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Heron Pike
612m (2008ft)

The Eastern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record Heron Pike as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


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Wainwright
(No. 128)

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English Nuttall
246th highest in England,
430th in England & Wales

Walk Heron Pike walking UK Mountains in The Eastern Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

Heron Pike Summit

Photo: Chris Rybka

You can find Heron Pike & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL7 The English Lakes - South Eastern area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


See Heron Pike and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Heron Pike and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!


You can walk to the top of Heron Pike by using any of these 5 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk c216 Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Heron Pike from Grasmere

Fabulous views of Grasmere - the descent off Heron Pike is down steep grass

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 7ml (11km)
Ascent:2,661ft (811m)
Time:5.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk c358 Seat Sandal, Fairfield and Heron Pike from Grasmere

Fabulous views - classic Lakeland

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 9.5ml (15km)
Ascent:3,682ft (1,122m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c247 The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside

A classic lakeland horseshoe walk

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 11ml (17.5km)
Ascent:3,633ft (1,107m)
Time:7.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c389 Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag from Ambleside

A variation on a classic route

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.25ml (19.5km)
Ascent:3,984ft (1,214m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c230 The Scandale Beck Horizon from Ambleside

Fabulous high level route

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.5ml (20km)
Ascent:3,411ft (1,040m)
Time:8 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Heron Pike Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Heron Pike

Melfyn Parry walked up Heron Pike on November 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] Followed route C247 - walked out of Ambleside on the A591 & just after Scandale Bridge we crossed the road to follow the lane into the Rydal Hall estate, went passed the cafe & the Hall & then turned right to pass Rydal Mount. Here we veered left to take the stone steps path to the top of Nab Scar, again following a well defined path we were soon on Heron Pike. Continuing along the path with a slight detour to ascend Heron Pike north top. Continuing on to Great Rigg & onwards to Fairfield. We stopped here for lunch & the clouds lifted to give great views over towards Helvellyn & Sunday Crag. After pausing to take some photos we retraced our steps for a few metres before heading left to follow the ridge line to ascend Hart Crag, then Dove Crag & then High Pike. The undulating ridge takes you through some quite boggy areas & on to Low Pike & then down to High Sweden Bridge (a fascinating old bridge). All that was left to do from here was to follow the trail downwards in to Ambleside returning to the village by the Salutation Hotel. [with] DS [weather] Visibility was very good below 800m. By lunchtime the cloud had lifted even more to give clear views of the whole horseshoe. A dry day with sunny intervals, quite cold above 600m but very pleasant below this level. - Doing the walk in a clockwise direction as per C247 is best as the ascent anticlockwise would be much more of a cardio vascular workout.

David Higginbottom climbed Heron Pike on February 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] Route 247 [with] Carolyn [weather] Very poor

James Hughes bagged Heron Pike on June 26th, 2023 [from/via/route] Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Hart Cragg, Dove Cragg, High Pike, Low Pike [with] Solo [weather] Four seasons in a day. Unsettled with showers at times, cold & misty around Fairfield, improved on descent into Ambleside. - Chatted with Andrew from Littleborough. Outraged by parking cost & then toilet fee. Pint at Golden Rule (Robinsons Cumbria Way) at end.

Rob Prikanowski hiked Heron Pike on June 21st, 2023 [from/via/route] c247 [weather] Cloudy but dry, strong wind.

Angeline Grieveson summited Heron Pike on April 23rd, 2023 [with] Dotty

Sarah Moore conquered Heron Pike on December 5th, 2022 [from/via/route] c247 / The Fairfield Horseshoe (from Ambleside) [with] On my own [weather] Beautiful start with a cold edge... turning to icy cold with sleet & minimal visibility between Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag. - This one scared me. The realisation that if I slipped up at Fairfield then I don't know that I could have waited an hour plus for mountain rescue was very scary. Used the GPS & was proud of myself but major "eeek"

Martin Hartshorne scaled Heron Pike on September 12th, 2022 [with] finley [weather] Low cloud then sunshine to finish

Ian Ashton walked up Heron Pike on August 20th, 2022 [from/via/route] Failed Fairfield horseshoe [with] Stevie H [weather] Bad

