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Nethermost Pike

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891 mWainwright — Eastern Fells+3 bonus Birketts within 3 km Severe in cloud

Nethermost Pike at 891m (2,924ft) is the first of the great eastern summits south of Helvellyn, standing above the head of the Nethermost Cove corrie.

Summit conditions on Nethermost Pike

On the summit on Tuesday 27 October: 10° to 3°C, gusts to 57 mph, 18.8 mm of rain forecast over the whole day, midnight to midnight.

Against our lines, Tuesday 27 October: wind, cold and cloud from the Met Office UKV 2 km model (daylight hours, as in the verdict above); rain from the summit line’s forecast (the whole day). A tile is large when this top is past its line.

Wind on the top

Past the line

74 mph, our estimate for the open top in the worst daylight hour

The Met Office 2 km model’s gust of 55 mph times our exposure factor of 1.33. The summit line above gives Open-Meteo’s highest gust for the whole day, 57 mph, before any exposure factor.

The line Our line: 25 mph, where our wind Scale begins its 25–35 band: “balance affected; buffeting on exposed ground”. MWIS describes what wind does to a walker across a range rather than at a line: from about 20–25 mph it starts to affect your balance.

Estimated: it is not calibrated against summit readings, and the two forecasts can disagree by more than a band.

Cloud on the top

Past the line

18 out of 100, the clear-top reading

Averaged over the daylight hours, from the forecast’s humidity and low cloud.

The line Our line: a clear-top reading under 20 out of 100, where our scorer says “summit likely clagged in”. There is no outside threshold to cite; it is our estimate. What cloud does to finding the way: navigating in cloud.

Not an observation: cloud lifts and drops within the hour.

Rain, and the becks

Past the line

18.8 mm of rain over the whole day, midnight to midnight

The same figure as the summit line above and the 7-day forecast.

The line Our line: 6 mm in the day, where our scorer counts a day as soaking. We read rainfall, never river levels: becks in spate.

Open-Meteo’s forecast. It says nothing about rain already in the ground.

Also checked cold: feels like −2 °C, no ice or snow forecast. Under a line is not the same as fine: it means only that these figures are under the lines we use.

Not in these tiles Lightning, river levels, snow or ice already lying, and the ground under your feet. A tile cannot see them, so an empty space here never means they are absent.

Snow figures with a second opinion: Powered by Met Office data

Full 7-day summit forecast ↓

Wainwrights are scored for walking conditions each morning from the Met Office’s UK forecast model, read for each summit through Open-Meteo; the forecast figures are Open-Meteo’s, worked out for the summit’s height. How we check →

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Routes up Nethermost Pike

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal Walked in part
15.66 km · ~1182 m ascent · ~5–7 h · loop · 5 summits
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Park: Swirls, Thirlmere (paid) · Bus: 555 at the start

Helvellyn the steep way — 729 m of climbing inside the first 3.5 km at 21% average, before the ridge eases over Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike and comes back over Seat Sandal.

Distance and climb are measured from the route’s GPX track, and the time from them by Naismith’s rule; the route page says what each grade rests on. How we check →

Is Nethermost Pike good for beginners, and how hard is it?

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.
  • In winter the eastern rim builds cornices that can collapse: stay well back from the edge, and carry ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them.
  • 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 · Met Office — Lake District mountain forecast

How we check →

Conditions and 7-day summit forecast

Modelled for the 891 m summit (Open-Meteo). Check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

Full 7-day forecast
Tue 27 Oct
10° / 3°
57 mph
18.8 mm (100%)
Wed 28 Oct
7° / 4°
47 mph
8.2 mm (100%)
Thu 29 Oct
7° / 5°
25 mph
0.2 mm (33%)
Fri 30 Oct
7° / 5°
28 mph
0.0 mm (23%)
Sat 31 Oct
8° / 1°
14 mph
0.3 mm (18%)
Sun 1 Nov
6° / 0°
11 mph
0.0 mm (10%)
Mon 2 Nov
5° / -3°
16 mph
0.0 mm (0%)

Taken 27 October 2026, 08:13 UTC; the live forecast replaces it when it loads. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

Parking & buses for Nethermost Pike

Parking

Route starts first, then the car parks nearest the summit, which are not always a way up.

