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

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

Photo: Alan Wainwright (74)

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

Yewbarrow from Scafell Pike

Photo: Mick Coxon (11)

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

Wasdale Head at sunrise from Lingmell

Photo: Craig Carter (25)

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 - 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 - Me and my wife Sue at the summit of Scafell Pike

Me and my wife Sue at the summit of Scafell Pike

Photo: Billy Wright (1)

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

Wast Water and Wasdale Head from Lingmell

Photo: Ian Lilley (1)

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 - Pete and Andy on Scafell Pike (at 4am) during the Three Peaks Challenge

Pete and Andy on Scafell Pike (at 4am) during the Three Peaks Challenge

Photo: Andy Brown (9)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Gunson Knott, Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Slight Side

Gunson Knott, Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Slight Side

Photo: Greg Campbell (3)

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

Scafell Pike Summit

Photo: Mick Fox (5)

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

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

Photo: David Swales (5)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - The West Wall Traverse

The West Wall Traverse

Photo: Christine Shepherd (834)

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

The Wast Water Screes

Photo: Richard Duff (2)

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 - Climbing towards the col between Broad Crag and Great End

Climbing towards the col between Broad Crag and Great End

Photo: Craig Carter (30)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - *Illgill Head, Wast Water, Middle Fell and Yewbarrow from Lingmell

*Illgill Head, Wast Water, Middle Fell and Yewbarrow from Lingmell

Photo: Wayne Hill (13)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Lingmell (left) and Kirk Fell in sunlight from near Dropping Crag below Scafell Pike

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

Photo: Rob Barklamb (16)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains 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 c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Crags on Lingmell just west of the summit

Crags on Lingmell just west of the summit

Photo: Christine Shepherd (27)


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


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