High Spy
653m (2143ft)
The North Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
Not familiar with this top?
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.25ml (13km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,512ft (766m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Newlands Valley - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Newlands Valley - Newlands Church - Little Town - Hawes End
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10mls (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,349ft (1,082m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - Narrow Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dale Head Tarn - Rigghead Quarries - The Allerdale Ramble - Castle Crag - River Derwent - Yewdale Knott - Manesty - Manesty Band - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.25ml (16.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,585ft (1,093m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth - High Crags - Scope End - Low Snab Farm - Newlands Church - Little Town - Newlands Valley - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12mls (19km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,152ft (1,266m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dale Head Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth Edge - Hindscarth - Littledale Edge - Robinson - High Snab Bank - Newlands Church - Little Town - Hawes End - Derwent Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14.5ml (23km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,409ft (1,648m) |
| Time: | 11 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hawes End - Derwent Water - Skelgill Bank - Woodford's Path - Cat Bells (Catbells) - Maiden Moor - High Spy (North Top) - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head (Newlands) - Hindscarth - Littledale Edge - Robinson - High Snockrigg - Moss Force - Newlands Hause - Knott Rigg - Ard Crags - Birkrigg - Keskerdale Beck - Newlands Church - Newlands Beck - Little Town - Skelgill Farm - Hawes End Derwent Water.
See High Spy and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
The North Western Fells of The Lake District National Park
Less data - quicker to download
The Whole of The Lake District National Park
More data - might take a little longer to download
See High Spy and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers' Maps might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
You can find High Spy & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged High Spy
Neil Walker walked up High Spy on August 19th, 2025 [from/via/route] Rowling End Farm [with] Emma and Sophie [weather] Cloudy. Misty on higher fells
Martin Woods climbed it on July 30th, 2025 [from/via/route] Catbells loop over Dalehead with Crush [with] Crush [weather] Mixed with no wind.
Christine Shepherd bagged it during June, 2005 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] On my own [weather] Sunny - Have bagged this peak three times since. I led a group in July 05 & then on my own again on 15.9.11. Also climbed this as part of the 10 in 10 challenge 22.6.2019 Climbed again solo on 24.07.2025 from Littletown.
Martin Hartshorne hiked High Spy on April 25th, 2025 [from/via/route] Chapel bridge [with] finley [weather] Started warm & sunny with a cool breeze then clouded over later
Sarah Gunn summited on February 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] Martin Gunn, Dan Gunn and Shannon Worton
To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
. . . [see more walk reports]
More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of High Spy
This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!
Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Swallow Scarth, between Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike
Helvellyn from the 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Chelmsford YHA members on Fairfield looking to Helvellyn, Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Catstycam
Catstye Cam (centre) with Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Lower Man (Helvellyn) (right) in the background from Sheffield Pike
Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from High Crag (Helvellyn)
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the summit of Helvellyn
Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam and Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) in all it's glory from Helvellyn
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor
Birkhouse Moor summit cairn - with Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam beyond
Helvellyn Summit flanked by Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Swirral Edge (right) from Hole-in-the-Wall in the snow
Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Family group having completed Striding Edge (High Spying How) before the last pull up to Helvellyn.
Grisedale Hause, Dollywaggon Pike (centre), Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) (far right) from Great Rigg
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn (in mist) with Birkhouse Moor in front, Catstycam and Sheffield Pike from Gowbarrow Fell (Airy Crag)
*High Spy, High Spy (North Top) and Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Latrigg
A very grumpy Shaun post walk in Glenridding after scaling Helvellyn via Striding Edge (High Spying How) on a very, very wet day!
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the summit of Birkhouse Moor
High Spy (North Top), High Spy, Maiden Moor, Hindscarth (left), Robinson, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Causey Pike, Barrow (Newlands) (centre), Newlands, Bassenthwaite Lake, Swinside, Skiddaw, Derwent Water and Blencathra (right) beyond from Cat Bells (Catbells)
Helvellyn, Red Tarn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Pete approaching one of the high points of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance and then High Spy and Maiden Moor forming the ridge on the right from the summit of Dale Head (Newlands)
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Red Tarn from below Swirral Edge
Rescue Helicopter above a frozen Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
The 'easier' path on the north side of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Approaching Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn via Low Spying How and Bleaberry Crag
The view from the summit of Swinside (Portinscale) featuring Derwent Water, Cat Bells , Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head (Newlands), Hindscarth, Robinson, Causey Pike, Sail, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Barrow and Gridedale Pike
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam
The Helvellyn Ridge featuring Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Fairfield
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from Birkhouse Moor
Helvellyn (left), Swirral Edge and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the approach to Striding Edge (High Spying How) near Hole-in-the-Wall
Early morning valley mist below Dale Head (Newlands) and High Spy, Maiden Moor & Cat Bells (Catbells) with the summit of Castle Crag (front right) lit by a ray of sunshine from Rosthwaite
Dave Munro and Red Tarn from Helvellyn with Striding Edge (High Spying How) beyond
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from near Hole-in-the-wall
Helvellyn from Hole-in-the-Wall at the start of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn summit
360 degree panorama featuring Great Gable, Green Gable, Little Scoat Fell & Pillar (distance), Brandreth, Dale Head (Newlands), High Spy, Glaramara, Esk Pike, Great End and Scafell Pike from Base Brown
Striding Edge (High Spying How) basking in glorious September Sun viewed from Helvellyn
*Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam (far right) from near Hole-in-the-wall
Red Tarn (Helvellyn) with Catstye Cam beyond from Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Starting the climb from Striding Edge (High Spying How) up onto Helvellyn
Birkhouse Moor (foreground) and Striding Edge (High Spying How) (right background) from Sheffield Pike
The Newlands Valley from High Spy with Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance and The Skiddaw Massif to the right
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Helvellyn from the approach to Hole-in-the-Wall
Cat Bells, High Spy (just poking up) and Dale Head (Newlands) (in the distance far right) from the Swinside Inn near Portinscale
Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Red Tarn taken from Hole-in-the-Wall at the beginning of Striding Edge (High Spying How)
Birkhouse Moor (foreground left), Catstye Cam (foreground centre), White Side (centre right) and Raise (Helvellyn) (right) with Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Lower Man (Helvellyn) in the background from Sheffield Pike
Looking back east along Striding Edge (High Spying How) toward St Sunday Crag
Striding Edge (High Spying How), (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam (right) from Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Swirral Edge (right) from above Hole-in-the-Wall
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Hole-in-the-Wall
. . . see just 10 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of High Spy
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