Walking Scafell Pike?

Q. Last year (aged 58) I walked up Snowdon
- see walks

• gw100 Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from Pen-y-Pass

• gw105 Snowdon via The Watkin Path from Nantgwynant

• gw107 Snowdon and Yr Aran from Rhyd-Ddu

• gw110 Snowdon via The Snowdon Ranger Path

• gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant

• gw126 Snowdon via The Llanberis Path

• gw134 Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) avoiding Crib Goch from Pen-y-Pass

• gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen-y-Pass

• gw140 Snowdon via The Rhyd-Ddu Path

• gw158 Garnedd Ugain, Snowdon, Moel Cynghorion, Foel Gron and Moel Eilio from Llanberis

• gw186 Garnedd Ugain, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) & Moel Cynghorion from Llanberis

• gw198 The Welsh 3000's (Snowdon Area) from Pen-y-Pass

This year I'm planning to walk Scafell Pike
- see walks

• c110 The Eskdale Skyline from Wha House Farm, Eskdale

• c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c166 The Scafell Masiff from Wha House Farm, Eskdale

• c172 Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c194 Scafell Pike from The Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale

• c197 Lingmell and Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c215 Scafell Pike from Seathwaite (Borrowdale)

• c233 Sca Fell and Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c370 Scafell Pike from Seathwaite (Borrowdale)

• c416 Scafell Pike from The Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale

• c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

• c454 Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route from Seathwaite (Borrowdale)

and next year for my sixtieth, Ben Nevis!!
- see walks

• h100 Ben Nevis via The Tourist Path from Achintee, Fort William

• h137 Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg from Achintee, Fort William

• h154 Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg from The Nevis Range Mountain Gondola

My general fitness level is good plus I plan to walk Scafell Pike in a safe month say September. My only concern is that I am a vertigo sufferer and whilst mountain tops are not a problem sheer drops are.

From your site I've identified walk c172 Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

as a possibility but need to check that there are no parts that I would find difficult.

Would welcome any other suggestions if this route turns out to be unsuitable.

Thanks.

Allan Wathan, Gloucester

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A. Of the recognised walking and hiking routes up Scafell Pike, the Broad Stand route is the only one that involves really challenging terrain (a difficult to negotiate 3m high 'step').

Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England (and the 61st highest mountain in the Great Britain) and climbing it involves walking in high, rough, rocky mountain terrain requiring good walking boots and you must be fully equipped with plenty of water, food and clothing for any sudden changes in the weather conditions - which can happen rapidly and without warning.

There are no 'safe' months for climbing Scafell Pike. Pick a dry summer's day with not too much wind - check the weather forecast first. Take your time and be prepared to turn back is the weather changes or the terrain becomes too difficult.

We could not say whether walk c172 Scafell Pike via The Corridor Route from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

would be suitable for you - you must use your own judgement - but can confirm it does not involve walking along any 'vertigo inducing knife edges' (like Sharp Edge or Striding Edge) and seems to be the route favoured by most 'first timers'.

Hope this helps (and send us your photographs)

Mike (Editor)

NB. The (in)famous Lord's Rake route (which had a rock fall recently and is definitely not recommended under any circumstances) is on Sca Fell, Scafell Pike's neighbour.

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