High Spy

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High Spy
High Spy from the fell of Maiden Moor 2 km to the north
Elevation	653 m (2142 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District
Prominence	c. 148 m
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90 OS Explore Outdoor Leisure 4
OS grid reference	NY234162
Listing	Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall

Name	Grid ref	Height	Status
Listed summits of High Spy
High Spy North Top	NY236171	634 m (2080 ft)	Nuttall

High Spy is a fell in the English Lake District it is situated on the ridge that separates the Newlands Valley from Borrowdale, eight kilometres south of Keswick. The fell reaches a height of 653 metres (2142 feet) and is defended by crags to the east and west as it falls away steeply to the valleys. It is a distinctive fell that has 148 feet of topographic prominence from the higher adjoining fell of Dale Head and so misses being a Marilyn by only two metres. Geologically the fell is made up of Borrowdale Volcanics. The meaning of the fells name is obscure but may mean a “look out post” referring to some lost fort in the area. In the past it has been known as Scawdel Fell and Lobstone Band and these names are still used on maps to label other parts of the fell.

The summit has an impressive cairn which has been known to be vandalised on occasions but always seems to gets rebuilt by other walkers. The top of the fell is relatively flat for a distance of about 2.5 kilometres in a north to south direction and the impressive Eel Crags fall away vertically on the Newlands side of the fell, these crags are popular with rock climbers with the quality of the rock being very good. High Spy North Top stands almost a kilometre north of the main top it has a height of 634 metres (2080 feet) and is also classed as a Nuttall, it gives a fine view of Derwent Water.

High Spy is often climbed as part of the Newlands Horseshoe ridge walk but can be ascended directly despite being defended by crags on both it’s Newlands and Borrowdale sides. From Borrowdale a path goes from Rosthwaite and climbs through the disused Rigg Head Quarries to reach the col linking High Spy to Dale Head and then up the south ridge to the summit passing a small unnamed tarn just before the top. From this side it is also possible to start from Grange and use an old drove road to get through the barrier of Blea Crag and then approach the summit. From Little Town in the Newlands valley an old mine road zig zags up to the col between the fell and Dale Head to then reach the top by the south ridge.

The latter route passes the Castlenook copper mine at the foot of the fell on the Newlands side, this mine formerly owned by the Company of Mines Royal started production in the 1600s and continued until the 1880s when cheaper imports led to it’s closure.

[edit] References

The Mountains of England and Wales, John and Anne Nuttall, ISBN 1852840374
A Pictorial Guide to Lakeland Fells, The North Western Fells, Alfred Wainwright, ISBN 0711224595
Complete Lakeland Fells, Bill Birkett, ISBN 0007136293
Fell name Information
Castlenook Mine Information