Scafell Pike and Sca Fell Route Information

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Scafell Pike & Sca Fell

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

1120 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 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

9.51 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	West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water
90	Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside
89	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

Moderate route, from Wasdale, to reach two 3000ft+ peaks with no scrambling involved, but steep scree slopes to negotiate between the two peaks.

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: Egremont

From Egremont drive 10km SE along A595 and turn off into Gosforth. In the village bear left on minor road for Nether Wasdale and Wasdale. Drive 12km until just beyond Wast Water, then turn right onto track towards camp site, and park on car park.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,120 metres. Allow 4 hours to complete this 9.51 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 Wasdale on car park near camp site.
		NY18260749	Distance	Altitude 71 m

1	Follow bridleway S past Brackenclose to start of ascent path.
		NY18410705	Distance 0.56 km	Altitude 98 m

2	Ascend ESE by path onto Green How
		NY19270644	Distance 1.53 km	Altitude 497 m

3	Ascend on path to summit of Sca Fell (3000ft+)
		NY20690645	Distance 1.45 km	Altitude 964 m

4	Descend broad ridge NNE to col
		NY20760666	Distance 0.23 km	Altitude 938 m

5	Turn right and descend SE down scree to tiny Fox’s Tarn.
		NY20920647	Distance 0.28 km	Altitude 832 m

6	Follow stream from tarn NE down stony gully and join path from Eskdale.
		NY21190661	Distance 0.31 km	Altitude 691 m

7	Ascend NW up steep stony path bearing right (N) to join path from Mickledore.
		NY21090702	Distance 0.44 km	Altitude 782 m

8	Ascend NE up easier slope to summit of Scafell Pike (3000ft+)
		NY21540722	Distance 0.69 km	Altitude 978 m

9	Descend NW turning N until path divides, then take left path(W).
		NY21110768	Distance 0.75 km	Altitude 778 m

10	Descend path WSW to cairned junction
		NY20210732	Distance 1.04 km	Altitude 535 m

11	Continue descent W and cross to N side of stream
		NY19540742	Distance 0.69 km	Altitude 300 m

12	Descend path by Lingmell Gill to Brackenclose.
		NY18410722	Distance 1.15 km	Altitude 85 m

13	Rejoin bridleway and return to start.
		NY18260749	Distance 0.38 km	Altitude 71 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 & Sca Fell

The North Face of Sca Fell seen from Lingmell. Lords Rake begins at the top of the central scree and runs diagonally upwards to the right within a gully.

Image by David S Brown

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.

Image by David S Brown

The Sca Fell range from near Bow Fell; May 1970.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

Sca Fell seen from the slopes of Scafell Pike, with cloud swirling around Symond's Knott.

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

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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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