Gradient Profile       Great Gable from Scafell Pike, with Lingmell in the foreground       Walk Map

Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head

Information

Recommended Ordnance Survey Maps - Outdoor Leisure Map 6 - South Western Area (1:25,000)

Start and End Point - Car Park, Wasdale Head (NY188085). Cost - Free. There are public amenities at the Inn near the car park.

Distance - 7.145 miles (11.5 kilometres) not including gradient.

Distance including gradient – 8.382 miles (13.49 kilometres).

Time - 6 hours

Maximum Height Achieved - 3208 feet, 978 metres above sea level

Total Ascent - 3264 feet, 995 metres

Accommodation - Campsite at Wasdale Head. Limited accomodation at the Hotel. Nearby there is Nether Wasdale. See Accommodation Guide and please mention this site when booking.

Public Transport -

By Rail - Station at Ravenglass.

Tourist Information Offices - Seatoller - 017687 77294 or Keswick - 017687 72645

 Useful Website - The Wasdale Web – Accomodation, Information, Webcams, News, Weather

Introduction

Away from the bustle of Bowness, Windermere and Keswick, Wasdale is a superbly tranquil valley. Home to the deepest lake in England, it is the hub for many glorious walks. Because it’s harder to get to than the tourist hotspots of the lakes in the east, it tends to attract walkers stopping over the night. It’s well worth the extra travelling time. The choice and range of walks are endless. Add to this some superb Pubs, with great beers and traditional food, it really is a superb base.

The circular walk described below takes in England’s highest mountain – Scafell Pike. It also provides for the relatively easy detour to Lingmell, famed for its superb summit views of Gable. There’s nothing difficult about the walk, apart from a short but steep slog up the scree of Piers Gill, the fast way to the top of Scafell Pike. There’s very little exposure, if any – and therefore, I’d recommend this walk for most walkers. Scafell is fairly rocky though and under misty conditions, you will need to keep your wits about you to ensure you keep your bearings. As always, take a map and compass and be sure you know how to use them.

I’m particularly proud of the photo of Great Gable (one of my favourite mountains) from Scafell Pike.  It makes a superb wallpaper image for your computer.

P.S. All photographs are point and click. Click on them for a larger, more detailed image.

Wasdale Head to the Corridor Route

Map

The Car Park at Wasdale Head

Starting from the car park, walk along the narrow lane towards the Inn heading North.  Stay right past the Inn and take the stile through to the farm at Burnthwaite heading NorthWest.  Keep left of the Farm (there is a small arrow half way up the building guiding you).  Once past the farm, you find yourself looking East towards Spouthead Gill, way into the distance.  The screes of Great Gable caress the left hand side of the path the majority of the way.  It’s hard to take your eyes off the crags of Gable, trying to identify the features such as Napes Needle and Sphynx Rock.  When given the choice of two paths, keep to the lower path (right path).  The left one ascends to the beginning of Great Gable, whereas we require the lower path ascending to Spouthead Gill and the Corridor Route beyond it.

Great Gable crags and Screes       Spouthead Gill from Moses Trod (path)       Looking back along the path to Wasdale Head. Yewbarrow and Red Pike in the distance       Looking back along the path to Wasdale Head. Yewbarrow features prominently in the distance       Great Gable

There’s nothing hard about this section of the walk.  It’s pleasantly uphill and the stream that flanks the right of the path provides an easy way-marker.  The path starts to get steeper when you reach Spouthead Gill.  Carry on East on the left side of Skew Gill and you will join the Corridor Route, heading South towards Scafell Pike.

Corridor Route and the ascent of Scafell Pike

Skew Gill from Spout Head

The above picture shows Skew Gill from Spout Head. In this walk, you join the Corridor Route at Skew Gill, from the right of the picture up Spouthead Gill. A short climb up the far side of Skew Gill marks the start of the Corridor Route

An interesting section of the Corridor Route - close up       An interesting section of the Corridor Route - from distance       The Corridor Route, Lingmell in the distance       Looking down Piers Gill

Other than a brief section, highlighted in the first 2 pictures above, the Corridor route is a fairly straightforward path.  Follow it (South to South West) up to Piers Gill where  a stepped path takes you left (South East) up Piers Gill. (Note, if you wish to take in Scafell, prior to Scafell Pike, a route from Skew Gill to Scafell Pike summit, via Scafell is described in the walk ‘The Scafells from Seathwaite’ on this website)

Piers Gill - the slog to the top       The screes at the neck of the ascent of Piers Gill       The ascent of the Piers Gill Scree       Lingmell from the top of Piers Gill

It’s fair to say that this section of the walk (Piers Gill) is a real slog.  The stepped path takes you to the beginning of the scree climb, between Broad Crag on your left and Scafell Pike on your right.  The scree is steep, as shown in the pictures above, but relatively short.  Once negotiated, turn right (South West) and in no time you are on the summit of England, Scafell Pike.

The summit of Scafell Pike - the top of England!       Scafell from Scafell Pike with Jock, Paul, Jacqueline and Marianne in the foreground

Scafell summit is a rather rocky affair, but affords stunning views.  On this day, you could see The Isle of Man when looking out to sea over Scafell and Wastwater.

Lingmell and the descent to Wasdale Head

Great Gable from Scafell Pike, with Lingmell in the foreground       Great Gable, Green Gable, Styhead Tarn. The Borrowdale valley in the distance leading to Derwent Water, Keswick and Skiddaw

Lingmell is well worth a few extra metres climb.  The summit is excellent with some pretty dramatic views down Lingemll Crags towards Piers Gill.  To get there from Scafell Pike, head North West from the summit, via the path towards Lingmell Coll.  The views of Great Gable with Lingmell in the foreground are stunning, as the picture above clearly demonstrates.  It does make a particularly good wallpaper for your computer.  The views over to Styhead Tarn are equally good.  On this day, you could see beyond to the Buttermere valley, Derwent Water, Keswick, and Skiddaw.  Believe it or not, you could even see the southern hills of Scotland, just about visible in the photographs above.

From Lingmell, there are a few ways back down to Wasdale Head.  You could go the direct route heading (West then South West).  With this route, there is quite a tricky steep scree section just over the brow at the top of the steep descent.  The way described in this route is to join the path before Hollow Stones then take the well defined route via Hollow Stones and down past Brown Tongue.  From the summit of Lingmell, it’s a bit of a wander straight across until you get to the Hollow Stones path.  After that, it’s tough on the knees during the descent (West) past, Brown Tongue to Lingmell Gill. 

Lingmell Gill - taking the upper path       Lingmell Gill - the path turns right, around the curve of the hill

At Lingmell Gill, you are given a choice of two paths (see the first picture above).  Take the upper path that stays high (see the second picture above) then turns right in a Northerly direction down to Wasdale Head.  Cross the bridge then the field to the stile that brings you back to the road.  Turn right (North) and shortly you arrive back at Wasdale Head, the start/finish point.

I do recommend the Wasdale Head Inn.  The food is good and the selection of hand-pulled real-ales are excellent!

This walk and pictures are protected by copyright©. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without the prior permission of the author. If you wish to use this document, then click the contact link o the main pages. I would also like to hear your comments and thoughts. If you use this document for your walk please give me feedback (good or bad). If you have very good quality photographs and a good narrative and want them on these pages, contact me also.

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Author - Antony Towers - 15th May 2004. I hope you enjoy this walk either virtually or in reality as much as I did. Your safety is your responsibility. Always use a map, compass and be equipped for the conditions. Conditions can change very quickly, even at low levels. Check the weather conditions before setting off and always be prepared for Mother Nature.

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