Eskdale - Upper Eskdale - Scafell Pike - Sca Fell - Slight Side - Eskdale

Joe Jackson

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Starting off at the free National Trust car park opposite Wha House Farm in Eskdale, the route follows the valley floor of Upper Eskdale and slowly ascends to a height of 370m, where the valley levels out around an area called Great Moss. The first serious section of ascent is a scramble followed by a walk up to Mickledore and then up onto the highest point in England - Scafell Pike (978m / 3,210ft). After admiring the views from the highest point the walk heads back down along the same route to Mickledore and then down to the bottom of a second scramble up to Foxes Tarn. The scramble is easy but very rewarding and the remainder of the ascent is steep, but the views from the top are well worth it! The third Wainwright of the day (and my last Wainwright!) is Slight Side, which is almost due south from the top of Sca Fell. The path heads straight for the rocky peak and again, the views south from the summit are fantastic.

The last leg feels the longest and you work your way around Goat Crag and straight back to the car park. It's about 5km back to the car park from the top of Slight Side but feels a lot more like 10k and it is very easy to get lost, as the terrain, although craggy in places, is fairly featureless.

All in all this is a fantastic high-mountain walk with a couple of scrambles mixed in. People who do not enjoy some easy scrambling and have problems with route-finding, be cautious on this walk as pathfinding can be tricky in Upper Eskdale on the way to and from the Scafells.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - South West