Swirls, Thirlmere (paid) — at the start of Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal
The standard west-side route up Helvellyn via Browncove Crags. Fees: pay and display; coins and cards (Lake District National Park car-parks directory, checked August 2026). Pay and display (visitlakedistrict.com); named as a UU Thirlmere car park on unitedutilities.com, which states no fee details (United Utilities, checked August 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
If it is full: Station Coppice, Thirlmere (LDNPA, paid) (0.2 km); Legburthwaite (United Utilities, small) (3.4 km, 222 m up)
The Swirls Car Park (~49 m straight line) — Free · Accessible · RADAR key
Wythburn Church, Thirlmere (paid) — 2.0 km from summit (straight line)
Direct forest path up Helvellyn's south ridge (Comb Crags). Fees: Pay and display, pay by coin only (visitlakedistrict.com) (United Utilities, checked August 2026). Lee has parked here and recalls the machine taking coins, which agrees with United Utilities' own listing rather than the National Park directory's “cards only” - carry coins (Lee McCoy, recollection, recorded 12 August 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
Steel End, Thirlmere (paid) — 2.6 km from summit (straight line)
South end of Thirlmere for the Wythburn valley and Armboth fells. Fees: pay and display (Lake District National Park car-parks directory, checked August 2026). Pay and display (visitlakedistrict.com); named as a UU Thirlmere car park on unitedutilities.com, which states no fee details (United Utilities, checked August 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
2 more places to park near Nethermost Pike
Roadside parking for Steel Fell (free) — 3.1 km from summit (straight line)
0.9 km from Steel Fell. Added from the 5 August 2026 OSM candidate review.
Directions Something changed here?
Steel Fell (layby) — 3.4 km from summit (straight line)
Nearest fells: Steel Fell (Dead Pike - Steel Fell) (1.0 km), Seat Sandal (1.5 km), Gibson Knott (1.7 km). Free (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate.

Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.

Buses

The 555 stops at Thirlmere, at Swirls car park, a 280 m walk from the start of Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal — a route we rate Severe overall (hardest: steepness). Last bus: Monday to Friday 21:01 towards Keswick (555); Saturday 21:01 towards Keswick (555); Sunday 18:52 towards Keswick (555). Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026; that timetable runs to 1 November 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

Stagecoach 555
Kendal – Staveley – Windermere – Ambleside – Rydal – Grasmere – Thirlmere (Wythburn & Swirls) – Keswick
Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside
Year-round, roughly hourly. The backbone bus of the A591 — ideal for Helvellyn (Wythburn/Swirls), Fairfield, the Central fells and anything around Grasmere/Rydal. From Penrith, take the X4/X5 to Keswick and change.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat

Hazards on Nethermost Pike

Hazard & Incident Information for Nethermost Pike

Checked by Lee McCoy, . Draws on published material from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team. Editorial background, not a live callout feed.

Hazard: Moderate

Helvellyn's near neighbour on the main ridge, sharing the range's two-faced character: gentle grass to the west, but a craggy eastern face lined with cliffs above Grisedale, between the wild hollows of Nethermost and Ruthwaite Coves. The ridge path runs close to that edge, the broad flat summit is easy to misjudge in cloud, and in winter the eastern rim cornices like the rest of the range. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.

  • The eastern crags above Grisedale: The path between Helvellyn and Dollywaggon skirts the top of steep cliffs falling to Nethermost and Ruthwaite Coves. It's a long way down — keep back from the eastern edge, especially in wind or cloud where the grassy top gives little warning of the drop.
  • Winter cornices on the eastern edge: Like Helvellyn, the eastern rim builds cornices in winter that can collapse, and the slopes below are steep and avalanche-prone. Stay well back from the corniced edge and carry ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them.
  • Flat summit & ridge navigation in cloud: The top is a broad, flat plateau that's easy to cross without noticing, and in mist the whole Helvellyn ridge is a whiteout navigation challenge. Take and trust a compass bearing, and don't drift toward the eastern edge.
Who should attempt this fell: Nethermost Pike is easy underfoot on its western side but shares Helvellyn's serious eastern edge — keep well back from the crags above Grisedale, navigate the flat summit and ridge carefully by compass in cloud, and treat the corniced eastern rim as genuine winter mountaineering ground. In summer the main risk is simply drifting too close to the drop.

