Grisedale Pike, Mountain summit in Lake District, England
Grisedale Pike is a mountain summit in the northern part of the Lake District, Cumbria, rising steeply above the surrounding valleys. It belongs to the Coledale Fells group and sits just north of the village of Braithwaite.
The slopes below the summit housed the Force Crag mine, which ran as the last active mine in the Lake District until it closed in 1990. For many decades, mining defined the character of this valley before the operation finally shut down.
Grisedale Pike appears in Alfred Wainwright's walking guides, which have shaped how hikers explore the fells for generations. Walkers still follow his hand-drawn routes and written descriptions today, treating the books as companions on the trail.
The most popular route starts in Braithwaite village and follows the eastern ridge to the top, with a steady steep climb throughout. Good footwear and waterproof layers are worth bringing, as conditions on the open ridge can change quickly.
The Force Crag mine buildings below the summit are now a protected monument and can be visited on a path that runs along the hillside. They are among the most complete surviving mine structures in the Lake District, with processing facilities still standing.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
