Stile End

Hill, Mountain in Cumberland Allerdale

England

Stile End

Causey Pike from the Scar Crags ridge A dull miserable day along the ridge. — Causey Pike from the Scar Crags ridge Credit: steven ruffles

Stile End is a prominent hill located in Cumberland, England. Situated within the Lake District National Park, it is part of the larger Blencathra mountain range. Standing at an elevation of approximately 750 meters (2,461 feet), Stile End offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hill is known for its distinctive shape, featuring steep slopes and a rugged terrain that challenges even experienced hikers. Its rocky summit offers a thrilling adventure for climbers and mountaineers, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from across the country.

Stile End is surrounded by a diverse ecosystem, with its lower slopes covered in lush greenery and dotted with picturesque woodlands. The hill is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including heather moorland, native oak trees, and birds such as golden eagles and peregrine falcons.

Hikers and walkers can access Stile End from various starting points, including the nearby villages of Threlkeld and Scales. Popular routes include the ascent via Bannerdale Crags or the steep climb up Blease Fell. Those who reach the summit are rewarded with breathtaking views of the Lake District's iconic landscape, including nearby peaks like Blencathra and Skiddaw.

Stile End is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also holds historical significance. It was once used as a training ground for the infamous British commandos during World War II. Today, it remains a cherished destination for nature lovers, offering a memorable experience for all who visit.

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Stile End Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.586444/-3.2073768 or Grid Reference NY2221. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Causey Pike from the Scar Crags ridge

A dull miserable day along the ridge.

steven ruffles

Sleet Hause ridge to Rowling End

On Causey Pike.

steven ruffles

Path up Barrow

The path climbs the northern spur. The ridge continues to Stile End and Outerside (catching the sun on the right).

Ian Taylor

Stile End from Barrow

Stile End is in the centre of the photo, with Outerside beyond (catching the sun on the left). Grisedale Pike is in the background.

Ian Taylor

Causey Pike from the west

Viewed from above Scar Crags. Part of Keswick is visible beyond the dip in the ridge. Blencathra is prominent in the left background.

Ian Taylor

On Causey Pike

Looking east to the highest point.

Ian Taylor

East from Causey Pike

Sleet Hause and Rowling End are in the foreground. In the mid-distance are Derwent Water and Keswick (left), and Cat Bells (centre right). The Helvellyn range forms most of the skyline. [Image formed from 2 photos merged together.]

Ian Taylor

Mountain bike track, Hospital Plantation, Whinlatter Forest Park

Steven Brown

Ascending Kinn towards Grisedale Pike

After a steep pull from the road, the path to Grisedale Pike ascends more gently for a while up Kinn, as the morning sun disappears behind increasing amounts of cloud formed by a stiff northwesterly breeze. This is hardly unexpected in the Lakes in November, but an hour earlier the tops had been clear above a thermal inversion causing fog in the valley and we'd hoped for better views at least early in the walk. The forecast predicted an hour with rain in the middle of the day, so we counted ourselves fortunate that that didn't materialise.

Andy Waddington

Looking back down Kinn

Kinn forms the normal route of ascent of Grisedale Pike from the northeast near Braithwaite and steepens into Sleet How at about the point where this photograph was taken. There's about 400m of ascent to go, the majority of it now steep, so photography is always a good excuse to avoid starting the day's hard work...

Andy Waddington

Sleet How climbs towards Grisedale Pike

After an initial steep pull from Kinn, the path up Sleet How eases off for a while before the longer climb to the summit of Grisedale Pike. The latter lies immediately above the steep section without any of the demoralising false summits that beset some of these hills. An increasing northwesterly was bringing cloud to the tops, but at this point, blue sky and patches of sunshine had appeared, fueling hopes of a summit view. Alas, it wasn't to be, but at least the approach provided good scenery.

Andy Waddington

Rocks outcrop on Sleet How

The ridge of Kinn and Sleet How is entirely formed from the laminated mudstones and siltstones of the Kirkstile Formation of Arenig (Ordovician) age. As the path steepens, this starts to appear in frequent outcrops such as this one. The strata dip quite steeply to the left of the photograph, towards a syncline whose axis runs parallel to the ridge and about forty metres below at this point. A corresponding anticline lies off to the right, again with a SW-NE axis. The rock has taken something of a polish from decades of walkers' boots and some of the slightly scrambly bits higher up can be a little on the slippery side, although skulkers' routes exist almost everywhere, and the scree is compacted to a decent trod.

Andy Waddington

Stepping stones at Coledale gauging weir

The broad path from Coledale Hause down into the valley is well constructed and not too steep, arriving at Coledale Beck just at the point where a gauging weir has been built below the old Force Crag mine workings. With all this expense, and the gauge obviously showing how often the waters are high, one would have thought that those now responsible for the gauge and the mine buildings might have spent that tiny bit extra to include a footbridge here, given how much is not being spent removing the ugly rusting hulks just upstream. The stepping stones are just sufficient in this weather, but the more northerly stones are wobbly and just going underwater despite the weather not being especially wet. The small tributary entering here, river right, is Birkthwaite Beck.

Andy Waddington

Meanders in Coledale Beck

Whilst it looks pleasant enough, pollution from the Force Crag mines further up the valley is a significant issue in the beck and whilst there is some rediation in the form of settlement ponds, no effort seems to be being made to entirely remove the ugly workings and tackle the cause of the pollution at source, let alone at the original mine owners' expense as would be proper.

Andy Waddington

Traditional Cast Iron Fingerpost at Braithwaite

Situated in the little village of Braithwaite by the Coledale Beck. A water level marker can also be seen. Braithwaite is only 2.5 miles from Keswick.

Jennifer Petrie