I was spending four days walking in the Wasdale area, staying at the lovely Youth Hostel on the shores of Wast Water with the intention of climbing Scafell Pike and some of the surrounding hills during my visit, preferably walking from the Youth Hostel and not needing to take the car. For the first three days I never saw the summit of Scafell Pike as it was always covered in clouds so I did a walk over three hills including Buckbarrow ( Click HERE ) on the first day, a walk over Illgill Hill and Whin Rigg ( Click HERE ) on the second day and on the third day had a walk around Wast Water including a long stretch of wet rocky boulders that was very tricky. I had one day left on my visit.
The weather forecast for my final day was the best one yet and when I awoke in the Hostel and looked outside and saw hardly a cloud in the sky, I knew today would be the day I finally made it up Scafell Pike. I got myself ready and checked out of the Hostel before the short drive along the lake to the car park at the Wasdale National Trust Campsite which lies just at the foot of the Scafell Fell hills.
The walk started with a steep grassy walk up the side of Lingmell rather than the well worn path to the side of it that people use to go direst to Scafell Pike, that path was really busy. I kept stopping for a breath but also to take in the magnificent views all around me, firstly down to Wast Water and the surrounding hills that I'd walked the previous few days but also as I got higher I was treated to wonderful views across to Pillar, Steeple, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and the Helvelyn range amonst many others.
Eventually the grassy path turned into a zig zag stony path and then steps which made the going a little easier and before long the summit of Lingmell was reached and only a couple of people at the summit, I looked across the short distance to Scafell Pike and saw the summit was very busy and many people travelling up the path towards it like ants.
Lovely views towards Great Gable from Lingmell but I was soon on my way to Scafell Pike, this meant heading down from the summit to join the main path and many people walking in both directions. From here it was quite an easy walk, mainly zigzagging up well worn rocky paths, no sign of grass any more, just rocks of all sizes. I approached the summit and decided to move away from it just a bit and sit on a rock to have my lunch and a well deserved break and I took in the magnificent clear views which also included Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance.
If you were just wanting to climb Wainwright hills you would be heading straight to Sca Fell now but I wanted to climb Broad Crag and Ill Crag which were very close by and didn't require a lot of climbing as these two hills are among the highest six hills in England so it would be a shame to miss them out. A slight descent down from the Pike along a path took me beside Broad Crag so it was a short detour over the rocks to reach the summit then return to the path and along to Ill Crag summit, these two hills had hardly anyone on them and much more peaceful.
From Ill Crag it was a case of retracing my steps back up to Scafell Pike and then head onwards towards Sca Fell. This was when my walk changed from a pleasant easy one to one more difficult one. The route I was following suggested a steep path up Foxes Tarn gully but today it was more like a waterfall and I could see other people struggling up it. My eyes told me that it might be easier heading up the hill diagonally, much of it on grass than taking this route. Thankfully the grass was dry as it was quite steep in places and at times I grabbed handfulls of it to help me up the hill. There was no path, just a case of navigating the easiest way upwards and to the left. I was quite relieved to see the top of the ridge getting nearer and just a strecth of small boulders to cross. From the top of the ridge a path took me back a short distance to the summit of Sca Fell, there were only a few people on it compared to the mass of people that could be seen the short distance away on Scafell Pike.
After a short break I continued down towards Slight Side, I told myself that from now until the end of my walk that things would be a lot easier but it didn't end up that way. Slight Side wasn't too far away but it was still tricky in places down the slippy scree path and then from the summit I would head down a path before cutting off it but soon this path just seemed to disapear near a boggy section. I had intended climbing up a little hill just over this section but by now I'd decided I had a good days walk and would head back to the car park, the problem was that there is no visible path and it's just really a case of heading towards the bottom of Illgill Head where you can then take that path down to the car park.
I really didn't enjoy this section, it was slow going and quite wet in places plus the occasional small bits of river to find a way across before more navigating across sections where ferns were starting to grow, I imagine this would be even harder when they fully grow. It was a hot sunny day and the going was tough and I was getting a bit fed up of this section if I'm honest but there is no other way. There was a Tarn on the left of me and eventually I found a path that linked this Tarn to the Illgill Head path and very gratefully joined it. I felt a bit happier now I was back on a path and soon it joined the main path between the car park and the start of the Illgill Head climb, the end of the day was almost in sight at the end of Wast Water as I headed downwards.
As I reached the car park and a welcome sit down and drink, I saw I'd only walked over 10 miles, it had felt a lot longer than that. After the summit at Lingmell the walk is mostly on rocky paths, boulder fields and scree paths where you have to take care, there's not really many places where you can stride out along level ground, it just seems to be up or down all day.
As walks go, it wasn't one of the best walks I've ever done but it had incredible views in the sunshine which made up for it. I prefer long but easy walks between hills rather than climbing over boulders and going nowhere fast and had enjoyed my previous few days walks more than todays but at least I could say that I'd climbed Scafell Pike, the highest hill in England as well as a few more over 300ft today. I drove home after my 4 day break in Wasdale very happy and hope to return again soon but I'll probably choose to walk different routes than the one I did today.
