Steeple (Lake District)
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| Steeple | |
|---|---|
 Steeple seen from Wind Gap between Scoat Fell and Pillar | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 819 m (2,687 ft) |
| Prominence | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Listing | Wainwright, Nuttall |
| Coordinates | 54°29′35″N 3°18′07″W / 54.493°N 3.302°W |
| Geography | |
  Steeple Location in the Lake District  Steeple Location in Copeland Borough | |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Western Fells |
| OS grid | NY157116 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer Outdoor Leisure 4 |
Steeple is a fell in the English Lake District. It is situated in the mountainous area between Ennerdale and Wasdale and reaches a height of 819 metres (2,687 feet). Steeple is really part of Scoat Fell, being just the rocky northern projection of that fell. However, because of its prominent peak and steep crags it has earned the reputation of being a separate fell. The Lake District writer Alfred Wainwright rated Steeple and its name very highly saying, “Seen on a map, it commands the eye and quickens the pulse, seen in reality it does the same“.
Steeple’s close proximity to Scoat Fell robs it of being one of the best fells in the area; the two fells are linked by the Steeple arête with a lowest height of 798 metres (2,618 ft). The arête is stony and loose underfoot due to erosion and it is better to stick to the firmer rock along the crest. Scoat Fell is only 22 metres (72 ft) higher than Steeple but the short distance between them means that the higher dominates the lower significantly.