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The walk starts in the remote Wasdale Valley. Wasdale
has despite its popularity managed to escape being spoiled
by commercial activities probably mainly due to its
remote location. It is situated at the far western side
of the Lake District, a good hour or two from the M6
motorway and busy lakeland hubs of Keswick, Windermere
and Kendal. The valley is almost completely surrounded
by dramatic mountain views from its central spectacle
of the beautiful Wast Water. From the shores of Wast
Water the scree slopes climb out of England's deepest
lake in a way not seen elsewhere in England.
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The Screes
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Wast Water
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There is a car park situated close to the National
Trust camp site at the head of Wast Water, however if
it is full then you may be able to park on the road
in a layby or at the Wasdale Head Inn car parks. From
the National Trust camp site a track heads south east
past the climbing club hut at Brackenclose and eventually
joins the footpath that heads east alongside the cascading
waters of Lingmell Gill.
The path is obvious here and well trodden but also
becomes steeper and rougher as it climbs higher up the
valley. After following the left banks of Lingmell Gill
for a kilometre the path will cross the main flow of
the Gill and steadily climb up Brown Tongue in an easterly
direction. After the terrain levels off again the view
ahead now should be of the impressive over towering
Pikes Crag and Scafell Crag joined together by the col
ridge of Mickledore.
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Lingmell Beck Path
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Scafell Crag
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The path will eventually meet a junction with the main
route taken by most Scafell Pike baggers and 24 hour
baggers heading off north east, however at this point
continue heading east towards the obvious Mickledore
col between the two imposing crags above. The usual
path heading north east should be used in really bad
weather or when inexperienced walkers are present, the
route to the summit is very obvious on that route as
all you need to do is follow the well trodden path straight
to the summit. For those after the most exciting ascent
follow the path east and keep heading towards foot of
Mickledore's screes.
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Scrambling Mickledore
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Scafell Summit
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Mickledore is a place that should be treated with respect.
Land slides that change the scree patterns are quite
common, but there is an obvious route to the top of
the screes and through a small crag where hands on scrambling
is required. Taking your time and letting others take
the route in there own time is essential for everyones
safety, and remember if you happen to kick a rock back
down by accident into the path of a fellow walker don't
forget to shout "Below" to warn them! Looking
up to the right from this position you will see the
entrance to the infamous Lord's Rake. Lord's Rake is
a long, steep and narrow gully that leads to the summit
of neighbouring Scafell, the route is one that scramblers
and climbers have played on for many years but in recent
years the route has suffered severe rock falls that
have made it extremely dangerous and the rocks unstable
and unpredictable.
Once you reach the crest of Mickledore you will be
stood directly between England's two highest mountains.
The route towards Scafell Pike is quite simple and follows
an obvious path however in the other direction there
is a huge slab of rock known as Broad Stand, it is clear
from here why people do not attempt to climb Scafell
at the same time as climbing Scafell Pike. Scafell from
this direction is only a climbing route at the best
of times and even a hard grade 3 scramble in the summer.
Follow the path from Mickledore in a north easterly
direction passing the Mountain Rescue Kit Stretcher
Box and then ascending onto the plateau as the terrain
becomes boulder strewn making the paths less clear but
following the north easterly direction and obvious ascent
will eventually lead you to the summit.
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Lingmell from Scafell
Pike
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Lingmell Cairn &
Great Gable
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The summit of Scafell Pike is of course visited by
thousands of people each year so can often be a busy
place. The views from the summit on a clear day are
one of the best to be had with views stretching as far
as Scotland and out to the Isle Of Man that lies out
to sea, the views over the rest of the Lake District
aren't bad either. The summit has a huge stone circle
platform cairn and an unusual stone built trig point.
At 978M/3210FT above sea level Scafell Pike is officially
the highest point in England, but for many years it
was thought not to be. Back in the days when the mountains
were actually called Scaw Fell, the residents and visitors
to the Lake District thought Scafell itself was the
tallest of the mountains, being closer to the valley
and of a more dramatic appearance than its dull bulky
neighbour , its easy to see when viewed from Wasdale
why they may have made this assumption. Scafell Pike
at 978M/3210FT is 14 metres higher than its sister Scafell
that stands at 964M/3164FT above sea level.
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Wasdale Head
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Great Gable
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Follow the footpath that leads north west off the summit
snaking down towards Lingmell. After a kilometre the
path flattens out at Lingmell Col. Instead of taking
the obvious path left back down to Lingmell Gill head
north towards Lingmell itself, following the top of
Lingmell Crag. The views from the crags include Great
Gable and Styhead Tarn and directly below the amazing
ravine of Piers Gill, it looks like something from another
world with its huge rocky pinnacles and sheer drops.
Climb the path across the top of the crags until you
reach the tall thin rock cairn on Lingmell's 807M/2649FT
high point.
From the summit of Lingmell a path leads west then
south west off the fell and down its grassy west facing
ridge, the views over Wasdale towards the Irish Sea
can make a great ending to a fine day out. The path
continues down the ridge steep in places but mainly
gradual and over grass fields and then eventually through
fenced fields until reaching the path near Brackenclose.
I suggest the best way to finish off any day in Wasdale
would be to enter the warm atmosphere of the Wasdale
Head Inn for delicious meals and the finest brewed on
site ales.
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Duration
: 5.5 Hrs
