Fleetwith Pike has become one of my favourite Wainwright’s! Standing at 648 metres (2,126 feet), the views at the summit on a clear day over Buttermere, are just breathtaking! And the best thing about this hike, it is not a challenging climb!
Just like any mountain, there are plenty of different routes to choose from. You can take the long hike up, you can brave the via Ferrata up, or you can choose the easy hike up. This guide is for the easy route up, making it a great family-friendly hike!
Even though this route is what I classify as an ‘easy’ mountain climb, safety is still very important! At the end of the day, you are in the mountains! The weather can suddenly change, and the terrain can be unpredictable. Correct footwear and clothing are required, some kind of map is needed, wherever it’s a paper map or on your phone, and you should always carry a first aid kit.
Location
Fleetwith Pike is located in the Western Lakes, overlooking the valley of Buttermere, not too far from Keswick. The start of this route, starts at Honister Slate Mine, at the top of Honister Pass. The pass that runs from Borrowdale to Buttermere.
Parking
You can park at Honister Slate Mine for ÂŖ5 all day.
If you have a campervan/motorhome, you can stay in the car park for the night and pay ÂŖ15. This price includes the parking for the following day too, which is brilliant if you are planning to climb Fleetwith Pike!
To pay for overnight parking, you can either pay in the shop when you arrive or purchase a ticket in advance on their website:
https://honister.com/product-category/merchandise/
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, and you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
The route is just over 3 miles long.
When you look at the route of the map, you will notice two loops. Walk both loops clockwise.
1.
Starting at Honistor Slate Mine car park, take the dirt track, heading west out of the main car park. Follow it for a very short distance, till you see a path going off to your left-hand sign, signposted Haystacks, and Great Gable.
2.
Take the footpath and follow it as it leads you steeply up the mountainside. Eventually, you should reach a crossroads.
3.
At the crossroads, take the path going off to your right-hand side, leading you towards the dirt track.
4.
As you reach the dirt track, turn towards your left-hand side and follow it for a short while. Shortly, the dirt track with end and a mountain footpath will start.
5.
Follow the footpath up to the summit of Fleetwith Pike.
Be careful you stay on the right route, as the path becomes faint at times. If you are unsure, please check the map!
6.
Once you finished enjoying the views over Buttermere at the summit, start your descent down. Take the path travelling east off the summit. Follow the path as it leads you along the ridge and down to the dirt track.
If you are unsure which path to take, please do check the map!
7.
At the dirt track, turn to your left-hand side and follow the dirt track, back to Honister Slate Mine, where you started the walk from.
Enjoyed this walk? Why not have a go at one of my other favourites: Lake District National Park
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