Scafell Pike

Walked on 26/04/2016

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Skew Gill – The Band – Great End – Scafell Pike – Lingmell Col – Lingmell – Wasdale Head

Distance: 8.3 miles Total Ascent: 1280 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Cold with lots of heavy snow showers. 4oC.

Today we had a walk up to the Scafells – I had intended to climb Great End via Skew Gill and did indeed scramble up 80% of the way but it became apparent that there was no way to climb out due to the sheet ice covering the sides so I reversed that section and ended up climbing via The Band. I’ll save Skew Gill for a dry summer’s day! It was still a good walk even with the frequent snow showers backed with strong winds that made the going tough at times. Back to full blown winter gear again…

Heading along the track past St Olaf's Church.

Looking back the other way.

Crossing Gable Beck.

Climbing alongside Spouthead Gill looking back towards Wasdale Head.

Lingmell and Piers Gill.

At the foot of Skew Gill looking across to Great Gable.

The same view from higher up. As the end of Skew Gill was approaching it became obvious that there would be no safe route of exit - the walls were covered in sheet ice so there was nothing for it but to turn back. Best to try this one in summer during a dry spell.

Back on the Corridor Route looking back at Lingmell.

Styhead Tarn.

Glaramara.

Looking across Styled Tarn to Green Gable and Base Brown, Skiddaw in the distance.

Great Gable from The Band.

A big snow shower coming in, this was to be a feature for the rest of the walk today.

Dougal and Fletcher check out Sprinkling Tarn.

Dougal and Fletcher.

Great End.

Close up on Piers Gill...

...and on Great Gable. Looks like they are redoing the path, hence the visible black bags.

At the top of Skew Gill looking to where we were earlier...so near yet so far.

A bit of sunshine on Sprinkling Tarn and Seathwaite Fell now.

Looking down the short scree filled ravine that is Wainwright's 'pedestrian route'.

Scafell Pike from Great End shortly before a big snow storm came in, a return to full on winter!

The final climb to Scafell Pike from Broad Crag.

Fletcher, the highest dog in England today.

We were on our own on the summit today.

Descending to Lingmell.

The summit of Lingmell.

It's looking a bit moody over in Mosedale.

Scafell pike from the Lingmell col.

Another big snow shower coming in over Wasdale.

Wasdale Head and Mosedale back in the sunshine (for now).

More snow.

Great End

Height: 910 metres / 2986 feet Grid reference: NY 22670 08385 Category: The Southern Fells

Skiddaw and Derwent Water from the summit of Great End

Scafell Pike from Great End

The Scafells

Walked on 10/01/2013

Start point: Brackenclose (NY 182 074)

Brackenclose – Brown Tongue – Scafell Pike – Ill Crag – Broad Crag – Great End (and return) – Mickledore – Hollow Stones – Brackenclose

Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 1247 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 06:45

Weather: Sunny above the clouds. 3oC

With the ridge of high pressure sitting over the Lake District and the persistent fog at lower levels there was a very good chance there would be a temperature inversion today which fortunately proved to be correct. I set off early from Brackenclose to try and catch the sunrise from the roof of England and I am glad I did, it was a fantastic morning to have the highest peaks in the land all to myself with some stunning views.

Just made it in time - sunrise from the summit of Scafell Pike.

What a beautiful morning with a big temperature inversion sitting over most of the Lake District.

This was interesting to watch, the cloud is pouring over Sty Head into the valley between Great Gable and Great End. In the distance are Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Summit view.

A panoramic of the cloud inversion. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Red sky at the trig. column and an inversion over Buttermere in the distance.

Scafell Pike summit positively glowing, from the southern cairn.

Mickledore and Broad Stand.

Scafell panorama.

Looking along Upper Eskdale to Caw, Harter Fell and Green Crag.

Black Combe and Whitfell above the sea of cloud.

Glowing sun.

The Grasmoor and Dale Head groups of fells beyond the Gables.

Far reaching tentacles.

The descent from Scafell Pike to Broad Crag, Ill Crag to the right and Great End.

Scafell Pike from Ill Crag.

Scafell Pike and Ill Crag (and Casper!) from Broad Crag.

Sunny on Great End.

The view to Skiddaw and Blencathra over Sprinkling Tarn.

Skiddaw with High Spy central with Seathwaite Fell summit at the very bottom of this photo.

A panoramic from Great End. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Looking across Rossett Gill to Great Langdale.

