Climbing Scafell Pike – A Beginner’s Guide

At its highest point, Scafell Pike reaches a magnificent 978 metres above sea level and boasts commanding views of the surrounding area. Situated in the heart of the breathtaking Lake District, it is one of England’s most iconic natural landmarks and a popular hiking and tourism destination.

Wastwater, the country’s deepest lake, sits west of the mountain and runs along the base of the Wasdale Valley as it heads out to the coast. Borrowdale Valley runs north, out from Seathwaite, along Derwentwater towards the bustling market town of Keswick. To the southeast, you will find the great lakes of Windermere and Coniston – beloved by the romantic poets and arguably the birthplace of England’s modern tourism industry.

A spectacular part of the world, the Lake District attracts walkers from all over the UK and often further afield. Most visitors hope to climb Lakeland’s crowning glory, Scafell Pike. In this beginners’ guide, we provide all the information you need to climb Scafell Pike and enjoy a fantastic adventure in the Lake District.

How difficult is Scafell Pike?

Scafell Pike can be a challenging climb, though anyone who has reached the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or Ben Nevis should be able to make it. Usually, three factors determine how hard you find the climb:

Fitness and experience – for experienced mountaineers, Scafell poses few problems. It will be more of a challenge if you are relatively new to hillwalking. However, Scafell Pike is a good introduction to the UK’s big three and, with a little training and preparation, most people should be able to make the summit.
Route – there are several routes of varying difficulty. Departing from Wasdale Head is arguably the easiest route. But we look at all the options in greater detail below.
Conditions – the weather will determine how challenging your walk is. Extremely hot, cold, wet or windy conditions will make it significantly harder. In difficult conditions, you must ensure you are not compromising your safety by continuing to the summit.

Exploring Scafell Pike’s main routes

There are three main routes up Scafell Pike, each of which approaches the summit from a different direction, ensuring a unique experience with every ascent. Of course, with a little logistical pre-planning, you can walk up one and down another, enabling you to see more of the mountain on a single round trip. In this piece, we rank and discuss the routes in order of approximate difficulty, from easiest to the most challenging.

From Wasdale Head

The route up from Wasdale Head is the most popular and direct. It is a relatively simple, straight up and straight down kind of route that maintains a steep but steady gradient. From the start, the summit is around 4.3 km, includes 900 metres of ascent and takes approximately two to four hours. Consequently, Wasdale Head trail as an out-and-back route involves 8.6 km of walking and will require between four and eight hours, depending on your fitness and the conditions.

Typically beginning at the National Trust Car Park at Wastwater, the route heads east along an easy-to-follow trail that crosses Lingmell Beck and follows it uphill. After around 1.5 km, the trail crosses over Lingmell Beck again. Here, you hit the steepest slopes on the route as you make your way up to Brown Tongue. It is a relatively short section and you are soon back to a manageable gradient.

However, after Brown Tongue, the path is harder to identify and you need to pay careful attention to where you are heading. Particularly if visibility is poor. As the path splits, keep to the left, heading towards a sizable cairn and Hollow Stones. After this section, the path is easier to follow and leads you up to Lingmell Col. At Lingmell Col, follow the path right, avoiding the Corridor Route and heading towards the final, zig-zagging path that leads to the summit. Congratulations, you’ve made it!

From Borrowdale

From Borrowdale, there are various routes you can take to the top. Almost all of them depart from Seathwaite, where there are parking facilities. From the old Seathwaite farmyard, head south on the track leading up into the valley. After a short while, you will cross Stockley Bridge. Here, there are two options.

For the simpler of the two routes, head left and follow Grains Gill up to the cliffs at Great End. Turn left and keep on the trail for approximately 500 metres, then take the path on your right up to Esk Hause. From there, walk west on the path as it climbs between Great End and Ill Crag. As you cross the rocky slopes of Broad Crag, the summit will come into view. There is a short descent before you make the final climb up to the cairn at the top. This route requires three to five hours one-way, runs for 7.5 km and features 1000 metres of climbing.

Alternatively, go through the gate in the drywall directly in front of you when you cross Stockley Bridge. This leads to the Corridor Route. Approximately 7.5 km long, it contains 1000 metres of ascent and typically takes around three to five hours to complete. Regarded as one of the most spectacular routes up the mountain, it is harder to follow than the Wasdale route but rewards those walkers who want to try something different.

Having passed through the gate, zig-zag up to Greenhow Knot, pass through another gate and make your way towards Styhead Gill. The path turns southwest and follows the valley, then joins a small stream and climbs up to Sty Head. At Sty Head, follow the shoreline to the Mountain Rescue Stretcher Box.

