Fleetwith Pike

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Fleetwith Pike
Fleetwith Pike seen from the western end of Buttermere lake
Elevation	648 m (2,126 ft)
Location	Lake District, England
Prominence	117 m
Topo map	OS Landrangers 89, 90
OS grid reference	NY205141
Listing	Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright

Fleetwith Pike is a fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria which reaches a height of 648 metres (2,126 feet). The fell is a well known feature of the area as it casts an imposing presence over Buttermere lake and the Honister Pass B5289 motor road between Borrowdale and Buttermere. The side of the fell which overlooks Honister Pass is actually known as Honister Crag and this has been commercially quarried for its high quality green slate since the 1750s. Slate mining and quarrying at Honister did cease in 1986, but restarted in February 1997.

The fell itself is invariably climbed in conjunction with other neighbouring fells such as Haystacks and Grey Knotts; strong walkers may also take in the peaks of Great Gable and Green Gable. There are two possible starting points for the ascent of Fleetwith Pike: these are Gatesgarth in the Buttermere valley and the top of the Honister pass. Both places have car parks. The start from Honister Hause has the advantage of starting from a height of 356 metres (1,167 feet) and takes the walker through the quarry workings of the Honister Slate Mine and over Black Star, the highest point of Honister Crag at 630 metres (2,067 feet). Honister Crag was upgraded to become a Nuttall fell in November 2004, the first addition to the list since they were first published in 1990, it has 20 metres (67 feet) of topographical prominence from Fleetwith Pike. After crossing Honister Crag it is a simple walk to attain the top of Fleetwith Pike. The ascent from Gatesgarth goes up the intimidating-looking Fleetwith Edge, however all the crags can be by-passed without too much difficulty, this route goes past a white cross which is clearly visible from the valley and bears the inscription of "Erected by Friends of Fanny Mercer, accidentally killed 1887".

The view from the summit gives a fine prospect of the Buttermere valley which also takes in the other two lakes of Crummock Water and Loweswater. The fells of Pillar and Great Gable are close by and are well seen.

[edit] References

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, The Western Fells, Alfred Wainwright, ISBN 0-7112-2460-9
Complete Lakeland Fells, Bill Birkett, ISBN 0-00-713629-3
The Mountains of England and Wales, John and Anne Nuttall, ISBN 1-85284-037-4
Info on Honister Crag becoming a Nuttall