Scafell Pike Walk
Wasdale Head Inn - NT Camp Site - Brown Tongue - Scafell Pike - Broad Crag - Esk Hause - Sprinkling Tarn - Sty Head - Burnthwaite - Wasdale Head Inn
On a fine day this medium-difficulty walk rewards with stunning views over the whole of Lakeland. The walk up to England's highest mountain is not particularly strenuous or difficult, and this circular route takes in some interesting mountain scenery around Esk Hause, Sprinkling Tarn and Sty Head, before the gentle descent back down into Wasdale. If you are making good time, feeling fit, and conditions are favourable, you can add an extra element to the walk by branching off at Sty Head to ascend Great Gable.
Starting at the Wasdale Head Inn, follow the road south towards Wastwater. As the road bends sharply to the right, cross the stile ahead of you and follow a path through 'Down in the Dale' towards the NT camp site. Continue past the camp site, alongside Lizaholm Wood, then head east beside Brackenclose Wood. The path soon joins Lingmell Gill and climbs east alonside the north bank of the stream up to Brown Tongue. Shortly after Brown Tongue the path forks, with the right-hand option curving south-east and climbing up beneath Lord's Rake to Mickledore. Take the left-hand path which heads north-east towards the top of Piers Gill. As the path reaches Lingmell Col (the mid-point between Scafell Pike (on the right, south-east) and Lingmell (on the left, north-west)) follow it around to the south-east and up to the summit of Scafell Pike. The summit area of Scafell Pike is very rocky, and it is easy to lose the path, despite cairns at regular intervals indicating the way. If you do lose the path, do not panic - just continue upwards until you reach the top!
From the summit, the path heads north-east, steeply down and then up to Broad Crag. The path flanks the summit of Broad Crag on the southern side, heading north-east towards Great End. Approximately half way between Broad Crag and Great End (about 0.46 miles from Broad Crag), the path branches to the right, heading east to Esk Hause. From the 'cross-roads' at Esk Hause, head north-east, towards Allen Crags. As the path reaches a dry-stone shelter on the right, turn left and head north-west towards Sprinkling Tarn along the well-worn path. A short distance after passing Sprinkling Tarn, the path bends left and heads west to a junction at Sty Head (there is a mountain rescue stretcher box at this junction). As mentioned earlier, if you are feeling fit and conditions are favourable, you can choose to head north-west from this junction, beginning the steep ascent up to Great Gable (if you choose to do this, head south-west from the summit of Great Gable, descending via the path between White and Great Napes, and alongside Gable Beck to rejoin the route of the suggested walk at Lingmell Beck, just upstream from Burnthwaite). However, for those who do not want to include Great Gable, head west from Sty Head, below Lower Kern Knotts, or south-west towards Spouthead Gill. Both paths are relatively gentle, and meet up a short distance east of the junction of Gable and Lingmell Becks. At Burnthwaite, the path forks. Take the right-hand option, following Fogmire Beck west. Upon reaching Mosedale Beck, follow the path south, and within a few minutes you will find yourself back at the Wasdale Head Inn.
Approx. distance: 8.1 miles
Approx. total ascent: 3284 feet
Approx. time: 4-6 hours