High Raise (Langdale)
Encyclopedia
High Raise is a fell
in the Central Fells
of the English Lake District
not to be confused with another High Raise
situated in the Far Eastern Fells
. High Raise is not one of the most spectacular mountains in the district; however, with a height of 762 metres (2,500 ft) it is the highest point in the central fells of Lakeland.
High Raise is in fact commonly regarded as the most central mountain in the district and this position gives a fine viewpoint to admire the surrounding mountains and beyond. All of England's 3,000 foot (914 m) mountains (Skiddaw
, Helvellyn
and the Scafells
) can be well seen from the summit while the more distant views include the Three Peaks
in the Yorkshire Dales (60 km) and Morecambe Bay
(40 km).
column
and a large cairn which also doubles as a wind shelter; a ruined fence also crosses the summit plateau.
The view is extensive as befits the central location with all major fell groups visible. The only disappointment are the Langdale Pikes, which seen from behind lack most of their distinctiveness. No lakes are seen other than short sections of Bassenthwaite Lake
and Derwentwater.
and Thirlmere
. The Stonethwaite approach gives the walker a chance to climb the neighbouring fell of Ullscarf
, while the route from Great Langdale allows visits to the splendid Langdale Pikes either before or after climbing High Raise.
s. The main watershed of the Central Fells can be thought of as a 'L' shape with High Raise, the highest point, standing at the corner. The northern ridge continues over Ullscarf
and High Seat towards the low fells above Keswick
. South eastward the spine continues over Blea Rigg
and Silver How
, terminating at Loughrigg Fell
above Grasmere
and Rydal Water
.
To the east there are a number of subsidiary ridges, diverging from Sergeant Man
. This rocky top is a part of High Raise, but is considered by many writers as a separate fell because of its appearance.. Beyond lie Calf Crag
, Gibson Knott
, Helm Crag
, Steel Fell
and Tarn Crag
. South of High Raise lie its most famous offspring, the Langdale Pikes. These picturesque craggy heights form the parapet of High Raise's southern plateau, standing atop the valley wall and the centrepiece of many views.
-tuff
and volcaniclastic sandstone
. These rocks are overlain by till
over the rest of the summit area.
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
in the Central Fells
Central Fells
The Central Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Reaching their highest point at High Raise , they occupy a broad area to the east of Borrowdale. Perhaps unexpectedly the Central Fells are generally lower than the surrounding hills, the Lake District's general dome-like...
of the English Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
not to be confused with another High Raise
High Raise (High Street)
High Raise is a fell in the English Lake District, standing to the west of Haweswater Reservoir in the Far Eastern Fells. Note that another High Raise is the highpoint of the Central Fells.-Topography:...
situated in the Far Eastern Fells
Far Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Reaching their highest point at High Street they occupy a broad area to the east of Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. Much quieter than the central areas of Lakeland they offer in general easier but less exciting walking as the...
. High Raise is not one of the most spectacular mountains in the district; however, with a height of 762 metres (2,500 ft) it is the highest point in the central fells of Lakeland.
High Raise is in fact commonly regarded as the most central mountain in the district and this position gives a fine viewpoint to admire the surrounding mountains and beyond. All of England's 3,000 foot (914 m) mountains (Skiddaw
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. With a summit at 931 m above sea level it is the fourth highest mountain in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes...
, Helvellyn
Helvellyn
Helvellyn is a mountain in the English Lake District, the apex of the Eastern Fells. At above sea level, it is the third highest peak in both the Lake District and England...
and the Scafells
Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at . It is located in Lake District National Park sometimes confused with the neighbouring Sca Fell, to which it is connected by the col of Mickledore...
) can be well seen from the summit while the more distant views include the Three Peaks
Yorkshire three peaks
The mountains of Whernside , Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent are collectively known as the Three Peaks. The peaks, which form part of the...
in the Yorkshire Dales (60 km) and Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
(40 km).
Summit and view
The summit itself, which is also known as High White Stones due to a smattering of grey boulders in the vicinity of the highest point, has an Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
column
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
and a large cairn which also doubles as a wind shelter; a ruined fence also crosses the summit plateau.
The view is extensive as befits the central location with all major fell groups visible. The only disappointment are the Langdale Pikes, which seen from behind lack most of their distinctiveness. No lakes are seen other than short sections of Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest water bodies in the English Lake District. It is long and narrow, approximately long and wide, but is also extremely shallow, with a maximum depth of about ....
and Derwentwater.
