The peaked summit of Kidsty Pike above Riggindale

Kidsty Pike

Height780m (2,559ft)

Prominence15m (49ft)

RegionFar Eastern Fells

Climbed2 Times

Kidsty Pike is topographically a subsidiary top of Rampsgill Head, but it has long since achieved the status of a distinct, legendary fell in its own right. This popularity is due entirely to its striking appearance; it provides a bold focal point for walkers looking up from the shores of Haweswater Reservoir.

"Travellers on the road and railway at Shap, looking west to the long undulating skyline of the High Street range, will find their attention drawn to the most prominent feature there, the sharp peak of Kidsty Pike. This unmistakable peak identifies the fell whenever it is seen in profile." — A. Wainwright

The fell exhibits a classic, asymmetric personality. Its northern flank drops away gently, rolling over easy grass slopes to the high mountain pastures of Randale. By contrast, the southern face plunges vertically over sheer crag walls and rough scree chutes into the cavernous depths of Riggindale, some 1,500 feet below. It is this sudden geological drop that creates the sharp, acute-angled mountain peak seen from below.

The cairn and rock outcrop on the summit

The small summit area is topped by a loose stone cairn resting directly on an exposed outcrop of rock. Perched right on the edge of the southern precipice, the high point offers an exhilarating, drop-away view down the length of Riggindale, making it one of the most rewarding high-altitude viewpoints in the Far Eastern district.

Trip Reports

High Street via Riggindale & Kidsty Pike22/07/2018

A Tour of Hayeswater11/01/2014

Return to Far Eastern Fells