Scafell Pike

Climbing Scafell Pike from Lake Head car park, Wasdale

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This route climbs Scafell Pike, the highest of the 214 Wainwrights, from the National Trust's Lake Head car park near Wasdale Head. Parking there is paid, and the car park sits at about 70 m. No bus stop with a current service lies within 6 km, so this is a start for drivers.

The line is 4.1 km long and gains about 910 m. The first half kilometre follows gravel paths, most of it a National Trust permissive path, before the climbing begins. Between the first and second kilometres the path rises from about 260 m to 600 m, the steepest long stretch of the route. It eases through most of the third kilometre, between about 630 m and 690 m, and crosses Lingmell Gill.

The final 850 m, from about 760 m to the top, run over scree. OpenStreetMap grades this last section demanding mountain hiking, a step harder than the rest of the route, so expect rough, loose ground and allow time for it. The summit is marked by a trig pillar.

About 1.1 km of the line follows public footpaths and bridleways, and 3.5 km crosses open access land. The GPX file is the same line, from the car park to the summit. Return the same way, or plan a different descent with a map before you set out.

Download the GPXFree. The route is © OpenStreetMap contributors and the file is released under the Open Database Licence: you may copy, share and adapt it.