Just cresting the 2,000 foot mark at 612 m (2,008 ft), it is mostly climbed as part of the Fairfield horseshoe walk and it lies between the adjoining fells of Nab Scar and Great Rigg.

Heron Pike’s eastern side features Erne Crag and Blind Cove as it falls away quite steeply towards Rydal Beck.

[1] The fell's western flank drops towards Grasmere and has the small Alcock Tarn on its lower slopes at a height of 360 m (1,180 ft).

It is called Heron Pike North Top on the Nuttall lists, but is also known as Rydal Fell in some guide books.

[3] It lies 400 metres (1⁄4 mile) north of the main summit at the top of Erne Crag and has a height of 621 m (2,037 ft).