Routes up
High Spy routes: 2 ways to the top
Grange via Maiden MoorHiking · 5.8 km one way · 589 m ascent · ~2h 10m · from Grange-in-BorrowdaleModerate
Climb to the ridge at Hause Gate, then follow the grassy crest south over Maiden Moor to the summit.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Grange via Maiden Moor route guideRosthwaite via Dalehead TarnHiking · 4.8 km one way · 586 m ascent · ~1h 55m · from Rosthwaite, BorrowdaleModerate
A path climbs past the Rigghead quarries to the col by Dalehead Tarn, then north up the ridge.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Rosthwaite via Dalehead Tarn route guide
Summit today
Is it safe to climb High Spy today?
Loading the summit forecast…
Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on High Spy each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 653m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over High Spy each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:07, sunset 16:45
9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 08:00 and starts 15:52. From the summit you see the sun 07:01 to 16:50.
Nearby summits
Close to High Spy
About High Spy
High Spy stands on the long ridge that runs south from Cat Bells over Maiden Moor to Dale Head. The summit carries a tall, well-built cairn, and the western side falls in the cliffs of Eel Crags into the Newlands valley. Maiden Moor lies 2.0km north, Dale Head, the nearest higher fell, 1.4km south-west beyond Dalehead Tarn, and Hindscarth 1.9km west.
The classic approach follows the ridge from Grange or the Cat Bells side over Maiden Moor, a grassy walk with views across Derwentwater. From Rosthwaite in Borrowdale, a path climbs past the old Rigghead slate quarries to the col by Dalehead Tarn, then heads north to the top. The paths are clear and well used.
You can carry on over Dale Head and Hindscarth for a horseshoe round the head of Newlands.
High Spy is 653 m (2,143 ft) high with 148 m of prominence. It is in Cumbria, England. It is the 206th highest of the 273 summits Peakify lists in Cumbria. The nearest summits are High Spy North Top (0.9 km), Maiden Moor (2.0 km) and Dale Head (1.4 km).
Can you walk High Spy from Cat Bells?
Yes. The ridge runs from Cat Bells over Maiden Moor to High Spy, and many walkers extend the Cat Bells walk this way.
Can you combine High Spy with Dale Head?
Yes. Dale Head lies 1.4km south-west across the col at Dalehead Tarn, and the two often form part of the Newlands horseshoe.
Is High Spy a Wainwright?
Yes. It is a Wainwright, a Hewitt, a Nuttall, a HuMP and a Birkett.
How high is High Spy?
High Spy is 653 metres high with 148 metres of prominence.
Where is High Spy?
High Spy is listed in Cumbria, England.
Are there routes for High Spy?
Peakify lists 2 routes for High Spy, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Grange via Maiden Moor (5.8 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb High Spy today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for High Spy?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