Dougal and Casper are loving it.

Looking back along the Scafells from Great End.

Ocean of dreams - Caw and Harter Fell.

A fabulous view on a fabulous day.

Lowly Stickle Pike has put in appearance beyond Harter Fell.

Crossing the Broad Crag col, the cloud was pouring into Upper Eskdale.

Another chance to sit and watch with wonder, the cloud pouring across Pen then floating up towards me.

Back on Scafell Pike with sunshine and loveliness all around.

Descending to Mickledore.

This icy descent is not for the faint hearted.

Pulpit Rock.

Descending to Wasdale.

Yewbarrow.

Wast Water. On the way home, I had to see what the view was like from Stickle Pike looking the other way...

...unfortunately conditions had changed a little but there was still a nice inversion over the Duddon Valley with the Scafell in view top left.

Caw.

Great End via Skew Gill

Walked on 01/04/2009

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Skew Gill – The Band – Great End – Ill Crag – Broad Crag – Scafell Pike – Lingmell Col – Lingmell – Wasdale Head

Distance: 7.8 miles Total Ascent: 1115 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Sunny spells, warm. 12oC.

Some walks are pretty and some are easier than others but today’s walk is best described as a gnarled and hard going. I climbed Skew Gill to reach Great End and that was a hard scramble (Note: to repeat, Skew Gill is a hard scramble and in no way is it a ‘walk’) and had a look at Cust’s Gully before climbing Great End and walking the Scafell Pikes. It was really quite pleasant at times too, warm and spring like and not too many people about either.

Great End via Skew Gill route map.

Wast Water dawn reflections.

Reflected Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell.

St Olaf's Church surrounded by Yew Trees, Kirk Fell behind.

Great Gable.

Yewbarrow and Wasdale Head along Lingmell Beck.

Great End ahead. Skew Gill, the route of ascent can be seen as the dark diagonal line to the left of the highest part of the fell.

Crossing Lingmell Beck.

Looking back to Wasdale from Spouthead Gill.

Lingmell and Piers Gill.

Great Gable and Kirk Fell from the entrance to Skew Gill.

Yes Casper, that way!

Casper leads the way in Skew Gill. It is best to stay in the middle with the gill rather than climb the sides, which become very steep.

Great Gable from Skew Gill.

It was certainly more than a bit rough and damp in Skew Gill today.

Suddenly you pop out from the top of the ravine, blinking into the light. The top part of the gill almost looks as though there is now way out when you turn the right angle corner and a bit of a climb is required to escape the steep sided ravine. Here's a bit of sunshine on Great Gable and Kirk Fell from the head of Skew Gill.

The view to the northern fells across Sprinkling Tarn and Seathwaite Fell from the top of The Band.

Sprinkling Tarn looks tranquil today.

Great and Green Gable across Styhead Tarn.

Great End. Cust's Gully is the snow filled one on the right.

The low lying valleys beyond Esk Hause are filled with morning mist.

Cust's Gully. I had a look and made it as far as the black rock sticking through the snow about a third the way up. The snow was part frozen and treacherous so there was no way I would risk going any further today, similarly the branch gully to the right was snow filled too so it was the pedestrian route further round to the right for me. When I reached the top and looked down Cust's Gully, there was a big cornice of icy snow there so that would certainly have been tricky to surmount. I think I will have another look in the summer.

Nice and clear across to the north western fells today.

...and the Gables.

Ill Crag, Broad Crag and Scafell Pike from Great End.

The Langdale Pikes, Lingmoor Fell and Windermere from Great End.

Scafell Pike.

Casper says he is fed up with scrambling now.

Esk Pike and Bowfell.

Great Moss and Upper Eskdale from Ill Crag.

Broad Crag from Ill Crag.

The mist starting to rise and swirl round the ridge from Eskdale. At this stage it didn't look as though I would make it to the top before the view was obliterated as the cloud began to surround me.

Pillar beyond Lingmell from the climb to Scafell Pike.

Casper has made it, the highest dog in England - and the top is still clear!

Skiddaw from Scafell Pike.

Scafell across Mickledore.

Mosedale from the trig column.

Descending to Lingmell Col, Lingmell beyond.

Mosedale from the column on the western end of Lingmell.

A panoramic view from Lingmell.

Great Gable.

Scafell Pike from Goat Crags.

