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 - The summit cairn on the top of Burnbank Fell

The summit cairn on the top of Burnbank Fell

Photo: Christine Shepherd (838)

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

Scafell Pike summit

Photo: Stewart Green (5)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Yewbarrow (centre) and Pillar (right) from Sca Fell

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

Photo: Greg Campbell (10)

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

Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell from Wasdale Head

Photo: Ian McCutcheon (14)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Sca Fell from Slight Side

Sca Fell from Slight Side

Photo: Greg Campbell (7)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Eskdale from Ill Crag (Scafell Massif)

Eskdale from Ill Crag (Scafell Massif)

Photo: Stephen Dawson (7)

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

The summit of Great End

Photo: Christine Shepherd (529)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains 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 (19)

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 - Ill Crag (left) Broad Crag (centre) and Scafell Pike (right) from Great End (Scafell Massif)

Ill Crag (left) Broad Crag (centre) and Scafell Pike (right) from Great End (Scafell Massif)

Photo: Stephen Dawson (11)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Burnmoor Tarn from Slight Side

Burnmoor Tarn from Slight Side

Photo: Greg Campbell (5)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great Gable (back), Lingmell, the shoulder of Scafell Pike and Mickeldore from Symonds Knott

Great Gable (back), Lingmell, the shoulder of Scafell Pike and Mickeldore from Symonds Knott

Photo: Greg Campbell (12)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The ascent up to Foxes Tarn (Sca Fell)

The ascent up to Foxes Tarn (Sca Fell)

Photo: Paul Coulter (3)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great Moss and Crinkle Crags from the lower slopes of Sca Fell

Great Moss and Crinkle Crags from the lower slopes of Sca Fell

Photo: David Hayter (381)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - *Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (left) from Scafell Pike

*Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (left) from Scafell Pike

Photo: Wayne Hill (22)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Lone fell walker on Scafell Pike with Symonds Knott and Sca Fell (left), Wast Water and Seatallen (right) beyond

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

Photo: Craig Carter (28)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Hard Knott from Slight Side

Hard Knott from Slight Side

Photo: Greg Campbell (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains 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 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)


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