Day 3 in the Lakes and 3 walks already, after yesterday with a long walk of 12 miles but not too much steep walking, today was different. A short walk of only 6 miles but a never ending staircase trudge both up and down. The only break from the constant line of people heading up to Scafell Pike, was the detour off to collect Lingmell which was my 197th Wainwright. This one was missed on my first ascent of Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route, back when I wasn’t really bagging Mr Wainwright’s list, which does seem rather foolish when you look at things. Linda also had never been up Scafell Pike, and as we were staying at Irton Hall, at the other end of Wasdale, it seemed like a good opportunity to correct these things. With all the other fells that I had to conquer in Wasdale, this walk was set for the bank holiday Sunday, which may have been the one busy day here, as people watched the Coronation the day before. The weather was checked and the report was for cloud to lift in the afternoon and as we weren’t far away we planned to arrive at Brackenclose around 9ish and easily get a parking spot. One of those things came true as we found an easy space in the car park and booted up. One thing about climbing Scafell Pike by this direct route is its popularity. It is one long stream of walkers, all travelling at different speeds and with varying different levels of clothing and kit. One girl had only a pack of Wurthers Original to power her to the top, another lad had a litre of water (which he’d consumed most of by the crossing of Lingmell Gill on the way up to Hollow Stones). One lady heading up in flat slip on smart shoes and an overcoat and one guy who had a sound system with him, no doubt assuming that we all needed to hear his incredibly bad taste in music. Its not a path I, nor Linda, would choose again. I hated being followed, almost pushed up and down the mountain by walkers wanting to get past me. I mentioned at the top that we’d succeeded with the parking, however the second part was that the cloud did not lift, or it did briefly before dropping again. We hardly got any views from the higher parts of the walk, and it only cleared as we hit the 400 metre contour on the way down, this probably left a bitter taste when looking back at the walk, however it did hide the long gaggle of people looking to summit the tallest mountain in England, which was a blessing. Scafell Pike is the highest and all who succeed should be congratulated, but I will come in a different way if I come here again.
Start – Brackenclose
Route – Lingmell Gill – Hollow Stones – Lingmell Col – Lingmell – Lingmell Col – Scafell Pike – Lingmell Col – Hollow Stones – Lingmell Gill – Brackenclose
Distance – 6 miles Start time – 9.30am Time taken – 6hrs Highest Point – Scafell Pike 978 metres
Crossing a dry looking Lingmell Gill, lots of sweet smelling gorse around, but the cloud is right down on all the area. It turned out that the Scafells was the area where the cloud was down the most, with around 70% of other tops clear, particularly in the Central and Eastern areas.Starting out, the mist was very thick and damp, so much so, that Linda had droplets gathering on her hair at times on the way up. The mist was very thick as we ascended, Here we cross Lingmell Gill on the way to Hollow StonesYours trulyInto Hollow Stones and the cloud looks to lift a littleLingmell peeking up ahead and some blue sky, maybe the cloud is lifting as per the forecastSwirling cloud and the sun bursting thoughAs the cloud lifts so the train of people becomes clearScafell Pike, but not yet for usLingmell is our first targetLooking back across Lingmell Col to Scafell Pike as we climb to LingmellThe cloud is swept away only to be followed by another bank of cloud. The Corridor Route comes up from that directionLinda at Lingmell summitLooking back down to Lingmell Col as the next bank of cloud rolls inThe two cairns over there have a great view down to Wasdale normallyLooking down to Piers Gill, its very rocky and steep but the true scale of it is lost in the low cloudAs we descended off Lingmell a gap appeared in the cloud, like a letterbox opening. Glaramara could be seen as could a distant Helvellyn ridge, it looked much clearer that way. Great End is the slope dropping down from the rightAgain blue skies as we start to climb Scafell PikeAnd a clear Lingmell, for nowScafell Pike summit, I didn’t bother with any photos on the last part of the climb as there was too many people and no viewWe sat for a bit away from the summit and ate some lunch, our progress up here hadn’t been quick at all. But it was nice to get views towards Broad Crag which came and then went quickly. We left the summit area to join the queue of people descending downThe brilliant fix the fells are out again on the path through Hollow Stones, as we descendAs we reached the half way stage down the cloud has lifted enough to get some views of WasdaleAnd the cloud keeps lifting. Illgill Head is to the left (we will be there on our next walk) and Buckbarrow is now clear at the far end on the rightAlmost down nowOn last walk across the field and we are into the car park, here we look across Wasdale Head to Kirk Fell with the cloud around half way down (another one we would visit this week)Even as we drove away from Brackenclose the sun had come out but not totally cleared the cloud away from the Scafells and Lingmell to the right, nor Great Gable which would normally be at the back. Yewbarrow on the left looks glorious though. Not to worry about this view we would get another go at it later in the week. So another ticked off for me but with the people and the cloud it turned out to be our least favourite walk of the week. Luckily for us our favourite two are still to come…..
