Many of the Scafell Pike news items you will see are going to relate to groups of people attempting the Scafell Pike walk for charity or details of rescues which have been performed by the Scafell Pike Mountain Rescue team. Although the former Scafell Pike news items can be entertaining if they feature a well-known celebrity, or particularly wacky ascent of Scafell Pike, it is more valuable to read the rescue news items to learn why an accident happened or where – if the story concerns a particularly hazardous stretch of path.
A good source of Scafell Pike news is the BBC (use the search facility to bring up recent news items relating to Scafell Pike), and local papers will also provide coverage of events on and around Scafell Pike. The local press will provide information if you need services such as a chemist, dentist or vet, and will advise you of roadworks which may hinder your attempt at the Three peaks Challenge. The list below contains links to the online versions of these local newspapers.
The Cumberland and Westmoreland Herald
Despite their excellent coverage, the items below are a selection of the Scafell Pike news stories they may have missed:-
The path from Honister to Great Gable is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a whisky smuggler, Moses Rigg. Rigg had an illicit distillery at the top of Gable Crag, and used to convey the liquor down the path to Wasdale Head, hidden in pony pannier bags. The route was carefully chosen, as it could only be seen from Ennerdale, and is now assumed the nickname “Moses Trod”.
Fell walkers heading for England’s highest peak could encounter the ghost of a galloping horse at Burnmoor, near Wasdale Head. The horse was one of a pair which took fright and escaped during the funeral of a dalesman in the 19th century. The mother of the dead man subsequently died of shock, and during her funeral, the horse carrying her coffin also bolted at the same spot. It is claimed that the ghost gallops past anybody out alone on Scafell Pike at night.
Reports continue of a headless man haunting the old packhorse trail at Sty Head Pass near Wasdale. A number of local people claim to have seen the apparition walking down the trail, clutching a moving bag which is believe to hold several cats. Investigators have yet to confirm proof of this character’s (non)existence, but believe he is the ghost of a thirteenth century outlaw who was beheaded for his misdeeds.