Slight Side & Scafell - Sunday 8 July 2018
Route
Wha House Farm - Dawsonground Crags - Horn Crag - Slight Side - Long Green - Scafell - Symonds Knott - Top of Mickledore - Scafell - Kettle Cove - Burnmoor Tarn - Bulatt Bridge - Lambford Bridge - Eel Tarn - Woolpack Inn - Wha House Farm
Parking
Small parking area opposite Wha House Farm (Free) - Grid Ref NY199009. Nearest postcode is CA19 1TH.
Mileage
10.5 miles
Terrain
Generally good moorland and mountain paths however the descent to Burnmoor Tarn is very rocky on loose scree therefore care needs to be taken.
Weather
Sunny and warm with light breezes on the summits.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3920ft (1195m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Wha House Farm - Dawsonground Crags - Horn Crag - Slight Side - Long Green - Scafell - Symonds Knott - Top of Mickledore - Scafell - Kettle Cove - Burnmoor Tarn - Bulatt Bridge - Lambford Bridge - Eel Tarn - Woolpack Inn - Wha House Farm
Parking
Small parking area opposite Wha House Farm (Free) - Grid Ref NY199009. Nearest postcode is CA19 1TH.
Mileage
10.5 miles
Terrain
Generally good moorland and mountain paths however the descent to Burnmoor Tarn is very rocky on loose scree therefore care needs to be taken.
Weather
Sunny and warm with light breezes on the summits.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3920ft (1195m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
A beautiful day was on the cards therefore we were out leading a walk with Lakeland Meet Ups starting in lovely Eskdale - the aim of today was to climb Scafell via Slight Side which is a superb walk and one worth taking your time over. For this route, there are two options with regard to parking - either park at The Woolpack Inn or further along the road at Wha House. If parking at the pub then please get permission first. Today we started at Wha House from where the path to Slight Side & Scafell begins. Eskdale is a beautiful valley and whilst there are many ways to climb Scafell we have never seen many people ascending via the path from Wha House - indeed, any of the routes to the various fells that surround Eskdale are rarely busy.
From Wha House the path rises and keeps to the left of Hare Crag, Goat Crag & Bull How to reach Dawsonground Crags. It is a pleasant walk with a feeling of solitude as height is gained to pass Cat Crag before joining the ridge that eventually leads to Slight Side. The summit is reached via a short pull up, firstly on grass and for the final few yards on a stony path. The summit gives excellent views over towards the Wasdale Fells and to Scafell itself. A short descent into a col follows leading to another gentle climb to Long Green from where there are magnificent views over to the Scafell range of mountains.
Leaving Long Green there is a steep climb to attain the summit of Scafell itself - bear in mind that the final 400 yards or so is on loose scree but is fairly easy to transit over as the gradient is not too severe. It is on the summit of Scafell that the views really open up and we were treated to a superb Lakeland panorama that makes the long walk in from Eskdale all the more worthwhile. After lunch, instead of making our way down on our return route, we took the opportunity to explore the mountain and therefore wandered over to the Cross of Stones, Symonds Knott and to take in the fantastic sights of Deep Gill, Scafell Pinnacle & Mickledore.
Leaving Scafell, the path down to Burnmoor Tarn requires care on the descent. Lots of large boulders and loose scree to negotiate but nothing too onerous providing you are careful and take your time. The tarn itself is idyllic, especially today with the sun glinting on the water. After Burnmoor Tarn there is a drop down to Eel Tarn and before long we arrived back at the Woolpack Inn and then made our way along the pass back to the car. Another superb walk in glorious conditions with excellent company.
From Wha House the path rises and keeps to the left of Hare Crag, Goat Crag & Bull How to reach Dawsonground Crags. It is a pleasant walk with a feeling of solitude as height is gained to pass Cat Crag before joining the ridge that eventually leads to Slight Side. The summit is reached via a short pull up, firstly on grass and for the final few yards on a stony path. The summit gives excellent views over towards the Wasdale Fells and to Scafell itself. A short descent into a col follows leading to another gentle climb to Long Green from where there are magnificent views over to the Scafell range of mountains.
