Choosing the correct Scafell Pike map to plan your ascent is important to ensure you have a safe, yet thoroughly enjoyable visit.
There is often a debate about which Scafell Pike map you should take with you when you visit. To make the difference clear, Explorer maps have a scale of 1:25,000, while Landranger maps have a scale of 1:50,000 (about 1¼ inches to the mile) and unfold to 1000 mm x 890 mm.
OS Explorer Maps (1:25,000 – Greater Detail)
The Explorer map you need when visiting Scafell Pike is the ‘The English Lakes: South Western Area – OL6 (OS Explorer Map Series)’. The OL4 map covers the North Western area.
OS Explorer Map: OL6 The English Lakes – South Western area from Ordnance survey
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL6, The English Lakes — South-Western area, at 1:25,000 scale. ISBN 9780319264010. This is the sheet used by the Scafell Pike routes on this site. The Borrowdale approaches also use OL4.
OS Explorer Map: OL4 The English Lakes – North Western area from Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL4, The English Lakes — North-Western area, at 1:25,000 scale. ISBN 9780319263990. Use this alongside OL6 for the Borrowdale approaches shown on this site.
OS Landranger Maps (1:50,000 – Broader Overview)
If you want a Landranger map for a broader overview of the area, look for OS Landranger 90: Penrith and Keswick. Check the edition before buying. The area surrounding Scafell Pike appears at grid reference NY215072.
OS Landranger Map: 89 West Cumbria from Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey Landranger 89, West Cumbria, at 1:50,000 scale. ISBN 9780319261873. A regional overview map. For the detailed Scafell Pike route choices on this site, use the specified Explorer sheets.
OS Landranger Map 90: Penrith & Keswick Map from Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90, Penrith and Keswick, at 1:50,000 scale. ISBN 9780319263372. A regional overview map. Use the appropriate 1:25,000 Explorer sheet for the Scafell Pike routes on this site.
Harvey Map
Harvey Lake District West: Scafell Pike, Langdale & Coniston Superwalker XT25
Harvey Lake District West Superwalker XT25, 2024 edition, at 1:25,000 scale. Covers Scafell Pike, Langdale and Coniston, including Ennerdale, Wast Water, Hard Knott and Wrynose. ISBN 9781851376919. Check the route coverage before your walk.
Guides and Further Reading
Read about Wainwright’s guides and their place in Lake District walking.
Wainwright’s Illustrated Walking Guide to the Lake District Book 4: The Southern Fells
Book Four, The Southern Fells, from A. Wainwright’s illustrated Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Includes Scafell Pike. Carry a current walking map for navigation.
Walking the Lake District Fells – Borrowdale: Scafell Pike, Catbells, Great Gable and the Derwentwater fells
Walking the Lake District Fells is a must-have guide for anyone planning to explore the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Lake District in the United Kingdom. Written by experienced fellwalker Mark Richards, this book offers detailed descriptions and maps of some of the area’s most popular and scenic walks – including Scafell Pike.
Lake District: High Level and Fell Walks — Vivienne Crow (current edition)
The second edition of Vivienne Crow’s Cicerone guide, published in 2024, containing 30 high-level and fell walks in the Lake District. ISBN 9781786312266. Carry the appropriate walking map for your chosen route.
Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike – A Year in the Life of England’s Highest Peak (DVD)
Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike is a two-hour documentary by Terry Abraham that showcases the beauty and significance of Scafell Pike in the Lake District. This acclaimed film tells the tale of this iconic mountain through the perspectives of farmers, recreational climbers, and conservationists.