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

Walk High Spy walking UK Mountains in The North Western Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

High Spy (North Top) and High Spy from Hindscarth

Photo: David Hayter


Not familiar with this top?

How is High Spy classified?

Download 5 easy-to-follow, circular walks that climb High Spy

See the location of High Spy and all 5 walks on an interactive Google Map

See the location of High Spy on an interactive Google Bagging Map

See downloadable Bagging Map in PDF format that includes High Spy

Read walk reports from hikers who have already bagged High Spy

View more photographs & pictures of views from, on or of High Spy


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)
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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)
Walking Boot Print Icon

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)

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

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The Whole of The Lake District National Park

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The North Western Fells of The Lake District National Park


See High Spy and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:

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The North Western Fells area of The Lake District National Park

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Walk & bag all 29 Wainwrights in The North Western Fells area of
The Lake District in just 7 easy-to-follow circular walks*

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:

The Lake District National Park


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

OS Explorer OL4 The English Lakes - North Western area


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

OS Landranger 89 West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water


OS Landranger 90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


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

Neil Walker walked up on August 19th, 2025 [from/via/route] Rowling End Farm [with] Emma and Sophie [weather] Cloudy. Misty on higher fells

Martin Woods climbed it on July 30th, 2025 [from/via/route] Catbells loop over Dalehead with Crush [with] Crush [weather] Mixed with no wind.

Christine Shepherd bagged it 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 it 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 on February 27th, 2024 [from/via/route] From Littletown [with] Martin Gunn, Dan Gunn and Shannon Worton

Claire Kirk conquered it on February 16th, 2025 [from/via/route] Portinscale [with] Gareth [weather] Very cold, windy but clear

Ian Ashton scaled on October 5th, 2024 [with] With JPH

Christina Lander walked up 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 it on April 23rd, 2024 [from/via/route] C405 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good

Sarah Moore bagged it 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.

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 (North Top) and Maiden Moor from High Spy

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

Photo: Ivor Bennett (3)

The Bad Step on Striding Edge (High Spying How)

The Bad Step on Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Terry Maddocks (2)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in thick mist

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in thick mist

Photo: Dean Richardson (15)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn from Helvellyn Summit

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn from Helvellyn Summit

Photo: Richard Nicholls (39)

Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: David Cooper (1)

My husband just before tackling Sstriding Edge on Helvellyn

My husband just before tackling Sstriding Edge on Helvellyn

Photo: Kaz Bridges (1)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor

Striding Edge (High Spying How) (left), Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from the Birkhouse Moor

Photo: Katherine Horrex (4)

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam and Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Swirral Edge, Catstye Cam and Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Andy Brown (1)

Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Ian Gaylard (9)

On High Spy

On High Spy

Photo: Dave Roberts (8)

Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Alan Wainwright (24)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in mist

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in mist

Photo: Dean Richardson (13)

Helvellyn, Red Tarn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Helvellyn, Red Tarn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Alan Wainwright (14)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) from the top of Swirral Edge on Helvellyn

Striding Edge (High Spying How) from the top of Swirral Edge on Helvellyn

Photo: Gerry Ball (12)

Looking back east along Striding Edge (High Spying How) toward St Sunday Crag

Looking back east along Striding Edge (High Spying How) toward St Sunday Crag

Photo: Stella Whittaker (14)

The famous view of Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn

The famous view of Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn

Photo: Ray Foster (9)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the summit of Helvellyn

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Red Tarn (Helvellyn) from the summit of Helvellyn

Photo: Peter Royle (6)

Taking a breather before tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Taking a breather before tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Dean Richardson (12)

Rescue Helicopter above a frozen Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Rescue Helicopter above a frozen Red Tarn from Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Tony Price (7)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) with Helvellyn beyond

Striding Edge (High Spying How) with Helvellyn beyond

Photo: William Ringwood (66)


. . . 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).)

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.


Not familiar with this top?

How is High Spy classified?

Download 5 easy-to-follow, circular walks that climb High Spy

See the location of High Spy and all 5 walks on an interactive Google Map

See the location of High Spy on an interactive Google Bagging Map

See downloadable Bagging Map in PDF format that includes High Spy

Read walk reports from hikers who have already bagged High Spy

View more photographs & pictures of views from, on or of High Spy


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