Walk - Scafell Pike via the western ridge of Lingmell

This route up Scafell Pike avoids the worst part of the main tourist route up Brown Tongue, instead climbing the grassy slopes of Lingmell to gain well over half of the required altitude while avoiding the crowds. Another 500 feet are gained on the upper flanks of Lingmell, before we finally join the tourist path for the final climb. On this walk we have returned via Mickledore and Brown Tongue, only returning to our original path towards the very end of the walk..

Ascent: 2,950ft
Length: 5 miles
Map: OL 6 Lakes South West

We start from the National Trust car park at the head of Wast Water.

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Turn left out of the car park and follow a track that crosses Lingmell Gill. Just over the gill the track ends, but a clear footpath continues on alongside the gill.

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After a fairly short distance we cross the gill on a footbridge then continue to climb up along the other side of the stream. This brings us to a stone wall - on the far side of the wall the path splits. Take the left-hand branch, which now begins to climb up the steep south-western ridge of Lingmell.

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Follow this path all the way up the ridge and onto the large grassy plateau towards the top of the fell. Head across this plateau as it climbs up towards the rocky summit of Lingmell. Look out for a path that branches off to the right well before the summit and follow this path as heads across the plateau towards Lingmell Col. Cross the col then turn towards the right and climb up towards the tourist path.

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Turn left onto the tourist path and follow it as it climbs up to the summit of Scafell Pike. Be aware that the first really large cairn seen on the skyline actually marks the point from where you can see the real summit, which is marked by a large circular cairn and a trig point.

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The rocky summit of Scafell Pike doesn't make for entirely clear paths, but the main routes are fairly clearly marked by cairns (in the fog it is probably safest to keep to the main tourist path and follow it back down all the way).

To reach Mickledore head back along our original path for a short distance (down the first slope below the summit but not as far as the large cairn that marks the edge of the main summit plateau). Look for a line of cairns that mark a path that heads off to the left and follow thsi path as it south-west then south. This eventually brings us to Mickledore, the col between Scafell Pike and Sca Fell.

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At Mickledore turn right onto a path that runs down a rocky ravine (steep but fairly easy). This brings us to a path that runs down a scree slope, and eventually to an easier path. Follow this path until it joins the very obvious tourist path. Follow the tourist path as it runs west down Brown Tongue and back to the car park.