The 9 Most Amazing Peaks around Great Clifton

Near Great Clifton, you'll find access to several popular mountain peaks, many within the Lake District National Park. Some highly regarded options include Blake Fell Summit, known for its world-class views and as part of a group of five Wainwrights. Other notable peaks in the wider area include Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, and Helvellyn, famous for its challenging scrambles like Striding Edge.

Yes, there are options for easier walks. Slate Fell, just east of Cockermouth, is a small hill offering wonderful views across the North West Lake District Wainwright fells and is popular with dog walkers and those seeking fresh air without a strenuous climb. Fellbarrow Summit is also considered an easy Wainwright to bag, often hiked with its neighbor Low Fell, and can be completed as a two-hour walk from Thackthwaite.

Many peaks in the region offer stunning views. Blake Fell Summit provides extensive views of the Ennerdale panorama and significant mountain vistas. From Tallentire Hill Trig Point, you can see giants like Skiddaw, Grisedale Pike, and even Helvellyn on a clear day. Scafell Pike, England's highest, offers potentially far-reaching views to Northern Ireland and Wales. Skiddaw also boasts unrestricted views from its summit.

Beyond hiking and climbing the peaks themselves, the area around Great Clifton offers diverse outdoor activities. You can explore various road cycling routes, such as the 'View of the Solway Firth – View of Ennerdale loop from Greysouthen' or the 'Isle bridge – Wordsworth House and Garden loop from Great Clifton'. For mountain biking, options include the 'View of Pillar – Ennerdale Water Lakeside Path loop from Lamplugh'. There are also several running trails, like the 'John Dalton's Birthplace loop from Little Clifton'. You can find more details on these activities in the Road Cycling Routes, MTB Trails, and Running Trails guides.

The best time to hike the mountain peaks near Great Clifton, particularly those in the Lake District, is generally from late spring to early autumn (May to October). During these months, the weather is typically milder, with longer daylight hours and less chance of snow or ice at higher elevations. However, mountain weather can be unpredictable, so always check the forecast before heading out, regardless of the season.

Absolutely. The Lake District, near Great Clifton, is home to some of England's most challenging climbs. Scafell Pike, England's highest at 978 meters, offers demanding routes, some involving grade 1 and 2 scrambles. Its neighbor, Scafell, the second-highest, also presents a challenging ascent with rewarding views. Helvellyn, the third-highest, is famous for its grade 1 scrambles along Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, providing an exhilarating experience for experienced hikers.

Several Wainwright fells are accessible from the Great Clifton area. These include Blake Fell Summit and Fellbarrow Summit in the Western Lake District. Further afield in the Lake District, you can find Loadpot Hill and Arthur's Pike. England's highest mountains like Scafell Pike, Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, and Great End are also classified as Wainwrights, offering a wide range of options for bagging these iconic peaks.

Scafell Pike is significant as England's highest mountain, standing at 978 meters. It offers extensive views that can stretch to Northern Ireland and Wales on a clear day. It's a challenging climb with well-trodden routes, some involving scrambles, and is part of the Scafell massif, an extinct volcano. Wasdale Head, a common starting point, is historically known as the birthplace of British climbing. For more information, you can visit Wikipedia's page on Scafell Pike.

Many mountain routes and fells in the Lake District, including those near Great Clifton, are generally dog-friendly. For example, the tips for Blake Fell Summit specifically mention it being 'Great for dog walking,' and Slate Fell is popular with dog walkers. However, always keep dogs under close control, especially around livestock, and be mindful of stiles, steep terrain, and weather conditions.

The ascent of Watch Hill offers beautiful views over the Lake District National Park. It provides a gradual incline, making for a pleasant walk with scenic vistas as you gain elevation. Even on cloudy days, visitors appreciate the nice views on the way up and the manageable gradient.

Cross Fell, situated in the North Pennines, is unique as the highest mountain in England outside of the Lake District, reaching 893 meters. Its summit offers a panoramic view, including the Pennines and, on a clear day, the Lake District mountains on the horizon. It can be part of a longer loop that includes other mountains like Great Dun Fell and Dufton Pike, with Dufton Pike offering a remarkable 360-degree panorama.

Burnbank Fell is a hill in the Western Lake District, standing at 475 meters. It's the most northerly point of a ridge extending from Loweswater to Buttermere Edge. Walking the full ridge that includes Burnbank Fell offers a traverse that becomes increasingly dramatic and magnificent as you progress, never dropping below approximately 400 meters. It's also part of a great circular walk discovering the west fells of Loweswater.