Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike is the highest summit in England and can be reached from most directions by way of easy walking routes. It has many spectacular features. Most of these features aren't seen from the summit and are best seen on the plateau edge or from the lower slopes.

The ascent routes generally begin in either Borrowdale, Wasdale, Langdale or Eskdale. The Borrowdale and Wasdale routes are the most popular, due to the shorter distances required.

The Borrowdale route begins at Seathwaite and heads south up the valley to Stockley Bridge. Once over the bridge the path splits, one branch following Grains Gill to the pass of Esk Hause, then over the rocky Ill Crag and Broad Crag to the summit. The alternative follows Styhead Gill to Styhead Tarn. From here there are three options: taking the scenic corridor route along the side of the mountain, the steep ascent of Great End's north west shoulder, or heading south east to Esk Hause.

Ascending from Wasdale can be by one of many routes and variations:
 * By Moses' Trod to Styhead Pass, then along the corridor route.
 * Following Lingmell Beck, then by the deep ravine of Piers Gill.
 * Over the subsidiary peak of Lingmell.
 * Following Lingmell Gill to Hollow Stones then either by Mickledore or Lingmell Col.
 * By first ascending Sca Fell and then by Mickledore.

The route from Langdale is long, and is best attempted in summer when there are plenty of daylight hours. Starting from the Old Hotel car park, head west to the head of the valley, climbing steeply alongside Rossett Gill. From Angle Tarn continue west to Esk Hause. For the ambitious, this out and back trip can be combined with Sca Fell, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags or the Langdale Pikes.

The Eskdale ascent is by far the quietest and all the better for it, this is a normally unseen side of the Scafells. Starting from the car park at the bottom of the hairy Hardknott Pass, the River Esk is followed for 4 miles to Great Moss, an excellent wild camping spot. From here there are steep climbs up to Mickledore, or up Little Narrowcove to the col between Broad Crag and Scafell Pike.