Scafell Pike
978m (3210ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
Scafell Pike is the highest point in the county of Cumbria, the highest point in The Lake District National Park and the highest point in England. It was also the highest point in the old county of Cumberland.
Scafell Pike means 'the highest point of 'The Pikes of Sca Fell'. This was the collective term for all the lumps and bumps on the top of the Sca Fell Massif (namely Sca Fell Pike, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Great End) when it was donated to The National Trust by Lord Leconfield in 1919. Sca Fell Pike became Scafell Pike (without the space) due to an error by the Ordnance Survey and the name stuck.' and is pronounced 'Though Scafell Pike is usually pronounced 'Skar Fell Pyke', the Lake District locals pronounce it 'SKOR-fall Pyke' with the emphasis on the first syllable. Indeed, many older texts spell it 'Skawfell Pike'.
The summit of Scafell Pike is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
In good weather you can see mountains in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man from the summit of Scafell Pike so try and go in on a clear day.
At an elevation of 832m (2,731ft), Broad Crag Tarn is the highest body of standing water in England. It can be found approximately 420 m south west of the summit of Scafell Pike.
You can find Scafell Pike & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Scafell Pike and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Scafell Pike and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 30 Wainwrights in The Southern Fells area of The Lake District in just 11 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6.25ml (10km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,187ft (971m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Lingmell Gill - Brown Tongue - Hollow Stones - Mickledore - Scafell Pike - Mickledore - Lingmell Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,218ft (981m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Lingmell Gill - Brown Tongue - Hollow Stones - Mickledore - Scafell Pike - The Corridor Route - Sty Head - Lingmell Beck - Gable Beck Bridge - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,195ft (1,279m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell - Corridor Route - Scafell Pike - Mickledore - Foxes Tarn - Symonds Knott - Sca Fell - Lingmell Gill - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,289ft (1,020m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Seathwaite - Stockley Bridge - Grains Gill - Ruddy Gill - Sprinkling Tarn - Esk Hause - Scafell Pike - Esk Hause - Grains Gill - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,696ft (1,126m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Wast Water - Lingmell - Lingmell Col - Scafell Pike - Broad Crag - Ill Crag - Great End - Esk Hause - Sty Head - Lingmell Beck - Gable Beck Bridge - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,236ft (986m) |
| Time: | 6.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Seathwaite - Grains Gill - Stockley Bridge - Styhead Gill - Styhead Tarn - Sty Head - The Corridor Route - Skew Gill - Greta Gill - Piers Gill - Scafell Pike - The Corridor Route - Sty Head - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.5ml (15km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,477ft (1,060m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Seathwaite - Grains Gill - Styhead Gill - Styhead Tarn - Corridor Route - Scafell Pike - Broad Crag - Ill Crag - Great End - Esk Hause - Grains Gill - Seathwaite
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75ml (15.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,140ft (1,567m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell - Middleboot Knotts - Round How (Scafell) - Great End - Ill Crag - Broad Crag - Scafell Pike - Mickledore - Foxes Tarn - Symonds Knott - Sca Fell - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,409ft (1,648m) |
| Time: | 9½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell - Corridor Route - Great End - Ill Crag - Broad Crag - Scafell Pike - Mickledore - Foxes Tarn - Symonds Knott - Sca Fell - Slight Side - Broad Tongue - Hardrigg Gill - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.25ml (18km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,883ft (1,183m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Great Langdale - The Old Dungeon Ghyll - The Cumbria Way - Mickleden Beck - Rossett Gill - Rossett Pike - Angle Tarn (Langdale) - Esk Hause - Scafell Pike - Ill Crag - Broad Crag - Great End - Esk Hause - Angle Tarn - Rossett Gill - Mickleden - Mickleden Beck - The Cumbria Way - The Old Dungeon Ghyll - Great Langdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.5ml (20km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,684ft (1,428m) |
| Time: | 9.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Great Langdale - The Old Dungeon Ghyll - The Cumbria Way - Mickleden Beck - Mickleden - Rossett Beck - Rossett Pike - Angle Tarn (Langdale) - Esk Hause - Great End - Ill Crag - Broad Crag - Scafell Pike - Esk Hause - Esk Pike - Ore Gap - Bow Fell (Bowfell) (North Top) - Bow Fell (Bowfell) - Bowfell Buttress - Cambridge Crag - Flat Crag - Climbers' Traverse (optional) - Three Tarns - The Band - Oxendale - Stool End Farm - The Old Dungeon Ghyll - Great Langdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 13.75ml (22km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,982ft (1,519m) |
