squarely on the high path between Helvellyn and Dollywaggon Pike.

• From Wythburn (Thirlmere): the most direct walkers' ascent, climbing steeply through the forest and up the south-west flank to the ridge.
• As part of the Helvellyn round: combine it with Helvellyn, Dollywaggon Pike and the descent past Grisedale Tarn — a classic high-level day.
• From Grisedale (Patterdale): a longer, quieter approach from the east.

The summit plateau itself is easy walking, but keep away from the steep eastern edge in cloud.

Sources: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

The walking on Nethermost Pike itself is straightforward — broad grass and stone paths with no scrambling — so it is well within a fit beginner's reach as a walk. The difficulty comes from its height and position rather than the terrain.

• Reaching it means a long, high mountain day at nearly 900 m, often in exposed conditions.
• Its eastern side is steep and craggy above Nethermost Cove; in cloud the plateau is featureless and it is easy to drift towards the edge — a map, compass and the ability to follow a bearing are essential.
• If you combine it with Helvellyn's Striding or Swirral Edge, that part is a serious, exposed scramble and a different proposition entirely.

Treat it as a full mountain day, go in clear weather, and check the forecast first.

Sources: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab) · Met Office — Lake District mountain forecast (opens in new tab)

At 891 m (2,923 ft), Nethermost Pike is among the highest summits in England. It is one of the loftiest fells of the Helvellyn range — second only to Helvellyn itself (950 m) on that ridge — and comfortably one of the highest of all the Wainwrights.

Despite that stature it is easily overlooked, because walkers tend to focus on Helvellyn just to the north. That makes it a quiet high top with an outsized view.

The name comes from "nethermost", an old English word meaning lowest or nearest. It distinguishes this pike from the higher ground of Helvellyn beyond — it is the nearer, lower of the rocky tops along that stretch of ridge. "Pike" is the common Lakeland term for a pointed or prominent summit.