Leaving Long Green there is a steep climb to attain the summit of Scafell itself - bear in mind that the final 400 yards or so is on loose scree but is fairly easy to transit over as the gradient is not too severe. It is on the summit of Scafell that the views really open up and we were treated to a superb Lakeland panorama that makes the long walk in from Eskdale all the more worthwhile. After lunch, instead of making our way down on our return route, we took the opportunity to explore the mountain and therefore wandered over to the Cross of Stones, Symonds Knott and to take in the fantastic sights of Deep Gill, Scafell Pinnacle & Mickledore.
Leaving Scafell, the path down to Burnmoor Tarn requires care on the descent. Lots of large boulders and loose scree to negotiate but nothing too onerous providing you are careful and take your time. The tarn itself is idyllic, especially today with the sun glinting on the water. After Burnmoor Tarn there is a drop down to Eel Tarn and before long we arrived back at the Woolpack Inn and then made our way along the pass back to the car. Another superb walk in glorious conditions with excellent company.
Slight Side looms ahead
Looking back down the long approach to Slight Side from Wha House - Harter Fell is to the left
At the stone boulder the path starts to increase in gradient as Slight Side nears
Chester & Fudge
My walking companions on the summit of Slight Side
From Slight Side the path rises to Long Green
Scafell, Scafell Pike & Ill Crag from Long Green
Scafell looking magnificent
The group on Long Green - Chester has gone all shy on us
Doing the Ministry of Funny Walks as we approach Scafell
The last 400 yards to Scafell - some loose rock here but nothing too onerous.......
.... and here it is
Looking back down to Long Green & Slight Side
Scafell Pike
Symonds Knott to the left with Scafell Pike right
Burnmoor Tarn, Whin Rigg, Illgill Head & Wastwater
Kilian Jornet on the summit of Scafell - we must have missed him by minutes. Jornet was making an attempt to break the record for the completion of the Bob Graham Round - a route taking in 42 fells usually completed within 24 hours. The previous record of 13hrs 53mins set in 1982 was held by Billy Bland and stood for 36 years until Jornet smashed it by just over an hour - an incredible achievement.
A You Tube video filmed on the day can be found here
A You Tube video filmed on the day can be found here
Jornet and his pacemakers leaving Scafell Pike heading for Scafell via Mickledore
(photo provided by another source for which permission was granted)
(photo provided by another source for which permission was granted)
The summit of Scafell
Chester and his tongue on Scafell
A Scafell panorama
A cracking view of The Mosedale Horseshoe from Scafell - Pillar is centre of shot
Illgill Head & Wastwater with Buckbarrow, Seatallan & Middle Fell in the distance - Yewbarrow is to the right.
The cross of stones near Symonds Knott
Scafell Pinnacle & Pisgah at the top of Deep Gill
Looking into Deep Gill
Easy enough to get up on to Pisgah but I didn't fancy the jump over to the Pinnacle
The path to Scafell Pike coming out of Mickledore - if you look closely you can just about see the MRT Stretcher Box
Fells everywhere as we leave Scafell - Great Gable dominates just right of centre
Beginning our descent of Scafell with Wastwater ahead
Negotiating the scree descent - needs care in the dry but in the wet this would be very tricky
The scree continues - just take your time. Fudge with his 4-paw drive made it look very easy.
With the scree negotiated we now made the long transit to Burnmoor Tarn - the path over can be seen quite clearly
Gentle walking on grass now as we near Burnmoor Tarn
Looking across to Slight Side
A happy Fudge in Burnmoor Tarn
Eel Tarn
An Eel Tarn panorama
We were heading to The Woolpack - just a shame they had ran out of anything to drink
Always a good sign that Fudge has had a great day on the fells.