| Time: | 10 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Eskdale - Wha House Farm - Hare Crag - Quagrigg Moss - Slight Side - Sca Fell - Symonds Knott - Scafell Pike - Broad Crag - Ill Crag - Great End - Esk Hause - Lingcove Bridge - Great Moss - Eskdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14ml (22.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 6,009ft (1,832m) |
| Time: | 9 hrs |
| Grade: | (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Eskdale - Wha House Farm - Hare Crag - Quagrigg Moss - Slight Side - Sca Fell - Symonds Knott - Mickledore - Scafell Pike - Broad Crag - Ill Crag - Great End - Esk Hause - Esk Pike - Ore Gap - Bow Fell (Bowfell) (North Top) - Bow Fell (Bowfell) - Bowfell Buttress - Cambridge Crag - Flat Crag - Climbers' Traverse (optional) - Three Tarns - Great Moss - Brotherikeld - Eskdale
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Scafell Pike
David Higginbottom walked up Scafell Pike on November 15th, 2018 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
John Ramsbottom climbed Scafell Pike on January 7th, 2024 [from/via/route] Started at Wasdale Head car park [with] Lola [weather] sunshine cold & frosty, nice day - No pub this time . Being good
Christine Shepherd bagged Scafell Pike on August 19th, 1997 [from/via/route] Seathwaite via Grains Gill returning via Taylor Force. [with] Peter (my husband) [weather] Very hot & sunny with a heat haze. - I would definitely recommend the descent by Taylor Force Gill. (not for the faint hearted though) Have climbed Scafell on two other occasions. Easter 2003 with my daughter & 27.6.09, when I led a group from my church in Leeds to the summit. Finally climbed this fell on my own on 3.10.15. Climbed from Wasdale Head for the first time much easier than from Seathwaite. Climbed for a fifth time on 21.10.23 with Jenny & Ian.This was their first time on this summit.Great weather & views.We climbed Lingmell first & climbed Scafell Pike from Lingmell Col.
Philip Wilde hiked Scafell Pike during 2023 [from/via/route] Seathwaite via Corridor route [with] Son, Keir
James Hughes summited Scafell Pike on June 15th, 2023 [from/via/route] Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Great End [with] Solo [weather] Beautiful day, clear, warm. blue skies & no wind. - Pearler of a day...
Geoff Hand conquered Scafell Pike on May 12th, 2023 [from/via/route] Recce of the Second half of Bob Graham Round leg 3. Set out from the NT Carpark at Wasdale Head. Went up Lingmell Beck to Sty Head then Esk Hause from there we went to 1great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag. from there onto Scafell Pike, the down to Broad S & round to Foxes Tarn & Up Scafell. Then straight down to Wasdale Head [with] Ran Mackay, Alfi and Tess. [weather] Started cloudy & cleared into a beautiful sunny afternoon - It was the toughest day out in the fells I've had to date.
Ian Ashton scaled Scafell Pike on July 11th, 2021 [from/via/route] Corridor route Seathwaite via glaramara 29 April
Emma Simmonds walked up Scafell Pike during July, 2004 [from/via/route] From Rosthwaite [with] Kevin and Samson. [weather] Dry, low cloud at the top.
Iain Jones climbed Scafell Pike on May 2nd, 2009 [from/via/route] Corridor Route from Seathwaite [with] Nicola Robins - 16 July 2010 - walked from The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale; 11 August 2012 - walked from Wasdale Head as part of National Three Peaks Challenge; 19 May 2013 - walked from The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale on BMF Hiking Day; 30 August 2014 - walked from The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale; 26 August 2017 - The Wainwright 60 - Day 6 (Scafell); 17 September 2022 - walked via Corridor Route from Seatoller
Tim Winn bagged Scafell Pike on September 9th, 2022 [from/via/route] Seathwaite [with] Mountain Guided Walks [weather] Cloud & heavy rain.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Scafell Pike
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Climbing Scafell Pike via the Brown Tongue path with Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (Wasdale) (right) in the background
Sca Fell, Scafell Pike and the dome of Great Gable in the distance beyond Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell (Bowfell) with The Langdale Pikes in the mid distance from Yoke
*From Left to right: Caw Fell, Seatallan, Red Pike, Pillar, Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Lingmell and Sca Fell and Wast Water (foreground) from Illgill Head (NB. Scafell Pike is largely hidden behind Sca Fell)
*Northernly Panorama from the summit of Hard Knott featuring Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Gunson Knott, Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top)
The Scafell Massif featuring Scafell Pike (centre) and Sca Fell (centre left) from Swirl Band between Swirl How and Levers Hawse
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell and the shoulder of Scafell Pike from Wast Water
Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Great Gable peeping up through the clouds during a cloud inversion from Scafell Pike
From left to right: Slight Side and Sca Fell, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Cold Pike, Little Stand and finally the shoulder of Grey Friar from the summit of Hard Knott
Me and my Dad, having a well earned rest at the top of Scafell Pike having completed all three peaks in the UK National Three Peaks Challenge.
