Dollywaggon Pike

Dollywaggon Pike is a mountain summit in the Lake District that rises to 858 meters and combines steep eastern cliffs with gentler grass slopes on its western side. The peak presents contrasting terrain profiles depending on which approach you take to reach the top.

Copper mining operations took place around Birkside Gill between 1840 and 1866, leaving visible traces of excavation levels etched into the mountainside. These remnants from the mining era remain visible as terraces and workings across the slope.

The name comes from Old Norse language roots where 'dolgr' refers to a giant or fiend and 'veginn' means lifted or raised. This linguistic origin reflects how people once described the towering presence of this peak in the local landscape.

You can reach the summit via several routes, with the main path from Patterdale through The Tongue offering a direct approach to the peak. Different access points let you choose a route that matches your fitness level and preferences.

After the Thirlmere reservoir was built in 1884, the mountain's natural drainage patterns shifted significantly when Raise Beck changed its flow direction. This alteration of water courses reshaped the long-term ecology of the slope.

Location: Cumbria

Elevation above the sea: 858 m

GPS coordinates: 54.50864,-3.01114

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02