Mr Davison climbed Heron Pike on November 18th, 2017 [from/via/route] Fairfiled horseshoe [with] Ian F, Ian F, Mike, Gary, Simon, Martyn, Andy [weather] sunny,

Christine Shepherd bagged Heron Pike during May, 2007 [from/via/route] Walked from Rydal using walk c247 Did this walk for the fifth time on 19.6.22 [with] Tony Sailes [weather] Fine but misty on Fairfield - Bagged this again on 30.9.07 with Miriam & on my own on 30.4.11 & 25.3.18

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Heron Pike

The Helevllyn Ridge featuring: Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn), White Side, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike with Steel Fell (mid distance) and Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag  (foreground) from Brownrigg Moss

The Helevllyn Ridge featuring: Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise (Helvellyn), White Side, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike with Steel Fell (mid distance) and Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag (foreground) from Brownrigg Moss

Photo: Alan Wainwright (211)

Heron Pike, Rydal Fell, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Loughrigg Terrace

Heron Pike, Rydal Fell, Great Rigg and Fairfield from Loughrigg Terrace

Photo: Tim Hope (2)

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

*Heron Pike and Nab Scar from Fairfield

Photo: Wayne Hill (35)

Windermere from Heron Pike

Windermere from Heron Pike

Photo: Jamie Caryl (5)

Heron Pike from Glenridding Dodd

Heron Pike from Glenridding Dodd

Photo: David Hayter (331)

Glenridding Dodd from Heron Pike

Glenridding Dodd from Heron Pike

Photo: David Hayter (332)

Lake Windermere and Rydal Valley from Rydal Head with Heron Pike on the right

Lake Windermere and Rydal Valley from Rydal Head with Heron Pike on the right

Photo: Mike Walker (333)

Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top), Great Rigg, Rydal Head and Fairfield from Hart Crag

Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top), Great Rigg, Rydal Head and Fairfield from Hart Crag

Photo: Mike Walker (329)

Approaching Heron Pike with Fairfield beyond

Approaching Heron Pike with Fairfield beyond

Photo: John Holt (3)

Heron Pike and Windermere from Great Rigg

Heron Pike and Windermere from Great Rigg

Photo: Jamie Caryl (4)

Sun set over Heron Pike (North Top) on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Sun set over Heron Pike (North Top) on The Fairfield Horeshoe

Photo: Mike Walker (345)

Great Ridge, Heron Pike and Windermere beyond from Fairfield

Great Ridge, Heron Pike and Windermere beyond from Fairfield

Photo: Raymond Brown (29)

Heron Pike from Low Pike (Scandale)

Heron Pike from Low Pike (Scandale)

Photo: Mike Walker (320)

Great Rigg (left) Fairfield (centre) and Dove Crag (right) from Heron Pike

Great Rigg (left) Fairfield (centre) and Dove Crag (right) from Heron Pike

Photo: Jamie Caryl (1)

Sunset from Heron Pike

Sunset from Heron Pike

Photo: Timothy Towers (8)

Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Heron Pike above Greenbank from Stang End

Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Heron Pike above Greenbank from Stang End

Photo: David Wright (73)

Windermere from Heron Pike

Windermere from Heron Pike

Photo: Timothy Towers (7)

Heron Pike (North Top) from Low Pike (Scandale)

Heron Pike (North Top) from Low Pike (Scandale)

Photo: Mike Walker (321)

*The Coniston Fells, The Langdale Pikes, High Raise, The Helvellyn Ridge, Fairfield, Seat Sandal, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and finally Loughrigg Fell from Lang How

*The Coniston Fells, The Langdale Pikes, High Raise, The Helvellyn Ridge, Fairfield, Seat Sandal, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and finally Loughrigg Fell from Lang How

Photo: David Connolly (6)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Lake Windermere, Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Heron Pike (North Top) and Great Rigg (far right) from the summit of Low Pike (Scandale)

Photo: Mike Walker (318)


. . . see all 32 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Heron Pike


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Heron Pike

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Heron Pike to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



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