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 High Spy on July 30th, 2025 [from/via/route] Catbells loop over Dalehead with Crush [with] Crush [weather] Mixed with no wind.
Christine Shepherd bagged High Spy 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 High Spy on February 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] Martin Gunn, Dan Gunn and Shannon Worton
Claire Kirk conquered High Spy on February 16th, 2025 [from/via/route] Portinscale [with] Gareth [weather] Very cold, windy but clear
Ian Ashton scaled High Spy on October 5th, 2024 [with] With JPH
Christina Lander walked up High Spy on November 30th, 2019 [from/via/route] Hawse End - Cat Bells - Maiden Moor - High Spy north top - High Spy - Dalehead Tarn - Newlands Beck - Skelgill - Hawse End [with] Dick & Meg [weather] Beautiful sunny day, clouded over later in the afternoon - Another quite early start, to get the best of the weather
David Higginbottom climbed High Spy on April 23rd, 2024 [from/via/route] C405 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
Sarah Moore bagged High Spy on March 29th, 2024 [from/via/route] c405 Amazing day having driven up early from Derby - & then a glorious Good Friday with clear views all day. Cat Bells - Maiden Moor - High Spy - down the Riggsdale Quarries - along the river back... [with] On my own [weather] Easter warmth - little wind & clear views all the way was incredible. - Over excited parking = parking ticket... And then coming down, & thinking about 2 more days of hiking I managed to twist my knee in a way that caused so much pain it's untrue. Writing this at the end of the weekend, I'm just glad it's ok & led to other things.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of High Spy
Starting the climb from Striding Edge (High Spying How) up onto Helvellyn
Cat Bells, High Spy (just poking up) and Dale Head (Newlands) (in the distance far right) from the Swinside Inn near Portinscale
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor
Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Swirral Edge (right) from above Hole-in-the-Wall
Helvellyn Summit flanked by Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left) and Swirral Edge (right) from Hole-in-the-Wall in the snow
Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam
This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!
Striding Edge (High Spying How), Helvellyn and Red Tarn from below Swirral Edge
The Helvellyn Ridge featuring Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Fairfield
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)
. . . see all 137 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of High Spy
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from High Spy
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of High Spy to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)
You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken and whether you wish us to credit your photos with a Username or your First Name/Last Name.
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