What to watch for: Walkers straying toward or over the eastern crags above Grisedale · Cornice collapse and slips on the steep eastern slopes in winter · Navigation errors on the flat summit and Helvellyn ridge in cloud · Exposure on the high open ridge in strong wind

Local Mountain Rescue: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

Safety: Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Report incorrect information

Navigating in cloud

Severe

Of the three things our terrain model measures, the highest reading here is the amount of steep ground within half a kilometre of the summit. A serious place to be caught in cloud: carry map and compass (or GPS) and know how to use them, or save it for a clear day.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Nethermost Pike compares with all 214: the Clag Index (experimental).

If you need Mountain Rescue

Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Before you call, have ready: where you are (a grid reference if you can – the OS Locate app shows yours on your phone), what has happened, how many of you there are, and your mobile number.

Then stay where you are until the rescue team contacts you.

If you cannot make a voice call because of a hearing or speech impairment, emergency SMS works only if you have registered first: text “register” to 999.

From Mountain Rescue England and Wales’s guidance on calling them out (read 26 October 2026).

Map, GPX and nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).

Parking, toilets and buses: Parking & buses ↑.

Birketts within 3 km of Nethermost Pike

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits. Distances are straight lines: check the ground and access on a map before adding one.

0.6 km SHigh Crag (Grisedale)884 m · Eastern
1.5 km NNWHelvellyn Lower Man925 m · Eastern
2.6 km SECofa Pike823 m · Eastern

Routes over Nethermost Pike

Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal
15.66 km · ~1182 m ascent · loop · ~5–7 h
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Summits: HelvellynNethermost PikeHigh Crag (Grisedale)Dollywaggon PikeSeat Sandal

Download GPX Walked in part, July 2023 · km 0.4–2.8, km 7.8–9.5, km 10.7–12.0 from the map

Warnings: Dollywaggon Pike: The summit ridge is exposed to ferocious wind, and cornices build along the eastern edge in winter; they can and do collapse, and avalanche warnings apply in the range. Stay well back from the edge and don't trust snow that overhangs the drop. Nethermost Pike: Like Helvellyn, the eastern rim builds cornices in winter that can collapse, and the slopes below are steep and avalanche-prone. Stay well back from the corniced edge and carry ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them. Dollywaggon Pike: A steep, stone-pitched staircase that eases the climb up the abrupt southern face. Fine in summer, but in winter it ices readily and a slip here can send you sliding down the steep slope toward Grisedale Tarn. Treat it as a serious winter descent — crampons and ice axe, and the skill to use them. The path between Helvellyn and Dollywaggon skirts the top of steep cliffs falling to Nethermost and Ruthwaite Coves. It's a long way down — keep back from the eastern edge, especially in wind or cloud where the grassy top gives little warning of the drop.

From the hazard notes for Nethermost Pike · Dollywaggon Pike, each with its sources.

Route guide →

Every line here is a guide, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate for yourself and carry a map and compass. How to use this guide.

On the hill: terrain and water on Nethermost Pike

Water & shelter on the way up

On the Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal route:

shelter (mapped, not checked; 4 m off the line) Swirls car park (68 m from the start, straight line)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.

About Nethermost Pike

Nethermost Pike, a Lake District fell
Photo: Ann Bowker (madaboutmountains.com), Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

Wainwright described its east face as one of the most impressive in the district — the great crag of Nethermost Cove dropping steeply to the path below Striding Edge. The summit is most naturally reached as part of the Helvellyn ridge traverse from Glenridding or Patterdale. The views across to Catstycam and down to Red Tarn are excellent.