Sca Fell (left), Mickledore (centre), Scafell Pike (centre-right) and Ill Crag (right) from Crinkle Crags (Long Top)
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre), Lingmell (right) and the lower slopes of Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Great End from Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike
*Scafell Pike (far left back) and The Borrowdale Fells featuring Allen Crags, High House Tarn Top, Red Beck Top, Looking Stead, Glaramara, Comb Head, Comb Door Top, Dovenest Top and Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) from High Raise (Langdale)
*Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Gunson Knott and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Mickledore (between Scafell Pike and Sca Fell)
Great Gable (back), Lingmell, the shoulder of Scafell Pike and Mickeldore from Symonds Knott
Scafell Pike (far left), Ill Crag and the shoulder of Great End (far right) from Esk Hause
The Scafell Massiff from Bowfell - with Sca Fell to the left, Mickledore in the centre and Scafell Pike to the right
The Scafell Massif - Slight Side, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End from Crinkle Crags (Long Top)
The Scafell Massif - Slight Side, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End - from the summit of Little Stand
Wast Water from Lingmell Gill on the way up Scafell Pike. The fell to the right is Middle Fell
Scafell Pike (right) and Sca Fell (left) with Mickledore (centre) from Bow Fell (Bowfell)
Dollywaggon Pike (right) with The Langdale Pikes (mid distance) and Bow Fell (Bowfell) and Scafell Pike (far distance) from St Sunday Crag
Buzz, Sharky and Yorkie on top of Lingmell before climbing Scafell Pike to round off the day
Great End, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from near the summit of Red Pike (Buttermere)
Snow on Scafell Pike (left), Sca Fell (right top) and Lingmell (right centre) from Westmorland Cairn on Great Gable
Wast Water with the Scafel Massive (far left- featuring Ling Mell, Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Scafell Pike, Symonds Knott and Sca Fell) and Illgill Head (centre) and Whin Rigg (centre right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow
Scafell re-visted. Me, my dog and my mates passing Styhead Tarn on the way up to Scafell Pike
Green Gable (left) Great Gable (centre left), Scafell Pike (centre distance) and Kirk Fell (centre right) from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike
The Scafell Massif - Slight Side, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag - from the summit of Bow Fell (Bowfell)
Innominate Tarn, Hay Stacks with Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Scafell Pike in the distance
Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Gunson Knott , Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Scafell Pike
360 degree panorama featuring Great Gable, Green Gable, Little Scoat Fell & Pillar (distance), Brandreth, Dale Head (Newlands), High Spy, Glaramara, Esk Pike, Great End and Scafell Pike from Base Brown
Looking down Mosedale to Wasdale Head from Little Scoat Fell with Red Pike (Wasdale) on the right in shadow and the Scafell Massif (featuring Great End, Broad Crag, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Symonds Knott and Sca Fell) across the valley
The Scafell Massif - Slight Side, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End - from the summit cairn on Crinkle Crags (South Top)
Slight Side and Sca Fell, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag, Great End and Esk Hause from Lingcove Bridge
Snow on Black Sails summit cairn with Great Carrs (centre left) and Scafell Pike (far right) in the background
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water
Lone fell walker on Scafell Pike with Symonds Knott and Sca Fell (left), Wast Water and Seatallen (right) beyond
Snow on Esk Pike (left), Bow Fell (Bowfell) and Crinkle Crags (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Me looking up the West Wall Traverse between Sca Fell and Scafell Pike
The Scafell Massif - Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag & Great End - with Bow Fell (Bowfell) in the right foreground from the summit of Bow Fell (Bowfell) (North Top)
Great End, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Sca Fell and Slightside from the summit of Yewbarrow
Ill Crag (left) Broad Crag (centre) and Scafell Pike (right) from Great End (Scafell Massif)
Ollie, Max and James on top of Lingmell before climbing Scafell Pike to round off the day
My son on his first boys mountain climb up Scafell Pike with his Dad and Grandad
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) and Scafell Pike (far right) from Wast Water
Seatallan (centre left) and you can just make out Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell (centre right in the distance) from Ponsonby Fell summit
Looking south from the summit of Dale Head (Newlands) with (left to right) Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Scafell Pike on the horizon and Great Gable (far right - mid distance)
The Scafel Massive featuring Ling Mell, Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Scafell Pike, Symonds Knott and Sca Fell above Wast Water from Buckbarrow
Haycock, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Pillar, Top of Stirrup Crag, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Slightside, Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Burnmoor Tarn from the summit of Yewbarrow
Sca Fell (centre left), Mickledore, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag from Three Tarns
Snow capping Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) Lingmell and Scafell Pike surround Wast Water from near Overbeck Bridge, Wasdale
Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water
Airplane wreckage below Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike
Snow on Scafell Pike and the Scafell Massif from a very frozen Innominate Tarn
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell above Wast Water from near Middle Fell (Wasdale)
Lingmell (left) and Kirk Fell in sunlight from near Dropping Crag below Scafell Pike
The Mosedale Horseshoe - Yewbarrow (mid-distance left), Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell beyond, Pillar (right of centre) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell (mid-distance right) from Scafell Pike
Yewbarrow, Wasdale Head, Wast Water, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from below Middle Fell (Wasdale)
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Scafell Pike
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