At 978 metres (3,208 feet), is the highest
Mountain in
England . It is located in the
Lake District National Park in
Cumbria .
It is sometimes confused with the neighbouring
Sca Fell , to which it is connected by the pass of
Mickledore . The name ''Pikes of Sca Fell'' was originally applied collectively to the peaks now known as Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Broad Crag, which were considered subsidiary tops of Sca Fell (which looks higher from many angles). The contraction ''Scafell Pike'' originated as an error on an
Ordnance Survey map, but is now standard.
The land was donated to the
National Trust in
1920 by Lord Leconfield in memory of the men of the
Lake District "who fell for God and King, for freedom, peace and right in the
Great War ".
Scafell Pike is one of three British mountains climbed as part of the
(National) Three Peaks Challenge .
Scafell Pike consists of
Igneous rock dating from the
Ordovician period, and is
Geologically part of the
Borrowdale Volcanics .
The ascent of the Pike is most often attempted from
Wasdale Head at the north end of
Wastwater to the west of the Pike. On summer weekends, crowds of people can be found attempting this steep but straightforward walk. An alternative ascent from Wasdale approaches up a
Hanging Valley whose head is at Mickledore, which is itself ascended, before following the path from Sca Fell to the Pike.
A more taxing, but scenically far superior, approach begins at Seathwaite Farm at the end of
Borrowdale , proceeding via
Styhead Tarn , then taking the ''Corridor Route'' (formerly known as the ''Guides Route''), a delightful walk along the western flank of the Scafell massif with intimate views of the mountain, before joining the route from
Wasdale near the summit. The return journey can then be made along a high ridge, taking in any or all of the neighbouring summits of
Broad Crag ,
Ill Crag ,
Great End ,
Allen Crags and
Glaramara . An alternative route from
Borrowdale , longer but perhaps less taxing than that via the Corridor Route, runs from Seathwaite via Grains Gill and the high pass of Esk Hause.
A further ascent may be made from
Langdale . From
Dungeon Ghyll , the route proceeds up alongside Rossett Gill (which perhaps has a more fearsome reputation than it deserves) and then onto Esk Hause before joining a rocky path to the summit. Energetic walkers can vary the return route by ascending
Esk Pike and
Bowfell from Esk Hause and then come down the Bowfell Band. The total distance is about 21 kilometres. Esk Hause is also accessible from Styhead Tarn, making another possible route from Seathwaite.
Another ascent can be made from
Eskdale , the longest and most arduous way up but it has some very fine scenery. You can either go up to Esk Hause or Mickledore, the low ridge between
Scafell and Scafell Pike.