Field notes

This fell is to the south of Helvellyn and some may visit it on the way to Dollywagon Pike but I expect those that are aware of it would catch it on the way off the ridge as they head back down to Whythburn Church (or up depending on which way they're doing things). Even then, because that main route down exits before they reach the Pike, some would unfortunately miss it out all together. The summit isn't difficult to acquire. There is a smattering of rocks and a cairn which makes it a fair better resting spot than the parent mountain. Here there ae places to sit and enjoy the views if you're blessed by fine weather. In bad weather you're fully exposed and would likely wish to exit fast.

— Lee McCoy, who walked it on our Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike via Seat Sandal route in July 2023

My Strava hikes over Nethermost Pike

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Data from Strava.

Classifications & hill data

Selected lists

Wainwright
Eastern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
891 m
Height
2,924 ft
In feet
NY 3436 1421
Grid ref

This is the summit’s grid reference. If you call from anywhere else, give your own position, not this one.

The summit is also a Birkett.

Lists, height and summit position from the Database of British and Irish Hills; the feet are converted from its metres and the grid reference from that position. How we check →

The view from Nethermost Pike

The 360° skyline from Nethermost Pike

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys
Computed 360-degree skyline from Nethermost Pike36 labelled tops shown (18 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 15 kmBowfell · 13 kmGreat Gable · 14 kmPillar · 17 kmHigh Crag · 1 kmFairfield · 3 kmCrinkle Crags · 13 kmGrasmoor · 18 kmHigh Street · 10 kmHigh Stile · 18 kmHigh Raise · 10 kmThe Old Man of Coniston · 18 kmGrisedale Pike · 17 kmGreat Carrs · 15 kmThornthwaite Crag · 10 kmLooking Steads · 11 kmRobinson · 14 kmLong Side · 17 kmCold Pike · 13 kmCross Fell · 40 km · clear daysHelvellyn · 1 kmHelvellyn Lower Man · 2 kmCatstye Cam · 2 kmDollywaggon Pike · 1 kmHart Crag · 4 kmIll Bell · 11 kmCriffel · 61 km · clear daysRed Crag · 11 kmSheffield Pike · 5 kmLoadpot Hill · 12 kmWether Hill · 12 kmSelside Pike · 15 kmMiddle Dodd · 7 kmWard's Stone · 61 km · clear daysBleaberry Fell · 8 kmGreat Mell Fell · 12 kmEsk Pike · 13 kmRed Pike · 18 kmEel Crag · 17 kmRampsgill Head · 10 kmGreat How · 16 kmHopegill Head · 18 kmDale Head · 12 kmHigh Crag · 16 kmLittle Stand · 14 kmWhiteless Pike · 17 kmBlake Fell · 24 kmCofa Pike · 3 kmGreen Side · 5 kmRed Screes · 8 kmGreat Rigg · 4 kmStony Cove Pike · 8 kmCombe Head · 10 kmBirkett Fell · 6 kmHigh House Tarn Top · 12 kmPlace Fell · 7 kmRossett Pike · 12 kmWhite Combe · 34 km · clear daysBirks · 4 kmHigh Seat · 7 kmHaystacks · 15 kmWild Boar Fell · 44 km · clear daysBirk Fell · 7 kmLittle Mell Fell · 13 kmTarbarrel Moss · 18 kmHawk Rigg · 14 kmHigh Wythow · 16 kmLittle Meldrum · 12 kmSale Fell · 22 kmTop o' Selside · 23 kmStaveley Fell · 28 kmDunmallet · 16 kmBigland Barrow · 30 km · clear daysHumphrey Head · 40 km · clear daysMerrick · 116 km · a rare clear dayAran Fawddwy · 198 km · a handful of days a yearMoel Siabod · 172 km · a handful of days a yearCairnsmore of Carsphairn · 112 km · a rare clear dayThe Cheviot · 120 km · a handful of days a yearCairnsmore of Fleet · 99 km · a rare clear daySouth Barrule · 115 km · a rare clear daySlieve Croob · 193 km · a handful of days a yearPendle Hill · 86 km · a rare clear dayMoel y Gamelin · 168 km · a handful of days a yearSighty Crag · 72 km · a rare clear dayGreat Whernside · 77 km · a rare clear dayAgnew's Hill · 192 km · a handful of days a yearCauldcleuch Head · 87 km · a rare clear dayFair Snape Fell · 72 km · a rare clear dayBlackwood Hill · 84 km · a rare clear dayBillinge Hill · 114 km · a rare clear dayKillyleoch Hill · 82 km · a rare clear day
The skyline as a list, by direction
  • East: Rampsgill Head (10 km), High Street (10 km), High Raise (10 km)
  • South-east: Fairfield (3 km)
  • South: High Crag (1 km)
  • South-west: Bowfell (13 km), Esk Pike (13 km), Shelter Crags (13 km), Crinkle Crags (13 km), Pike de Bield (13 km), Great End (13 km), Crinkle Crags (13 km), Crinkle Crags (13 km), Crinkle Crags (13 km), Crinkle Crags South Top (14 km), Ill Crag (14 km), Broad Crag (14 km), Scafell Pike (15 km), Lingmell (15 km), Great Carrs (15 km), Swirl How (15 km), Scafell (16 km), Brim Fell (17 km), The Old Man of Coniston (18 km)
  • West: Green Gable (13 km), Great Gable (14 km), Kirk Fell East Top (15 km), Kirk Fell (15 km), Crag Hill (16 km), Pillar (17 km), High Stile (17 km), High Stile (18 km), Black Crag (18 km), Grasmoor (18 km), Red Pike (18 km), Scoat Fell (19 km), Steeple (19 km), Haycock (20 km)
  • North-west: Eel Crag (17 km), Grisedale Pike (17 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Merrick (116 km, Scotland), Aran Fawddwy (198 km, Wales), Moel Siabod (172 km, Wales), Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (112 km, Scotland), The Cheviot (120 km, England), Cairnsmore of Fleet (99 km, Scotland), Corserine (112 km, Scotland), Arenig Fawr (185 km, Wales).