Follow the path to your left, over a rocky outcrop, until you reach a cairn and take the trail to your right. After momentarily heading down to cross Skew Gill, the path climbs up and left, towards a cairn. Follow the trail right, along the fell side toward Greta Gill. Pass beneath Round How, stick to the right as the path forks, and pass around the head of Piers Gill and climb up to Lingmell Col, where you join the Wasdale path to the summit.

From Great Langdale

The longest option at 9 km one-way, the Langdale route takes in 1,130 metres of ascent and requires four to six hours to complete. As you depart from Great Langdale, there is plenty of parking. The 516 Langdale Rambler bus service ensures you can access the route via public transport.

The walk begins on the Cumbria Way, which you pick up behind the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Head west, into the Mickleden Valley. After approximately 3 km, cross Stake Gill and take the left branch as the path forks. It should be signposted ‘Rossett Pass’. The path zig-zags up the hill beside Rossett Gill and drops down to Angle Tarn. A set of steps leads you back up to Tongue Head.

Continue to Esk Hause – a stone, cross-shaped shelter. From there, head southwest, between Great End and Esk Pike. You will soon come across a path marked by a series of cairns that leads onto a high ridge. The terrain will become rockier and more challenging as you pass between Ill Crag and Broad Crag.

Finally, keep your eyes peeled for a path that runs down but quickly ascends, taking you up towards the summit. After soaking up the views at the top, you can either go back the way you came or descend via the Corridor Route, turning off at Sty Head to rejoin the Langdale route at Esk Hause.

The best time of year to climb Scafell Pike

A major part of organising an enjoyable Scafell Pike walk is timing it right. With this in mind, here is our guide to the best times of year to head up the mountain.

Spring (April to May)

Towards the end of March, things start to thaw out and the mountain becomes accessible to everyday walkers again. It can be a glorious time to climb Scafell, as the mountain comes alive again and the trails are quiet. However, you do need to be aware that the weather will be changeable during this period. Temperatures vary considerably and rain is quick to move in. Choose the right day, though, and you will have a wonderful time.

Summer (June to August)

The summer season is probably your best bet for good weather, though it is not guaranteed. The mountain will also be considerably busier. The Lake District is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations (and Scafell Pike is one of its most iconic landmarks), so the trails can get pretty packed during peak periods. If you are looking for a more peaceful mountain experience, we recommend walking Scafell midweek or saving it for one of the shoulder seasons.

Autumn (September to October)

If you love autumnal colours, there are few better places to be in September and October than the Lake District and Scafell Pike. It is one of our favourite times of the year and a great option for avoiding the crowds. Like spring, the weather is more unpredictable and you always need one eye on the weather forecast. But a bright, warm September morning on Scafell is pretty unbeatable.

Winter (November to March)

In the winter, Scafell Pike can get very wet and cold. It is not unusual to have snow on the mountain and summiting in the middle of this period will typically require an ice axe, crampons and winter mountain experience. If it is your first time climbing Scafell Pike, avoid the winter unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Understanding the weather

Like most mountainous areas, the Lake District, and Scafell Pike specifically, is subject to changeable weather. What starts as a beautifully bright and sunny day can quickly turn wet and windy, so walkers need to prepare. Keep an eye on mountain-specific forecasts (our go-to resource is the Mountain Weather Information Service – MWIS) and take a look at expected wind speeds (Windy will help with that).

But, most importantly, pack appropriately. Temperatures are often much lower at the summit than at the foot of the mountain. A warm layer is always a good idea, as are waterproofs. Poor visibility can also be an issue, making navigation difficult and potentially dangerous. You must be capable and comfortable using a map and compass in low visibility.

How to get there

As with all outdoor adventures, we encourage visitors to try and travel to the Lake District in the most environmentally friendly way possible. If you are driving, ensure your vehicle is as full as possible and your group does not take multiple cars into the National Park unnecessarily.

For trains, the West Coast mainline stops at Oxenholme, near Kendal. You can then connect to Kendal, Staveley and Windermere using local services. National Express coaches also operate services to and from the area. Local buses are an excellent, inexpensive way to travel around the Lake District once you are there – single fares are capped at £2 until the end of 2024.

Guided Scafell Pike walks with RAW Adventures

At RAW Adventures, we have considerable experience guiding walkers in mountainous terrain. As we are based in Eryri (Snowdonia), our trusted local team runs our Scafell Pike events – both for their unparalleled Scafell expertise and to minimise our environmental footprint. They love the mountain and the surrounding countryside and were hand-picked for their experience and enthusiasm.

And we believe that passion shows. RAW guided walks are about creating a supportive environment that enables participants to enjoy the experience and get the most from it. Our Mountain Leaders help you navigate the mountain, offer fascinating insights into the natural landscape, and ensure you are safe, secure and able to reach the summit.

To learn more about our walks, head to our Climb Scafell Pike site or contact the RAW team if you have any questions.