High Spy is the long, flat-topped ridge between Borrowdale and the Newlands valley, topped by a big cairn that walkers rebuild whenever it gets knocked about. The name is Old English and is thought to mean 'high lookout', though nobody is sure what was being watched. Eel Crags on the Newlands side are prized by climbers, and the Castlenook lead mine at their foot worked from the 1860s until 1918.
New to the Wainwrights?Read our guide: What Are The Wainwrights?Large cairn
Borrowdale Volcanic rock, with steep crags on both flanks and the climbing cliffs of Eel Crags.
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Summit Weather
Our Route
Also on this route: Dale Head, Maiden Moor, Catbells
Safety: Routes are a guide only. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, check the weather before you go, and turn back if in doubt. You use this route at your own risk.
