Glencoyne and Sheffield Pike
Tucked away from view by steep slopes and a protective circle of craggy peaks Glencoyne is a rather secretive spot. Being hidden like this gives the dale a particularly tranquil atmosphere, which can be enjoyed at its best by exploring on foot. Sat in the middle of Glencoyne is a traditional hill farm and extending across the dale is a site of special scientific interest – designated for its rare mosses, fungi and plants. This circular walk heads up the dale then returns by traversing the fine summits of Sheffield Pike, Heron Pike and Glenridding Dodd. As well as all the flora and faun you’ll pass on this walk, you’ll also notice mining remains and associated cottages, these date back to a busy period of lead and silver extraction in the dale.
Grade: Strenuousness 2
Navigation: 3
Technicality: 3
Start/finish: Glencoyne Bay Car Park, GR NY386188
Distance: 8km (5 miles)
Time: 4 hours
Height gain: 635m
Terrain: Busy valley road, access drive, woodland, steep fell side, mountain col, broad rocky summit ridge, hanging corrie, and wall side path.
Maps:
- OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000)
- OS Explorer OL5 (1:25 000)
- Harveys' Superwalker XT25 Lake District East (1:25 000)
- British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000)
- NY386188 Turn right out of the car park and carefully follow the path for 150m to the Glencoyne Farm drive. Turn right onto it and follow it past the farmhouse and then turn left onto the track (marked “Path”). Follow the path across the pasture and pass below the old miners cottages at Seldom Seen.
- NY379185 Continue along the path as it crosses a beck and then climbs west southwest to the side of a wall. The path is then followed west as it works up the dale and climbs to the col at Nick head.
- NY362183 Turn left and follow the path that climbs east to the rocky summit of Sheffield Pike.
- NY369181 The descent from Sheffield Pike lies to the southwest, you’ll need to avoid some rocky knollsalong the wayand also to be careful not to drift too far south towards the crags of Glenridding Screes. The shoulder formed by Heron Pike is a key landmark for the correct descent route and is approached passing two tarns.
- NY373178 Descend the stepped ridge SE to the col at Rake Head. A short rocky ascent east leads directly to the lofty view point of Glenridding Dodd.
- NY380175 Re-trace your steps back down to the col and then follow the wall-side path that heads north across the head of Mossdale. Continue alongside the wall and head up and over the next col. The wall is then followed down into Glencoyne to re-join the path valley path. Turn right and re-trace your steps back to the car park.
