Scafell Pike

Why would anybody want to brave the Cumbrian weather, risk painful blisters and battle against the toughest sheep in England to walk up Scafell Pike?

Because it is there!

Not only is the Scafell Pike walk modestly challenging, it has invariably been described as exhilarating, beautiful and breathtaking. When you visit, it won’t take long for you to discover the beauty and romanticism of the great mountain.

The view from the top has inspired writers such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Baines and Wainwright as, on a clear day, you can see Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the Isle of Man!

Walking on Scafell Pike became popular in the eighteenth century before Ordnance Survey maps were available and when walkers were guided up the slopes of the “Scafell Pike Mountain” by locals, keen to supplement their income.

Indeed, it was an error on an Ordnance Survey map which gave Scafell Pike its current name – previously being known as “The Pikes of Sca Fell” in honour of a neighbouring peak, which looks higher from many angles, but which is in fact ten feet lower.

You can combine your Scafell Pike walk as part of the Three Peaks Challenge. We have a page dedicated to further information about the Scafell Pike’s walking routes, which is a good place to start if you haven’t visited yet.

Make sure you pack the correct equipment to ensure you have a safe visit. For more information on choosing the correct map, visit our Scafell Pike maps page.

Find where the best places to stay near Scafell Pike are located, and if you’re in need of guided walks to lead you up the great mountain, you can find them here.

Above all, be safe and enjoy yourself!