Illgill Head and Wast Water from the descent of Lingmell.

Wasdale Head and Mosedale, Pillar at it's head.

Wast Water.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from the final crossing of Lingmell Beck.

The Scafells

Walked on 21/05/2007

Start point: Brotherilkeld, car park at the bottom of Hardknott Pass (NY 214 011)

Brotherilkeld Farm – Lingcove Bridge – Great Moss – Esk Hause – Great End (510) – Ill Crag (511) – Broad Crag (512) – Scafell Pike – Mickledore – Lord’s Rake – West Wall Traverse – Deep Gill – Scafell – Slight Side – Catcove Beck – Brotherilkeld Farm

Distance: 12.5 miles Total Ascent: 1295 metres Time Taken: 6 hours

Weather: Sunshine. 18oC.

The sun finally shone today for this personal favourite walk to the Scafells from Brotherilkeld via Upper Eskdale and Great Moss. Conditions were almost perfect with the warm temperature and a light breeze and hardly a soul about apart from the usual congestion on Scafell Pike summit. I didn’t take Angus today as this sort of walk is too tough for him now, but Casper came and managed to take it all in his stride. I hope you enjoy today’s photographic journey as much as I enjoyed being there – what better place to be on a Monday morning?

Bow Fell above Brotherilkeld Farm.

Looking back along the walk to Upper Eskdale.

Following the River Esk with Bow Fell still looming large ahead.

Lots of falls and cool, clear pools on the Esk.

Lingcove Bridge.

Looking back along Eskdale from Throstle Garth, Lingcove Bridge is lower left.

The Scafells come into view climbing the gorge of the River Esk.

Scafell and Slight Side, the Esk still in the foreground.

Scafell Pike and Ill Crag.

Casper has a rest before the walk along Great Moss.

Scafell Pike and Ill Crag across Great Moss.

Scafell Pike.

Great Moss - the route from here is below Pen on the left and climbing to the depression of Esk Hause ahead.

Scafell Pike from Great Moss.

Cam Spout in the foreground of Scafell.

Looking back to the Scafells above Great Moss.

Up onto Esk Hause there seemed to be more clouds to the north, here looking over to Allen Crags.

Skiddaw and Derwent Water from Esk Hause.

The northern fells from the climb to Great End.

Skiddaw and Derwent Water from the summit of Great End. I had intended 'saving' Great End until I finished my round of the Birketts, but what the heck, it was too nice to miss the view today.

Pillar and Great Gable from Great End.

Scafell Pike ahead.

Looking down on Great Moss and the route used in ascent from Ill Crag.

Broad Crag from Ill Crag.

Casper on Broad Crag.

No mistaking the route to the summit of Scafell Pike from here, looks like it is busy up there as well.

Looking over Styhead Tarn to Derwent Water and Skiddaw from the summit of Scafell Pike, the highest point in England.

The route to Mickledore with Lord's Rake shown to the right.

Pulpit Rock from the path to Lord's Rake.

Climbing Lord's Rake, a steep scree filled gully.

The fallen rock - still there balancing at the top of Lord's Rake.

Looking back down Lord's Rake from the start of the West Wall Traverse. The entrance to the West Wall Traverse to the right of this photo is very eroded now, much worse than I remember it.

The view from the first section of the West Wall Traverse. The West Wall Traverse is a gently inclined high level path joining Lord's Rake and Deep Gill.

Looking back to Lord's Rake. The large boulder is at the top of the first section, the fallen boulder is resting across the top of Lord's Rake to the lower left.

Climbing Deep Gill - it was cold and damp in here and it looks as though some of the large boulders are recent falls.

Looking back down Deep Gill.

Deep Gill from the top.

Looking over Wast Water to the west coast from the summit of Scafell.

The Mosedale fells from Scafell.

Casper summits Scafell.

Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags from Slight Side.

Looking back to Slight Side from Cat Crag.

Border End and Hard Knott across Eskdale.

Eskdale.

Hard Knott from Taw House farm.

Scafell Pike

Walked on 19/02/2004

Brotherilkeld Farm – Lingcove Bridge – Great Moss – Esk Hause – Great End (179) – Ill Crag – Broad Crag – Scafell Pike– Foxes Tarn – Scafell – Slight Side (180) – Catcove Beck – Brotherilkeld Farm

A clear start with mist coming in as the day progressed. The highest tops were enveloped in cloud with intermittent snow.