High Topps

From Arthur Ransome Wiki

High Topps is a high, fell area, to the west of the Lake, above the upper reaches of the Valley of the Amazon, close to Kanchenjunga and its spurs, Grey Screes and Ling Scar. It is the main location for the action in Pigeon Post and also features in The Picts and the Martyrs. It is a 'whacking big place' full of old mine workings. It was amongst these workings that the prospectors found 'Golden Gulch'. One end of the Old Level is on High Topps. This old mine passes right through Ling Scar to Slater Bob's Quarry.

Below High Topps is the Heald Wood, and Atkinson's Farm and Tyson's Farm, all near the 'Dundale Road.

[edit] Native prototype

An area to the north of Coniston Water, called Yewdale Fell, near Tilberthwaite, bears a lot of similarities to High Topps, and Arthur Ransome visited the area as part of his research for writing Pigeon Post.