Ascents
Ascents of High Raise are usually done from Stonethwaite in Borrowdale or the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale, although routes are also viable from GrasmereGrasmere
Grasmere is a village, and popular tourist destination, in the centre of the English Lake District. It takes its name from the adjacent lake, and is associated with the Lake Poets...
and Thirlmere
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a reservoir in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria and the English Lake District. It runs roughly south to north, with a dam at the northern end, and is bordered on the eastern side by the A591 road and on the western side by a minor road....
. The Stonethwaite approach gives the walker a chance to climb the neighbouring fell of Ullscarf
Ullscarf
Ullscarf is a fell in the English Lake District close to the geographical centre of the Cumbrian hills. It forms part of the watershed between the Derwentwater and Thirlmere catchments, a ridge running broadly north-south.-Topography:...
, while the route from Great Langdale allows visits to the splendid Langdale Pikes either before or after climbing High Raise.
Topography
The fell is the meeting point of many ridgeRidge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
s. The main watershed of the Central Fells can be thought of as a 'L' shape with High Raise, the highest point, standing at the corner. The northern ridge continues over Ullscarf
Ullscarf
Ullscarf is a fell in the English Lake District close to the geographical centre of the Cumbrian hills. It forms part of the watershed between the Derwentwater and Thirlmere catchments, a ridge running broadly north-south.-Topography:...
and High Seat towards the low fells above Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
. South eastward the spine continues over Blea Rigg
Blea Rigg
Blea Rigg is a fell in the English Lake District, lying between the valleys of Easedale and Great Langdale. One of the Central Fells, it is a broad plateau with a succession of rocky tops...
and Silver How
Silver How
Silver How is a fell in the English Lake District, standing over the village of Grasmere. How, derived from the Old Norse word haugr, is a common local term for a hill or mound.-Topography:...
, terminating at Loughrigg Fell
Loughrigg Fell
Loughrigg Fell is a hill in the central part of the English Lake District. It stands on the end of the long ridge coming down from High Raise over Silver How towards Ambleside, and is separated from its neighbours by the depression of Red Bank....
above Grasmere
Grasmere
Grasmere is a village, and popular tourist destination, in the centre of the English Lake District. It takes its name from the adjacent lake, and is associated with the Lake Poets...
and Rydal Water
Rydal Water
Rydal Water is a small lake in the central part of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. It is located near the hamlet of Rydal, between Grasmere and Ambleside in the Rothay Valley....
.
To the east there are a number of subsidiary ridges, diverging from Sergeant Man
Sergeant Man
Sergeant Man is a fell in the English Lake District. It is properly a secondary summit of High Raise, but is given a separate chapter by Alfred Wainwright in his third Pictorial Guide nonetheless, as it "is so prominent an object and offers so compelling a challenge"...
. This rocky top is a part of High Raise, but is considered by many writers as a separate fell because of its appearance.. Beyond lie Calf Crag
Calf Crag
Calf Crag is a fell in the English Lake District, on the eastern side of the High Raise massif.-Topography:The spine of the Central Fells runs on a north-south axis with the highpoint at High Raise...
, Gibson Knott
Gibson Knott
Gibson Knott is a fell in the English Lake District, an intermediate height on the ridge between Greenburn and Far Easedale in the Central Fells.-Topography:The spine of the Central Fells runs on a north-south axis with the highpoint at High Raise...
, Helm Crag
Helm Crag
Helm Crag is a fell in the English Lake District situated in the Central Fells to the north of Grasmere. Despite its low height it sits prominently at the end of a ridge, easily seen from the village...
, Steel Fell
Steel Fell
Steel Fell is a fell in the English Lake District, lying between Thirlmere and Grasmere. It is triangular in plan, the ridges running north, west and south east...
and Tarn Crag
Tarn Crag (Easedale)
Tarn Crag is a fell in the Central Fells of the English Lake District. Another Tarn Crag is situated in the Far Eastern Fells. Strictly the name applies only to the rock face looking down upon Easedale Tarn, but Alfred Wainwright applied it to the entire ridge lying between the Easedale and Far...
. South of High Raise lie its most famous offspring, the Langdale Pikes. These picturesque craggy heights form the parapet of High Raise's southern plateau, standing atop the valley wall and the centrepiece of many views.
Geology
High White Stones is an outcrop of the Lincomb Tarns Formation. This consists of dacitic welded lapilliLapilli
Lapilli is a size classification term for tephra, which is material that falls out of the air during a volcanic eruption or during some meteorite impacts. Lapilli means "little stones" in Latin. They are in some senses similar to ooids or pisoids in calcareous sediments.By definition lapilli range...
-tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
and volcaniclastic sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. These rocks are overlain by till
Till
thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
over the rest of the summit area.