This guide covers walks from three starting valleys: Wasdale, Borrowdale and Great Langdale. Each valley offers a different approach, and though you'll get the same view from the top, the routes are very different. It's well worth looking at your options beforehand.
To choose the best route for you, you'll need to consider a few things. How confident are you in climbing a 978m mountain? Are you looking for the quickest and most direct ascent possible, or interested in a more varied day out, taking in several mountain peaks? Or even down to more practical things like: where are you staying and which start point is easiest to access? Then you're in the right place!
The walking routes up Scafell Pike are listed below, but also be sure to check out these resources to ensure you're fully prepared:
| Route | Distance | Total ascent | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowdale | About 14km / 9 miles (Seathwaite circuit) | About 1,000m (accumulated ascent) | 6–8 hours or longer (planning estimate) |
| Borrowdale via the Corridor Route | About 14km / 9 miles (Seathwaite circuit) | About 1,000m (accumulated ascent) | 6–8 hours or longer (planning estimate) |
| Great Langdale | 18km / 12 miles total | 1400m | approx. 8 hours |
| Wasdale Head | 9km / 6 miles | 900m | 4.5 hours |
| Wasdale via Lingmell | 10.5km (there and back) | 950m | 5.5 hours |
These are approximate round-trip estimates from our route guides. Allow extra time for breaks, children, poor visibility and difficult conditions. Check the mountain forecast and carry a map and compass.
Read our walking-time planning advice for factors that can make the return walk take longer.
Rocky ground, scrambling and steep drops
Distance and ascent tell only part of the story. Scrambling means using your hands as well as your feet to get over rock. Exposure means there is a steep drop nearby, where a slip could have serious consequences. A short rocky section can feel much harder if you are nervous about heights, and wet rock can make footing more difficult.
- Wasdale via Hollow Stones: steep stone paths, an unbridged beck crossing and uneven summit rocks. You may need your hands for support on rocky ground. The upper route can be hard to identify in cloud; being the shortest approach does not make it an easy walk.
- Borrowdale and the Corridor Route: a longer day with rough boulder fields. The Corridor section has rock steps and gully crossings, with steep ground nearby. Allow for careful movement and route finding rather than choosing it simply because the ascent sounds gentler.
- Great Langdale: a long outing over several high fells before reaching Scafell Pike. Read the full route and return, including the rocky sections, rather than judging it by the summit height alone.
Read your route's difficult sections before setting out. If the ground or navigation is beyond your experience, choose a lower walk or a qualified mountain guide. See Wasdale Mountain Rescue's route advice and the National Trust's Hollow Stones guide. These source checks were made on ; they are not a walked route inspection.
Scafell and Scafell Pike
Scafell, also written Sca Fell, is a different summit from Scafell Pike. Check the exact mountain and route when choosing a walk or downloading a track. Adding Scafell changes the outing; it is not a simple extra summit on our Scafell Pike routes.
Do not treat Broad Stand as a walking shortcut between the summits. The direct-looking connection above Mickledore involves rock-climbing moves above large drops. The alternative via Foxes Tarn also involves steep scree and a narrow gully. Read Wasdale Mountain Rescue's Broad Stand warning before considering a separate two-summit route. Source checked .
Quiet approaches and a busy summit
A quieter approach does not guarantee a quiet summit: walkers from several valleys meet on Scafell Pike. How busy it feels varies with the day, season and conditions, so you may see few people on the way up and still find a crowd at the top. Choose a route for its distance, terrain and navigation demands; do not take a more demanding route solely to avoid other walkers.
Routes from Borrowdale
Climbing Scafell Pike from Borrowdale involves a long, steady approach from the mountain's north. Starting at Seathwaite, you'll slowly ascend from the valley, climbing alongside the beginnings of the River Derwent, then up a ghyll to Sprinkling Tarn. Styhead Tarn can be seen to the west below Seathwaite Fell. From Styhead Tarn, you'll traverse around the sheer black crag of Great End to Esk Hause. Now northeast of the Scafell Pike summit, you'll follow a sparse path and cairns over the shoulders of Ill Crag and Broad Crag to the top.
This is a full-day route, so you'll need to start early in the day. You'll experience more of the surrounding mountains without climbing any unnecessary peaks. The climb from the northeast side of Scafell Pike is longer, but the ascent is less abrupt. Most of the time, the route is away from well-made paths, and there are no waymakers.
Read the complete guide to climbing Scafell Pike from Borrowdale
You can also reach the summit from Borrowdale via the Corridor route.
Routes from Wasdale
The Wasdale approach is the shortest of our routes. Our guide starts at Wasdale Head Green, joins the main ascent beside Lingmell Gill, then climbs Brown Tongue and Hollow Stones towards the summit. Lake Head National Trust car park is a different start; match your parking choice to your route.
This is a steep mountain walk with an unbridged beck crossing, rough summit ground and difficult navigation in cloud. You need to be prepared for the descent as well as the climb. If you are new to hillwalking, use the preparation guide to judge the demands against your experience, rather than relying on the route's shorter distance.
Read the full guide to climbing Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head
You can also climb from Wasdale via Lingmell.
Route from Langdale
It is less usual to climb Scafell Pike from Langdale, but still an excellent day out in the mountains. The route involves hiking across several other peaks: Bow Fell and Esk Pike. The route starts at the west end of Langdale valley and ascends onto open land along a ridgeline called The Band. From Three Tarns, at the end of the ridge, there is a steep and rocky ascent to Bow Fell. Then down to Ore Gap and along the ridgeline to Esk Pike. At Esk Hause, the routes join up with the ascent from Borrowdale.
This is a route for confident hikers who want to add more variety to their ascent of Scafell Pike. Or perhaps people who have climbed to the summit from a different side. The paths up to Esk Hause are well made, but since you are starting so far from Scafell Pike, you need to be able to navigate to reach it. There is an excellent view of Scafell Pike from Bow Fell on a clear day.
Read the full guide to climbing Scafell Pike from Great Langdale
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FAQs About Scafell Pike's Routes
Which is the shortest route up Scafell Pike?
The Wasdale approach via Hollow Stones is the shortest of our routes. Shorter does not mean easy: expect a steep climb, rough rocks, an unbridged beck crossing and a summit where route finding can be difficult in cloud. Read the guide for its exact start and whole return walk.
Which route offers the best views when climbing Scafell Pike?
All routes to Scafell Pike offer their unique and stunning views, but the route from Langdale is often considered to provide the most variety. It involves hiking across several other peaks, including Bow Fell and Esk Pike, giving you a chance to take in a range of landscapes. There's also an exceptional view of Scafell Pike itself from Bow Fell on a clear day. However, it's worth noting that this route is less common and requires good preparation and navigation skills.
Which route is best for families or less experienced hikers?
Choose a walk that suits the least experienced person in your group. Wasdale is shorter, but it still has steep and rocky ground. The Corridor Route includes rock steps and gully crossings, so it should not be treated as an easier family alternative.
For children, plan around experience on hills, the whole descent and time for breaks. Carrying a toddler brings different demands from walking with an older child. Read our children and carriers advice, and be willing to choose a lower walk or turn back. A guide can help if the route or navigation is beyond your experience.
Are there any guided treks available for Scafell Pike?
Absolutely! A guided walk can be a fantastic option if you're keen to get the most out of your Scafell Pike experience. These expert mountain guides have a wealth of knowledge about climbing England’s tallest peak. They can provide you with invaluable advice, whilst also pointing out scenic spots you might miss if you're too focused on navigating. Find a guide here.