.gif)
Steeple (Lake District)
Encyclopedia
Steeple is a fell
in the English
Lake District
. It is situated in the mountainous area between Ennerdale and Wasdale
and reaches a height of 819 metres (2687 feet). Steeple is really part of Scoat Fell
, being just the rocky northern projection of that fell, however because of its prominent peak and steep crags it has earned the reputation of being a separate fell. Lake District writer Alfred Wainwright
rated Steeple and its name very highly saying, “Seen on a map, it commands the eye and quickens the pulse, seen in reality it does the same“.
with a lowest height of 798 metres. The arete is stony and loose underfoot due to erosion and it is better to stick to the firmer rock along the crest. Scoat Fell is only 22 metres higher than Steeple but the short distance between them means that the higher dominates the lower significantly.
, Scoat Fell and Red Pike
as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe walk. It can be climbed directly from Ennerdale by a public footpath that leaves the valley at grid reference and goes south through the forest to reach the open fell and climbs the north ridge of Steeple to reach the summit.
and an opportunity to examine the nearby cliffs and hollows of Mirk and Mirklin Coves.
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 English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
. It is situated in the mountainous area between Ennerdale and Wasdale
Wasdale
Wasdale is a valley and civil parish in the western part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, the deepest lake in England...
and reaches a height of 819 metres (2687 feet). Steeple is really part of Scoat Fell
Scoat Fell
Scoat Fell is a fell in the western part of the English Lake District. It stands at the head of the Mosedale Horseshoe with its back to Ennerdale...
, being just the rocky northern projection of that fell, however because of its prominent peak and steep crags it has earned the reputation of being a separate fell. Lake District writer Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
rated Steeple and its name very highly saying, “Seen on a map, it commands the eye and quickens the pulse, seen in reality it does the same“.
Topography
Steeple’s close proximity to Scoat Fell robs it of being one the best fells in the area; the two fells are linked by the Steeple arêteArete
Areté is the term meaning "virtue" or "excellence", from Greek ἈρετήArete may also be used:*as a given name of persons or things:**Queen Arete , a character in Homer's Odyssey.***197 Arete, an asteroid....
with a lowest height of 798 metres. The arete is stony and loose underfoot due to erosion and it is better to stick to the firmer rock along the crest. Scoat Fell is only 22 metres higher than Steeple but the short distance between them means that the higher dominates the lower significantly.
Ascents
Steeple can be ascended from Wasdale or Ennerdale; it’s usually climbed in conjunction with other nearby fells such as PillarPillar (Lake District)
Pillar is a mountain in the western part of the English Lake District. Situated between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south, it is the highest point of the Pillar group . At 892 metres it is the eighth highest mountain in the Lake District...
, Scoat Fell and Red Pike
Red Pike (Wasdale)
Red Pike is a fell in the English Lake District. It is 826 m or high and lies due north of Wast Water. It is often climbed as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe, a walk which also includes Pillar....
as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe walk. It can be climbed directly from Ennerdale by a public footpath that leaves the valley at grid reference and goes south through the forest to reach the open fell and climbs the north ridge of Steeple to reach the summit.
Summit and view
The top of the fell is a sharp peak with hardly room for a cairn, in fact there is only room for a few people and often there is a queue to stand at the highest point. The ground falls away sharply on all sides especially to Windgap Cove to the east. The view is limited by higher fells to the south and east but there is an excellent view of Ennerdale WaterEnnerdale Water
Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. It is a glacial lake, with a maximum depth of 45 metres , and at 700 to 1,500 metres wide and 3.9 kilometres is one of the smallest lakes in the area...
and an opportunity to examine the nearby cliffs and hollows of Mirk and Mirklin Coves.