Route outline for walk c172:
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.
Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:
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.
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.
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'.
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:
![]() 1 English Mountain |
![]() 1 Wainwright |
![]() 1 English Nuttall |
![]() 0 English Deweys |
![]() 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
![]() 1 Marilyn |
![]() 0 Bridgets |
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 a English Mountain (Hewitt) (1st highest in England, 7th highest in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. 1). Scafell Pike is also known as a English Nuttall (1st highest in England, 7th highest in England & Wales). Scafell Pike is also classified as a English Marilyn (1st highest in England, 138th highest in the UK).
This walk is on Ordnance Survey Maps:
OS Explorer Map OL6 | |
1:25,000 scale (Orange Covers) |
|
OS Landranger Map 89 or 90 | |
1:50,000 scale (Pink Covers) |
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk c172 Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route from Wasdale Head, Wast Water
In no particular order . . .

Wast Water from Lingmell Gill on the way up Scafell Pike. The fell to the right is Middle Fell

Hallin Fell from a viewpoint on the descent from High Dodd (Sleet Fell)

The (now suddenly full) Drainwater Ditch on Binn Moor with Shooters Nab beyond

Me jumping for joy at the great view from at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, with Edinburgh Castle in the background

Arnside Knott, Humphrey Head, Dixon Heights (Newton Fell) and Saskills (Newton Fell) from the Whitbarrow Scar ridge

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (in cloud centre), Lingmell (centre right) and the Wast Water screes (right) reflected in Wast Water

Ysgafell Wen (North Top) and Llynnau'r Cwn from Ysgafell Wen (Far North Top)

On the Carn Mor Dearg Arete with Fort William and Loch Eil far below in the distance

Derwent Water with Maiden Moor, Cat Bells (Catbells) and Causey Pike (right) beyond from Friar's Crag

Snow on Yewbarrow (North Top) left, Red Pike (centre right) and the shoulder or Kirk Fell (right) tower above Wasdale from near Sty Head

Blawith Common, Torver Low Common and The Coniston Fells from Beacon (Blawith Fells)

Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water

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.

The Cannon Kissing Gate allowing access into Chatsworth Park from Baslow

Kinder Reservoir and Mermaid's Pool from near the Kinder Downfall, Kinder Scout

Barley, Ing Ends and Ogden Reservoirs from the top Pendle Hill (Beacon or Big End)

Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike

The Camouflaged back of the Out of Bounds to all Military Vehicles sign on the access road to Lower Fleetgreen Farm

Yewbarrow (now conquered!) from the road to the National Trust Camp Site at Wasdale where we were staying

Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmoor Fell (right) from Wast Water

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water

High Crag, Seat, Scarth Gap and Hay Stacks (Haystacks) from Looking Stead (Pillar)

Great End from Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Lingmell (left) and Kirk Fell in sunlight from near Dropping Crag below Scafell Pike

The Scafell Massif - Slight Side, Sca Fell, Symonds Knott, Mickledore, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End - from the summit of Little Stand

Kirk Fell and the shoulder of Great Gable (right) with the lower slopes of Great End (left) and Red Pike (Wasdale) in the distance from Sty Head

Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell and the shoulder of Scafell Pike from Wast Water

Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water in Wasdale

The Packhorse Bridge over The River Derwent at the northern end of Howden Reservoir

Black Crag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head

Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water

Innominate Tarn, Hay Stacks with Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Scafell Pike in the distance

Descending in to the Grwyne Fawr Valley from Pen y Gadair Fawr in The Black Mountains

Malvern (Worcestershire Beacon) and Sugarloaf Hill (Malverns) from North Hill (Malverns)

Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell

The East face path up of Pendle Hill (Beacon or Big End) wih Pendle House below

Lone fell walker on Scafell Pike with Symonds Knott and Sca Fell (left), Wast Water and Seatallen (right) beyond

Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water

Looking down Styhead Gill from Sty Head to a sunlit Borrowdale with Bleaberry Fell the high point in the distance

A dusting of snow on the shoulder of Lingmell (left), Middle Fell (centre left in the distance) and Yewbarrow above Wasdale from Sty Head

Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd (left) and Mynydd Drws-y-coed with Moel Eilio (right, in the distance) from the cairn on the summit of Moel Yr Ogof

Harter Fell (Eskdale) (right) and Green Crag (Ulpha Fell) (left) from Great Worm Crag

*Great Knott, Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Gunson Knott and Bow Fell (Bowfell) from Red Tarn (Langdale)

Souther Fell summit cairn with Blencathra (or Saddleback) (distance) and Bannerdale Crags in the background

