Irton Pike

Irton Pike and the Irish Sea.

Summits: Only one in the chapter, Irton Pike, 751 feet above sea level.

Volume: Volume 8, the Outlying Fells. Of the 116 fells in this volume, this was the last one I bagged in my second round.

Date bagged: First visit: 14th August 2013, walk 73. Second visit: 8th June 2023 (walk 207a).

Bagged as number: First round: 226 of 330. [ << Boat How (225)  (227-229) Black Combe >> ].

Second round: 310 of 330. Twenty to go! [ << Burnbank Fell (309) (311) Middle Fell >> ]

Irton Pike summit. Whin Rigg is behind.

Route of ascent and descent: First visit: Approached along the ridge from Whin Rigg. Descended to the Santon Bridge road, thence to Irton Road station.

Second visit: Walked to the top from Ravenglass. Descended, eventually, to Nether Wasdale.

What Mr Wainwright says (from page 182 of volume 8): “[Irton Pike is] the abrupt terminus of a long ridge descending from the heights above Wastwater, and a delectable objective in its own right but no longer easily accessible because of growing timber, and which might be completely isolated and unattainable in a few years’ time as trees mature. Its view seawards is unrestricted but the gem of a wide panorama is Great Gable — a noble sight at the head of Wasdale. Couches of lovely heather make this tiny top a near-perfect solace for remembrances of past happy days on the higher fells.”

Irton Pike, as seen from the journey in on the R&ER.

What I say: On the first day I visited, Irton Pike couldn’t deliver its view thanks to the weather, but it did deliver me a £5 note which I found lying in the heather near the summit, and not a single other place in the Lakes has thus far delivered hard cash in note form. On my second visit, I didn’t get another fiver (that really would have been something), but I did get the view. It’s certainly worth a climb, with colourful and pleasant woodland, which fortunately has been well-managed, to avoid the problems Wainwright predicted.

[ << Illgill Head     Kentmere Pike >> ]