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills v18.4 (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

Sunrise and sunset on Nethermost Pike

Nethermost Pike catches the sun before the valley does. On not one of the sixteen dates modelled does this summit wait for first light — the eastern horizon falls away rather than standing over you, and at midsummer the light reaches it 5 minutes before almanac sunrise.

0°30°40°50°60°04:31
Midsummer. The filled shape is the skyline as seen from the summit; the line is the sun’s path. Where they meet is first light — everything left of that point is the wait.
Times for 2026, in Lakeland clock time (GMT in winter, BST in summer) — and model outputs rather than observations.
First lightAlmanac sunriseDifference
Midsummer04:31 BST ±5.0 min04:36-5 min
Equinox06:10 GMT ±5.0 min06:15-5 min
Midwinter08:28 GMT ±5.0 min08:33-5 min

The northern horizon stands at about 0.56° from here.

Last light — when the sun leaves Nethermost Pike

The evening here runs close to the flat-horizon case. Even on its earliest evening of the modelled year (on 1 February) last light is only 1 minute before almanac sunset, so the published sunset time is a fair guide on Nethermost Pike.

The evening of the same three days. A negative difference means a ridge takes the sun before the valley loses it.
Last lightAlmanac sunsetDifference
Midsummer21:59 BST ±5.0 min21:52+7 min
Equinox18:29 GMT ±5.0 min18:26+3 min
Midwinter15:56 GMT ±5.0 min15:49+7 min

These are daylight figures, not a descent plan: the light goes on fading for a good while after the sun leaves, and going down in it is a decision about your own ground and party, not about this table.

What you can see from Nethermost Pike

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
109Wainwrights in view+20 marginal
117 kmFurthest sightlineMerrick · possible under favourable refraction
2Sea in viewSolway Firth, Morecambe Bay

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Scotland.

