Walk route map c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

A walk in The Lake District National Park, Cumbria, North West England

The direct route up and down England's Highest

Walk Route Summary:

- Wasdale Head, Lingmell Gill, Brown Tongue, Hollow Stones, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Mickledore, Lingmell Beck, Wasdale Head, Wast Water.

Vital Statistics for this Walk

Length/Distance: 10km (6.25 miles)
Total Ascent: 971m (3187ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Allow at least: 5.5hrs
Walk Grade:
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The Summit of Scafell Pike
Photo: David Cochrane

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Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:

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.

Wasdale Head is a tiny hamlet of agricultural fields and dwellings that claims to be home of the highest mountain in England (Scafell Pike), the deepest lake (Wast Water), the smallest church (Church of St Olaf) and the biggest liar (Will Ritson). There is an excellent National Trust Campsite and a fine pub - the Wasdale Inn - which claims to be the birthplace of British rock climbing. There is also a large free parking area for visitors.

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.

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.

Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:

The highest point of this walk is Scafell Pike at 978m (3210ft). 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 is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (1st in England, 7th in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. 1). Scafell Pike is also known as an English Nuttall (1st in England, 7th in England & Wales) and a Marilyn (1st in England, 136th in the UK).

Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:

1
English
Mountain

1
Wainwright

1
English
Nuttall

0
English
Deweys

0
Wainwright
Outlying Fells

1
Marilyn

0
Bridgets

For more details about what constitutes a Mountain and Mountain & Hill Classifications see: Peaks & Mountains.

For more details about peak bagging and how to record your achievements see: Peak Bagging.

For more walks, routes & maps near walk route c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - see these interactive Ordnance Survey Walk Route Maps:

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See all the walk route maps that start in (or go through) Wasdale Head

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More Photos and Pictures from Walk c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

In no particular order . . .

1. Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water
Photo: Andy Malcolm (242)

(Click here to see this panorama in full)

2. Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) from Wast Water
Photo: Peter Dryden (3)

3. Great Gable from Burnthwaite, Wasdale Head
Photo: David Swales (13)

4. Great Gable peeping up through the clouds during a cloud inversion from Scafell Pike
Photo: Christine Shepherd (352)

5. Wast Water from Lingmell Gill on the way up Scafell Pike. The fell to the right is Middle Fell
Photo: Alan Reed (1)

6. Yewbarrow at sunrise from Wast Water
Photo: Andy Malcolm (163)

7. Symonds Knott from Mickledore
Photo: Craig Carter (29)

8. Yewbarrow from Wasdale Head (near the campsite)
Photo: Alan Wainwright (77)

9. Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell
Photo: Ian McCutcheon (5)

10. Illgill Head and the Wast Water Screes
Photo: Alan Wainwright (75)

. . . see all 112 walk photos from Walk c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

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