Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

England's highest & 2nd highest mountains


Route outline for walk c271:

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.



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.


Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:

hewitt
6
English
Mountains
Wainwright
4
Wainwrights
 English Nuttalls
9
English
Nuttalls
Dewey
0
English
Deweys
Wainwright Outlying Fell
0
Wainwright
Outlying Fells
marilyn
1
Marilyn
Bridget
0
Bridgets

Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:

The highest point of this walk is Scafell Pike at 978m (3210ft). Scafell Pike is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (1st highest in England, 8th highest in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. 1).

Scafell Pike is also known as an English Nuttall (1st highest in England, 8th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (1st highest in England, 138th highest in the UK).

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. 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.

Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Sca Fell at 964m (3163ft). Sca Fell is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (2nd highest in England, 10th highest in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. 2).

Sca Fell is also known as an English Nuttall (2nd highest in England, 11th highest in England & Wales).

You will also reach the summit of Symonds Knott at 959m (3147ft). Symonds Knott is also known as an English Nuttall (3rd highest in England, 13th highest in England & Wales).

Along the way you will also bag:


You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL6 The English Lakes - South Western area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

89 West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water


90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


Some Photos and Pictures from Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

In no particular order . . .

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Illgill Head and Wast Water from Sca Fell

Illgill Head and Wast Water from Sca Fell

Photo: Paul Coulter (5)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) from Sca Fell

Yewbarrow (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) from Sca Fell

Photo: Ian McCutcheon (4)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Crinkle Crags (Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), & Gunson Knott), Bow Fell (Bowfell), Esk Pike & The Langdale Pikes from Loughrigg

Crinkle Crags (Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), & Gunson Knott), Bow Fell (Bowfell), Esk Pike & The Langdale Pikes from Loughrigg

Photo: Gerry Ball (58)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - John Townsend and our dog Hamish's ashes at the top of Scafell Pike

John Townsend and our dog Hamish's ashes at the top of Scafell Pike

Photo: Nancy Townsend (1)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Wast Water from Lingmell

Wast Water from Lingmell

Photo: Paul Coulter (1)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Tracey Parnell at the top of Scafell Pike in May 2012

Tracey Parnell at the top of Scafell Pike in May 2012

Photo: Tracey Parnell (1)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Looking towards the Isle of Man (Sellafield rather spoils the view) from Sca Fell

Looking towards the Isle of Man (Sellafield rather spoils the view) from Sca Fell

Photo: Gerry Ball (57)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Illgill Head and Wast Water from Sca Fell

Illgill Head and Wast Water from Sca Fell

Photo: Greg Campbell (9)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great Gable from Middleboot Knotts

Great Gable from Middleboot Knotts

Photo: Craig Carter (43)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (right) from Scafell Pike

Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (right) from Scafell Pike

Photo: Tony Higgs (30)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Derwent Water from Great End summit

Derwent Water from Great End summit

Photo: Craig Carter (37)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great Gable from Burnthwaite, Wasdale Head

Great Gable from Burnthwaite, Wasdale Head

Photo: David Swales (13)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - *Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water

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

Photo: Wayne Hill (32)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Wast Water from the summit of Sca Fell

Wast Water from the summit of Sca Fell

Photo: Craig Carter (22)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Symonds Knott from Mickledore

Symonds Knott from Mickledore

Photo: Craig Carter (29)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The Wast Water Screes

The Wast Water Screes

Photo: Richard Duff (3)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Malt bread on the top of Scafell Pike summit

Malt bread on the top of Scafell Pike summit

Photo: Paul Coulter (2)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow Great Gable, Lingmell and Scafell Pike from Wast Water, Wasdale

Yewbarrow Great Gable, Lingmell and Scafell Pike from Wast Water, Wasdale

Photo: Tony Higgs (27)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Harter Fell (Eskdale) (centre left), Cam Spout Crag and Slight Side (centre right) with Eskdale below from Ill Crag summit

Harter Fell (Eskdale) (centre left), Cam Spout Crag and Slight Side (centre right) with Eskdale below from Ill Crag summit

Photo: Craig Carter (31)

Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Me and mate Mike on Scafell Pike

Me and mate Mike on Scafell Pike

Photo: Karen Parry (1)


. . . load all 175 walk photos from Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water


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