Scafell Pike Route Information

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Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1075 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

4.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

13.52 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

98	Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside
90	Wensleydale & Upper Wharfedale

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Longer but easy-graded circular walk from Borrowdale to England’s highest and most popular summit, on well-trodden paths.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Keswick

From Keswick take B5289 Borrowdale road for 11km. About 200m before Seatoller turn left on minor road for Seathwaite, where the road ends. In Summer a grass field is used as a car park.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,075 metres. Allow 4.5 hours to complete this 13.52 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in grass field (seasonal) at Seathwaite; or on road before hamlet
		NY23611242	Distance	Altitude 124 m

1	Walk S through hamlet onto track, and cross stream at Stockley Bridge.
		NY23461091	Distance 1.56 km	Altitude 220 m

2	Continue S on path up Grains Valley and cross main stream
		NY23440993	Distance 1.01 km	Altitude 340 m

3	Continue ascend SSW to junction with Sty Head - Esk Hause path.
		NY22930872	Distance 1.33 km	Altitude 655 m

4	Turn left and ascend SE to branch in paths
		NY23140853	Distance 0.28 km	Altitude 698 m

5	Branch right and ascend S to confluence of paths at Esk Hause (pass).
		NY23230805	Distance 0.51 km	Altitude 759 m

6	Ascent prominent path W onto boulder covered plateau
		NY22640803	Distance 0.65 km	Altitude 850 m

7	Continue SW on path between Ill Crag and Broad Crag tops
		NY22090754	Distance 0.76 km	Altitude 884 m

8	Descend WSW to col
		NY21740746	Distance 0.36 km	Altitude 871 m

9	Ascend SW to summit of Scafell Pike (3000ft+)
		NY21530722	Distance 0.34 km	Altitude 978 m

10	Return NE to col.
		NY21740746	Distance 0.34 km	Altitude 871 m

11	Descend gully NW on path around crags, and join the Corridor Route path
		NY21480792	Distance 0.57 km	Altitude 730 m

12	Follow Corridor Route NE to Greta Gill (ravine). DO NOT descend NW: path blind ending!
		NY21910843	Distance 0.69 km	Altitude 593 m

13	Scramble NNE up rocks 20m to continuation of Corridor Route
		NY21920850	Distance 0.07 km	Altitude 613 m

14	Follow path N crossing with Sty Head - Esk Hause path.
		NY22180944	Distance 1.00 km	Altitude 485 m

15	Continue NW to join Sty Head - Stockley Bridge path.
		NY21980970	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 461 m

16	Bear NE and follow path past Styhead Tarn to footbridge
		NY22331024	Distance 0.84 km	Altitude 441 m

17	Cross bridge and follow path NE to Stockley Bridge to rejoin approach route and return to start
		NY23611242	Distance 2.83 km	Altitude 124 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Scafell Pike
by Metcheck

Images of Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike, with Scafell beyond left, seen from Esk Pike: the early evening of a hot summer day, with mist forming in upper Eskdale, silhouetted against the sunlight.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

The Corridor Route at Waypoint 13: someone has added an up-pointing arrow to indicate the gently descending route suddenly scrambles up here. Every week dozens of people continue to descend off-picture left, down the well-worn but blind-ending track!

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

The Scafell group from Harter Fell. Left to Right ... Slight Side, Scafell, Scafell Pike, Broad Crag, Great End, Ill Crag, Esk Pike, Bowfell and Border End. Pillar background left

© Peter Burgess

Image by Peter Burgess

The southern aspect of Scafell Pike, seen from Symond's Knott.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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