Far horizons
  • Merrick ScotlandNW · 117 km clear
  • Criffel ScotlandNW · 62 km distant
  • Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesSE · 57 km clear
  • Whernside Yorkshire DalesSE · 51 km clear
  • Solway Firth bay/estuaryNW · 51 km in view
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesENE · 41 km clear
  • Cross Fell North PenninesENE · 40 km clear
  • Morecambe Bay bay/estuaryS · 40 km in view
All 109 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Helvellyn, Dollywaggon Pike, Catstye Cam, St Sunday Crag, Birks, Hart Crag, Great Rigg, Sheffield Pike, Armboth Fell (Armboth Fell South Top), Ullscarf, Calf Crag, High Tove, Little Hart Crag (Little Hart Crag - West Top), High Hartsop Dodd, Tarn Crag (Easedale), Place Fell, High Seat, Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top), Middle Dodd, Brock Crags (Wainwright), Great Crag (Stonethwaite), Red Screes, Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, Bleaberry Fell, Grange Fell (Brund Fell), Pavey Ark, Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot, Thunacar Knott, Rest Dodd, Beda Fell (Beda Head), The Nab, Harrison Stickle, The Knott (High Street), Castle Crag, Thornthwaite Crag, Pike of Stickle, Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit), Rampsgill Head, Lingmoor Fell (Brown How), High Raise (High Street), Glaramara, Hallin Fell, Froswick, High Spy, Ill Bell, Maiden Moor, Cat Bells (Catbells), Wether Hill, Loadpot Hill, Yoke, Allen Crags, Dale Head, Base Brown, Pike of Blisco, Great Mell Fell, Bonscale Pike, Esk Pike, Harter Fell (Mardale), Little Mell Fell, Hindscarth, Brandreth, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Cold Pike, Green Gable, Arthur's Pike, Kentmere Pike, Fleetwith Pike, Barrow, Causey Pike, Wetherlam, Robinson, Lingmell, Ard Crags, Scar Crags, Selside Pike, Great Carrs, Haystacks (Buttermere), Outerside, Kirk Fell, Knott Rigg, Swirl How, Sail, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), High Crag (Buttermere), Wandope, Grisedale Pike, Whiteless Pike, Long Side, Brim Fell, Pillar, Ullock Pike, Hopegill Head, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Yewbarrow, Barf, Red Pike (Wasdale), Dow Crag, Red Pike (Buttermere), Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell), Lord's Seat, Steeple, Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter), Whiteside (Whiteside West Top), Broom Fell, Haycock, Sale Fell, Great Borne, Blake Fell

How the view from Nethermost Pike compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

How the skyline, light and sightlines are computed

Computed, not photographed. First light is the first minute the sun’s upper limb clears this summit’s own skyline and last light the last minute it is still clear of it, both solved against the 360° horizon profile behind The View from Nethermost Pike. Almanac sunrise and sunset are the flat-horizon convention. Every time carries a ± band from the 30 m elevation model — it smooths arêtes and cornices, so nothing here claims better than five minutes.

Sightlines from the Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model, which is a surface model: each 30 m cell holds the top of whatever stands there, trees and buildings included, rather than bare ground. Corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Places to stay near this fell

We have not stayed at any of them. We take no bookings or affiliate fees. Distances are straight lines from each route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions about Nethermost Pike

What makes Nethermost Pike worth climbing?

Nethermost Pike (891 m / 2,924 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.

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. The path between Helvellyn and Dollywaggon skirts the top of those steep cliffs, which fall to Nethermost and Ruthwaite Coves.

Sources: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

Is Nethermost Pike a Wainwright?

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.

What is the best way to climb Nethermost Pike?

Nethermost Pike is most often climbed as part of a Helvellyn ridge walk rather than on its own, because it sits on the ridge 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

Is Nethermost Pike good for beginners, and how hard is it? Answered above.

Where does Nethermost Pike rank among Lake District mountains?

At 891 m (2,924 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.

What does the name Nethermost Pike mean?

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.

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Other fells near Nethermost Pike

Places nearby: Harrop Tarn