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 Map:


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)
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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)

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

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Dean Richardson (3)

Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Myself, Emma Cooper & Rachel Hargreaves on the summit of Helvellyn after tackling Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: David Cooper (2)

The famous Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn

The famous Striding Edge (High Spying How) from Helvellyn

Photo: Paul Hopper (1)

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)

This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!

This is me scrambling to the summit of Helvellyn after surviving Striding Edge (High Spying How)!

Photo: Paula Oldham (4)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn (in mist) with Birkhouse Moor in front, Catstycam and Sheffield Pike from Gowbarrow Fell (Airy Crag)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn (in mist) with Birkhouse Moor in front, Catstycam and Sheffield Pike from Gowbarrow Fell (Airy Crag)

Photo: Gerry Ball (31)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) (Helvellyn)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) (Helvellyn)

Photo: Richard Nicholls (36)

*Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike

*Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn from Nethermost Pike

Photo: Ian McCutcheon (16)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) (Helvellyn)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) (Helvellyn)

Photo: Jerry Obeney (2)

*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)

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

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

Photo: Andy Malcolm (7)

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam

Striding Edge (High Spying How) and Helvellyn above Red Tarn from the col between Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam

Photo: Brian Balfe (15)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Terry Maddocks (1)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in mist

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in mist

Photo: Ian Gaylard (7)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Dean Richardson (4)

Starting the climb from Striding Edge (High Spying How) up onto Helvellyn

Starting the climb from Striding Edge (High Spying How) up onto Helvellyn

Photo: Terry Maddocks (3)

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in the mist

On Striding Edge (High Spying How) in the mist

Photo: Mike Smart (7)

The 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge (High Spying How)

The 'Bad Step' at the western end of Striding Edge (High Spying How)

Photo: Alan Wainwright (28)

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)

High Spy from Dale Head Tarn

High Spy from Dale Head Tarn

Photo: Mike Knipe (42)


. . . 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.




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