Scafell Pike - Scaling Great Heights

Wednesday 24th September 2014

Today was forecast to be a dry and sunny day and as we planned to have a go at climbing England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, (3210 feet) it seemed like today was the day!

We drove to Wasdale Head via Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass, both of which had some very hairy moments!  Narrow doesn't even begin to describe some of these lanes.  

Overlooking Little Langdale on the way.

Looking across Wastwater towards Scafell Pike - the middle peak (the summit isn't in view).

We parked in the National Trust car park at Wasdale Head to begin the walk, not leaving the car park until 11.30am, later than we had hoped.  It was a beautiful day, with long sunny intervals and a light breeze, just right for climbing, something we did for just over 3 hours.  The path that winds up Scafell Pike is mostly a rocky footpath apart from the last mile or so which is large loose rocks, this section was definitely more of a scrabble.  I thought there would be lots of people up and down but there weren't many people at all.  Those that we did meet seemed happy and chatty, all with one aim, to get to the top come what may.

Looking down on Wastwater, going up.

One of the many cairns on the way up.

View across the Lakes.

The rocky ground closer to the summit.

3210 feet later, we made it to the summit where it was cold in the wind so we only stopped long enough for photos and a quick bite to eat then it was back down again.  Coming down was not much easier than going up, very jarring on the knees!  One highlight on the way down was the sight of 3 gliders soaring high above the valley.

A stunning view from the summit.

There were plenty of locals up high - herdwick sheep.

We eventually got back to the car just before 6pm, having walked 5.5 miles and having successfully found 2 geocaches, definitely the highest geocaches we've done so far!

Driving back along a lane barely wider than the car we came across a small flock of herdwick sheep in the road.  Unfortunately there was no where for them to go as there was a dry stone wall on either side of the lane so they just kept running ahead of us, eventually they stopped for a munch on the verge where the road was a bit wider and we managed to squeeze by without frightening or squashing them - another joy of the Lake District - sheep!

Another rush hour in the Lake District!

A very hard but fantastic walk that I am so glad we did and we are now feeling very epic!