Farne Islands, Blackrocks Point, Bamburgh Lighthouse and Harkess Rocks from near Budle Point

Y Garn (Moel Hebog) from Trum y Ddysgl - with Foel Goch (left), Moel Cynghorion (right) and Elidir Fawr between

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

Mellbreak taken in the evening sunlight from the Kirkstile Inn in Loweswater Village

Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water

Lovely days climbing at Trevor Rocks in Llangollen with the Clywdian range in the background

Bamford Edge, Bamford Moor with Stanage Edge (Stanage Edge) in the distance

Scar Crags with Sail (Derwent Fells) and Crag Hill (Eel Crag) beyond from Causey Pike

Mynydd Drws-y-coed (The Nantlle Ridge) and Trum y Ddysgl from Y Garn (Moel Hebog)

Climbing Scafell Pike via the Brown Tongue path with Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (Wasdale) (right) in the background

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge - approaching Pen-y-ghent from Brackenbottom

Black Grag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head

The shoulder of Lingmell and snow on Illgill Head (far left), Wasdale and Wast Water (left) and Yewbarrow (right) from Gable Beck Bridge

On the lower slopes of Ben Nevis with Meall an t-Suidhe and Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe in the background

Back Tor (Hollins Cross) from Lose Hill (Ward's Piece) with Mam Tor and Lord's Seat (Rushup Edge) beyond during a winter temperature inversion

*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre), Lingmell (right) and the lower slopes of Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water

*Derwent Water with Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat beyond from Cat Bells (Catbells)

Ruthwaite Lodge (Climbing Hut), upper Grisedale with Fairfield in the background

Temperature Inversion - Glyder Fach and Glyder Fach poking out of a sea of clouds from Carnedd Moel Siabod

Looking across Great Langdale to Side Pike and Lingmoor Fell from Stickle Ghyll, The Langdale Pikes

Stream above Dyserth Waterfall (Rhaeadr Dyserth)
from the North Wales Path, Dyserth

Looking down Glen Sligachan from the start of the pinnacle ridge at Sgurr nan Gilliean

Cwm Idwal featuring Glyder Fawr (left), Twll Du or The Devil's Kitchen (centre) and Y Garn (right)

Victory (left), Defiance and Royal Soverin (right) - the three large boulders that form The Three Ships on Birchen Edge

Plane Wreckage from the crashed flying fortress on Higher Shelf Stones.

Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Gunson Knott , Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Scafell Pike

The Fairfield Horseshoe from the summit of Fairfield with Dove Crag (left), Rydal Beck, Ambleside, Windermere, Nab Scar and Heron Pike (prominent right)

Panorama of Harley Dingle/New Radnor Firing Range with Black Mixen, Bache Hill and Whimble opposite, Radnor Forest

Hollins Cross, Back Tor (Hollins Cross) and Lose Hill (Ward's Piece) from Mam Tor

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

Winhill Pike (Win Hill), Ladybower Reservoir and Crook Hill from Dovestones Tor, Derwent Edge

Harley Dingle/New Radnor Firing Range Warning sign below Three Riggles with Black Mixen, Bache Hill and Whimble on the horizon, Radnor Forest

Wild Camping at Loch Lundie between Invergarry and Fort Augustus in the Great Glen

Rodney's Pillar (Breidden Hill) (left) and Moel y Golfa (centre) and from the A458 road near the railway bridge at Cefn

*Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Gunson Knott and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Mickledore (between Scafell Pike and Sca Fell)

Me dismounting The Cioch (or Cioch Buttress) on the South West ridge of Sgurr Sgumain (Sgurr Alasdair) in The Cuillin Hills, Isle fo Skye

Callow (left), Nills, Church Stretton, The Lawley, Caer Caradoc Hill and Ragleth Hill (right) from near Minton

On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background

Airplane wreckage below Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Public Footpath number 3, which runs from Fen Road to Walcott Road, Billinghay

Snow on Esk Pike (left), Bow Fell (Bowfell) and Crinkle Crags (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike

The River Kinder flowing through the peat hags on The Kinder Scout Plateau

The Plaque beneath the Bassett Monument inside St. Bartholomew's Church, Blore

Awkward stile over a deer fence on moorland above Kirkton Farm near Crainlarich

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water

Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike

Great Gable peeping up through the clouds during a cloud inversion from Scafell Pike

*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water

The Wasdale Valley featuring Lingmell (left), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left of centre in the distance), Wast Water (centre) and Yewbarrow (right) from near Westmorland Cairn on the summit of Great Gable

The S for Sugar Aircraft Crash Memorial between Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar
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