Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

Testing route up England's highest mountains


Route outline for walk c453:

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.



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
5
Wainwrights
 English Nuttalls
7
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 c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

In no particular order . . .

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Sunset on Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell from Wasdale

Sunset on Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell from Wasdale

Photo: Mick Fox (8)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The Langdale Pikes and Windermere from Great End (Scafell Massif)

The Langdale Pikes and Windermere from Great End (Scafell Massif)

Photo: Stephen Dawson (8)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike

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

Photo: David Swales (17)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Derwent Water from Great End summit

Derwent Water from Great End summit

Photo: Craig Carter (37)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Illgill Head and Wast Water from Lingmell

Illgill Head and Wast Water from Lingmell

Photo: Ian Lilley (2)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The Wast Water Screes below Illgill Head and Whin Rigg

The Wast Water Screes below Illgill Head and Whin Rigg

Photo: Ian Mansell (13)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow (now conquered!) from the road to the  National Trust Camp Site at Wasdale where we were staying

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

Photo: Kerin Thorpe (2)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water

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

Photo: Andy Malcolm (104)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - On a very wet Scafell Pike last summer (ha ha ha)

On a very wet Scafell Pike last summer (ha ha ha)

Photo: Mark Kelly (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The Wast Water Screes

The Wast Water Screes

Photo: Richard Duff (3)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, 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.

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.

Photo: Fizz Annand (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The tiny cairn on the summit of Slight Side

The tiny cairn on the summit of Slight Side

Photo: Christine Shepherd (837)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains 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 c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water

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

Photo: Mick Coxon (15)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - *Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

*Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

Photo: Wayne Hill (12)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The summit of Scafell Pike

The summit of Scafell Pike

Photo: Vic Lewis (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Holding on to the Trig point on Scafell Pike summit

Holding on to the Trig point on Scafell Pike summit

Photo: Craig Carter (35)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great Gable from Wasdale Head

Great Gable from Wasdale Head

Photo: Martyn Hibbert (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Scafell Pike from Lingmell

Scafell Pike from Lingmell

Photo: Ian Lilley (4)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Skiddaw and Derwent Water (in distance) with Seathwaite Fell and Sprinkling Tarn (foreground) from Great End (Scafell Massif)

Skiddaw and Derwent Water (in distance) with Seathwaite Fell and Sprinkling Tarn (foreground) from Great End (Scafell Massif)

Photo: Stephen Dawson (10)


. . . load all 184 walk photos from Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water


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