Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water
England's highest & 2nd highest mountains
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9¾mls (15.5km) |
| Ascent: | 5,140ft (1,567m) |
| Time: | 8¾hrs |
| Grade: |  |
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:
 6 English Mountains |
 4 Wainwrights |
 9 English Nuttalls |
 0 English Deweys |
 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
 1 Marilyn |
 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:
- Broad Crag at 935m (3069ft). Broad Crag is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (4th England, 15th Eng & Wal) and an English Nuttall (5th highest in England, 17th highest in England & Wales).
- Ill Crag at 931m (3054ft). Ill Crag is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (5th England, 16th Eng & Wal) and an English Nuttall (6th highest in England, 18th highest in England & Wales).
- Great End at 910m (2987ft). Great End is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (7th highest in England, 22nd highest in England & Wales), a Wainwright (No. 5) and an English Nuttall (9th highest in England, 25th highest in England & Wales).
- Lingmell at 807m (2648ft). Lingmell is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (37th highest in England, 70th highest in England & Wales), a Wainwright (No. 35) and an English Nuttall (44th highest in England, 85th highest in England & Wales).
- Round How (Scafell) at 741m (2432ft). Round How (Scafell) is known as an English Nuttall (90th highest in England, 155th highest in England & Wales).
- Middleboot Knotts at 703m (2307ft). Middleboot Knotts is known as an English Nuttall (129th highest in England, 214th highest in England & Wales).
You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk c271 The Scafell Massif from Wasdale Head, Wast Water
In no particular order . . .
Buzz, Sharky and Yorkie on top of Lingmell before climbing Scafell Pike to round off the day
Ollie, Max and James on top of Lingmell before climbing Scafell Pike to round off the day
Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre), Lingmell (right) and the lower slopes of Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Esk Pike, Bow Fell (Bowfell), Gunson Knott , Crinkle Crags (Long Top) and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Scafell Pike
Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell
Snow on Esk Pike (left), Bow Fell (Bowfell) and Crinkle Crags (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Crinkle Crags (Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), & Gunson Knott), Bow Fell (Bowfell), Esk Pike & The Langdale Pikes from Loughrigg
Lone fell walker on Scafell Pike with Symonds Knott and Sca Fell (left), Wast Water and Seatallen (right) beyond
Looking towards the Isle of Man (Sellafield rather spoils the view) from Sca Fell
Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water
Black Grag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head
Me looking up the West Wall Traverse between Sca Fell and Scafell Pike
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.
A moody looking Great Gable from Great End's north ridge close to Custs Gully
Ill Crag (left) Broad Crag (centre) and Scafell Pike (right) from Great End (Scafell Massif)
Harter Fell (Eskdale) (centre left), Cam Spout Crag and Slight Side (centre right) with Eskdale below from Ill Crag summit
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell and the shoulder of Scafell Pike from Wast Water
Yewbarrow (now conquered!) from the road to the National Trust Camp Site at Wasdale where we were staying
My son on his first boys mountain climb up Scafell Pike with his Dad and Grandad
Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmoor Fell (right) from Wast Water
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water
Great Gable (back), Lingmell, the shoulder of Scafell Pike and Mickeldore from Symonds Knott
Lingmell (left) and Kirk Fell in sunlight from near Dropping Crag below Scafell Pike
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) and Scafell Pike (far right) from Wast Water
Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water
The Mosedale Horseshoe - Yewbarrow (mid-distance left), Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell beyond, Pillar (right of centre) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell (mid-distance right) from Scafell Pike
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Skiddaw and Derwent Water (in distance) with Seathwaite Fell and Sprinkling Tarn (foreground) from Great End (Scafell Massif)
The Wasdale Valley featuring Lingmell (left), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left of centre in the distance), Wast Water (centre) and Yewbarrow (right) from near Westmorland Cairn on the summit of Great Gable
Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water
Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water
Looking down Greta Gill to Wasdale from Great End with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell, Kirk Fell and Great Gable beyond
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water
Black Crag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head
*Bow Fell (Bowfell), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Gunson Knott and Crinkle Crags (South Top) from Mickledore (between Scafell Pike and Sca Fell)
Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water in Wasdale
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (in cloud centre), Lingmell (centre right) and the Wast Water screes (right) reflected in Wast Water
Great Gable peeping up through the clouds during a cloud inversion from Scafell Pike
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
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