Scafell Pike, the Highest Mountain in England
A Mecca for any Hiker in the Lake District
Sep 24, 2009
Scafell Pike, pronounced Scawf'l by the locals, is a mountain with three tops, adjoined to its neighbour Scafell, the second highest mountain in England. It is a rough rocky landscape whichever way you choose to ascend the mountain, yet the effort is rewarded with fine views in all directions. Each walk described can be completed in a long day out.
Ascent from the North – Seathwaite, Borrowdale
Seathwaite is the wettest place in Britain, yet travel 8 miles to Keswick and the amount of rain is less than half that of Seathwaite.
A day out climbing Scafell Pike can be turned into a circular walk. Perhaps the favoured way up is by the Corridor Route, ascending first to Sty Head in the shadow of Great Gable, then across the western flank of the Scafell range above deep cut ravines to the Lingmell col where the path turns for the summit.
Making it a circular walk involves descending down the Esk Hause path, passing between the two subsidiary tops of Broad Crag and Ill Crag before reaching the Great End col and heading down to Esk Hause. The return to Seathwaite follows Grains Gill back to Stockley Bridge where it joins back up with the ascent route.
Ascent from the Southwest – Wasdale Head
Getting to Wasdale Head involves a fairly lengthy drive. Wasdale is the starting point for Scafell Pike, Scafell, Pillar and Great Gable and is where the serious hikers go.
It provides the shortest route to the summit and as with the ascent from Borrowdale can be made into a circular walk. However shortest is not always best and the tourist route via Brown Tongue and Lingmell col is fairly uninspiring. More entertaining alternatives take the hiker over Lingmell or up Brown Tongue via Mickledore where the tremendous Scafell Crag can be seen close up.
Mickledore is the narrow gap between Scafell and Scafell Pike. A direct ascent of Scafell is not possible without climbing experience. The local mountain rescue team will tell you that if they stacked up the number of people who have fallen it would reach the summit of the mountain. There are two indirect walkers' routes, one to the left by Fox's Tarn and one to the right by Lord's Rake.
Returning to the Lingmell col, the descent can follow the Corridor Route to Sty Head then back to Wasdale Head.
Ascent from the East – Old Dungeon Ghyll, Langdale
This is perhaps not the best starting point to climb Scafell Pike since most hikers will return the same way, unless very fit in which case a return can be made over Esk Pike, Bowfell then down the Band.
Starting off walking up Mickleden is a flat warm up before the moraines at the head of the valley and the steep ascent by Rossett Gill to the col overlooking the deeply corried Angle Tarn. The path then descends to the tarn before climbing to Esk Hause and following the route outlined in the descent to Borrowdale.
Esk Hause is the col between Great End and Esk Pike so this is where the fitter hikers would break off on the descent to take in Esk Pike and Bowfell.
Ascent from the Southeast – Boot, Eskdale
Eskdale is generally regarded as the best start point for Scafell. An ascent up Scafell Pike from here is a long day out and unless the return route is over Scafell, the return route is the same way.
From Boot, the route follows the river Esk deep into the very heart of the roughest and remotest parts of Lakeland. After several miles, Cam Spout is reached and this provides the first opportunity to ascend the mountain via Mickledore. Further up the valley is an alternative route to the summit by Little Narrowcove to Broadcrag col. Staying with the river Esk will lead to its source just below Esk Hause.
References
Alfred Wainwright A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells - Book Four, Southern Fells Frances Lincon 2003
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