Shame after the misty shots that it didn’t clear a bit more to see the views down to Piers Gill of Lingmell. But you can’t have everything. The sheer number of people heading up this way is an experience in itself
I did that walk in reverse a few years ago and got exactly the same sort of view on Scafell Pike. Was pretty quiet on the way up as I started very early (for me) but there were loads of people heading up when I was on the way down.
Managed to get another 6 done that week (not yet written about the last 2 walks, but one is on the way). So I’m on 203 now. I have 7 walks and 11 fells to do we’ve booked two trips for 2024 to finish them off, so I need to be patient and enjoy more of Dartmoor and the coastal path, plus Snowdonia in the summer
I’ve never been up Scafell Pike! It’s the crowds like you experience that put me off although I quite fancy the Corridor route. I guess I should attempt it before I get too old and knackered – probably only a few more years before I reach that stage ☹️
The Corridor Route is a good way in, you can then spur off to Broad Crag col and then up to the summit, that way you’ll only see the crowds at the summit. The other option is to get to the summit for 5pm when its quieter anyway
I’d say that wasn’t too bad a day weatherwise as it looks like you got some impressive cloud effects albeit briefly.
Quietest way I know for Scafell Pike is to follow the path that runs up alongside Piers Gill. Been up that way a couple of times on BH weekends and it’s been quiet. No way to avoid the masses at the top though.
People who take speakers and inflict their music on others on the hills is a real anger inducing thing for me – headphones FFS!!
Honestly the music was horrific as well. I met a guy on Scafell two days later who had done The Pike the same day as us, and he commented on the same guy, ruining the whole section of the walk for everyone as you could hear it for such a large part of the path
treksandtors 
Eek that looks busy. Nevertheless you got some lovely moody misty shots.
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Shame after the misty shots that it didn’t clear a bit more to see the views down to Piers Gill of Lingmell. But you can’t have everything. The sheer number of people heading up this way is an experience in itself
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Glad you’re getting some good weather.
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We had a decent week of weather just the cloud down on this walk and one day of heavy rain the day after this one. So not bad for the Lakes really
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Very good.
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That’s a lot of people. Well done! Is that the biggest Wainwright Fell?
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Yes its the highest of the Wainwrights as well as the highest mountain in England. We do the second highest two days later!
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I did that walk in reverse a few years ago and got exactly the same sort of view on Scafell Pike. Was pretty quiet on the way up as I started very early (for me) but there were loads of people heading up when I was on the way down.
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Its just the way it is on that one, there are better ways in but you will always see lots of people at some point
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Pretty difficult not to meet crowds on Scafell Pike. 197 – you’re getting mighty close. Did you finish?
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Managed to get another 6 done that week (not yet written about the last 2 walks, but one is on the way). So I’m on 203 now. I have 7 walks and 11 fells to do we’ve booked two trips for 2024 to finish them off, so I need to be patient and enjoy more of Dartmoor and the coastal path, plus Snowdonia in the summer
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I’ve never been up Scafell Pike! It’s the crowds like you experience that put me off although I quite fancy the Corridor route. I guess I should attempt it before I get too old and knackered – probably only a few more years before I reach that stage ☹️
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The Corridor Route is a good way in, you can then spur off to Broad Crag col and then up to the summit, that way you’ll only see the crowds at the summit. The other option is to get to the summit for 5pm when its quieter anyway
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I’d say that wasn’t too bad a day weatherwise as it looks like you got some impressive cloud effects albeit briefly.
Quietest way I know for Scafell Pike is to follow the path that runs up alongside Piers Gill. Been up that way a couple of times on BH weekends and it’s been quiet. No way to avoid the masses at the top though.
People who take speakers and inflict their music on others on the hills is a real anger inducing thing for me – headphones FFS!!
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Honestly the music was horrific as well. I met a guy on Scafell two days later who had done The Pike the same day as us, and he commented on the same guy, ruining the whole section of the walk for everyone as you could hear it for such a large part of the path
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