Mountain (Hewitt), Wainwright & Nuttall Icon

High Spy
653m (2143ft)

The North Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record High Spy as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


English Mountain Icon

English Mountain
141st highest in England,
243rd in England & Wales

Wainwright Icon

Wainwright
(No. 113)

English Nuttall Icon

English Nuttall
189th highest in England,
326th in England & Wales

You can find High Spy & 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):

OL4 The English Lakes - North Western area


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

89 West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water


90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


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

See High Spy 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 High Spy by using any of these 5 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c291 Cat Bells and High Spy from Hawes End

Very popular fell with fine views

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.25ml (13km)
Ascent:2,512ft (766m)
Time:5½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c405 Cat Bells, High Spy and Castle Crag from Hawes End

Popular walk with good views of Derwent Water

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10mls (16km)
Ascent:3,349ft (1,082m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c100 The Newlands Horseshoe from Hawes End

Popular Horseshoe route with fine views

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.25ml (16.5km)
Ascent:3,585ft (1,093m)
Time:7½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c313 The Newlands Fells from Hawes End

Classic Lakeland

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12mls (19km)
Ascent:4,152ft (1,266m)
Time:8½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c459 The Greater Newlands Horseshoe from Hawes End

Popular Horseshoe route with fine views

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 14.5ml (23km)
Ascent:5,409ft (1,648m)
Time:11 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 9 Icon (Very Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited High Spy Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged High Spy

Paul Macey walked up High Spy on July 15th, 2023 [from/via/route] Using walk c405 in reverse not doing Cat Bells as did that in June [weather] Cloudy about 14degrees very strong winds with light to heavy rainfall

Kate Peacock climbed High Spy on June 7th, 2023 [from/via/route] From the bus stop at the cattle grid for Cat Bells [with] Me & Helen [weather] Gorgeous, the odd welcomed breeze - First overnight wild camp at Dale Head Tarn

John Ramsbottom bagged High Spy on May 1st, 2023 [from/via/route] walk c405 parked at roadside layby [with] Lola [weather] mixture of mist & sunshine - good walk rigghead quarry was interesting

Mr Davison hiked High Spy on November 18th, 2017 [from/via/route] Derwent water [with] Jenny davison [weather] sunny,

Michael Lewis summited High Spy on September 2nd, 2016 [from/via/route] With Tara when we stayed near Keswick [with] Tara [weather] Dry cold with snow on the ground from the previous 48 hourse

Geoff Hand conquered High Spy on February 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] From Newlands Valley as part of a recce of the Newlands Memorial Fell race. [with] Richard Macilwaine and Tess [weather] Cold & Sunny all day, beautiful - Race includes Robinson, Hindscarth, Dalehead, High Spy,Maiden Moor & Cat Bells

Angeline Grieveson scaled High Spy on February 22nd, 2023 [with] Dotty

James Hughes walked up High Spy on February 6th, 2023 [from/via/route] Cat Bells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Castle Crag [with] Solo [weather] Generally Clear, Cold - Frosty morning, beautiful vistas. Completed within 5 hours, quicker than 8 hour suggestion.

Sarah Baker climbed High Spy on June 14th, 2021 [with] Larry baker and Bailey [weather] Beautiful day, slightly hazy, bit cold - Up & back didn't do the loop route

Martyn Atherton bagged High Spy on September 18th, 2021 [from/via/route] c291/Own Route - High spy, Maiden Moor, Cat Bells to Borrowdale [with] Martyn and Paul [weather] Dry & cloudy then sunny pm - Quiet on High Spy then very busy on Cat Bells

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

High Spy from Dale Head Tarn

High Spy from Dale Head Tarn

Photo: Mike Knipe (42)

High Spy (North Top) and High Spy from Hindscarth

High Spy (North Top) and High Spy from Hindscarth

Photo: Ivor Bennett (5)

Cat Bells, High Spy (just poking up) and Dale Head (Newlands) (in the distance far right) from the Swinside Inn near Portinscale

Cat Bells, High Spy (just poking up) and Dale Head (Newlands) (in the distance far right) from the Swinside Inn near Portinscale

Photo: Mike Walker (360)

Derwent Water, Blencathra, Walla Crag and 
Bleaberry Fell from High Spy

Derwent Water, Blencathra, Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell from High Spy

Photo: Peter Swan (14)

On High Spy

On High Spy

Photo: Dave Roberts (8)

Looking South from High Spy

Looking South from High Spy

Photo: Rob Barklamb (33)

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

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

Photo: Mike Walker (353)

The Newlands Valley from High Spy with Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance and The Skiddaw Massif to the right

The Newlands Valley from High Spy with Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance and The Skiddaw Massif to the right

Photo: Wayne Hill (91)

Dale Head (Newlands) and High Spy from Base Brown

Dale Head (Newlands) and High Spy from Base Brown

Photo: Chris Brankin (18)

High Spy (North Top) and Maiden Moor from High Spy

High Spy (North Top) and Maiden Moor from High Spy

Photo: Ivor Bennett (3)

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)

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)

Photo: Rob Barklamb (49)

*High Spy, High Spy (North Top) and Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Latrigg

*High Spy, High Spy (North Top) and Cat Bells (Catbells) and Derwent Water from Latrigg

Photo: Richard Nicholls (23)

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

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

Photo: Chris Brankin (15)

The large beacon on the summit of High Spy

The large beacon on the summit of High Spy

Photo: Christine Shepherd (526)

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

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

Photo: Alan Wainwright (234)

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)

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)

Photo: Steve Truwick (4)

Derwent Water with Keswick and the Skiddaw Massif beyond from High Spy

Derwent Water with Keswick and the Skiddaw Massif beyond from High Spy

Photo: Dave Roberts (7)


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).)

Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from High Spy via Facebook

You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.

NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.






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