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, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water

Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water

Photo: Alan Wainwright (76)

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

Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water

Photo: Martyn Hibbert (2)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Great End from Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Great End from Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Photo: Paul Johnson (25)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, 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

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

Photo: Rob Barklamb (15)

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 - 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 - Scafell Pike summit

Scafell Pike summit

Photo: Stewart Green (5)

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

Scafell (left) and Wast Water (centre) from Scafell Pike

Photo: David Cochrane (10)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Airplane wreckage below Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Airplane wreckage below Broad Crag buttress, just off the corridor route to Scafell Pike

Photo: Paul Johnson (24)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Walkers on Slight Side

Walkers on Slight Side

Photo: Greg Campbell (6)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Pillar (left), Kirk Fell and Great Gable (right) from Sca Fell

Pillar (left), Kirk Fell and Great Gable (right) from Sca Fell

Photo: Greg Campbell (11)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, 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

Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike

Photo: Richard Sale (1)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Burnmoor Tarn, Whin Rigg and Illgill Head from Sca Fell

Burnmoor Tarn, Whin Rigg and Illgill Head from Sca Fell

Photo: Gerry Ball (55)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Early morning snow on the summit of Scafell Pike

Early morning snow on the summit of Scafell Pike

Photo: Chris Himsworth (1)

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

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

Photo: Ian Mansell (14)

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

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (in cloud centre), Lingmell (centre right) and the Wast Water screes (right) reflected in Wast Water

Photo: Wayne Hill (29)

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 - A moody looking Great Gable from Great End's north ridge close to Custs Gully

A moody looking Great Gable from Great End's north ridge close to Custs Gully

Photo: Andy Malcolm (226)

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

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) and Scafell Pike (far right) from Wast Water

Photo: Peter Dryden (4)

Walk c453 The Scafell Mountains from Wasdale Head, Wast Water - Ill Crag (left) with Broad Crag below Scafell Pike from Great End summit

Ill Crag (left) with Broad Crag below Scafell Pike from Great End summit

Photo: Craig Carter (33)


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


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