Scafell & Slight Side walk from Wasdale Head

I parked at the Wasdale Head Inn as I will be staying there for the next two nights. As it was, there was plenty of car parking availability at the main Wasdale Head Car Park.

Crossing Lingmell Gill and looking up in the direction of Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell.

Time for me to head off to the less popular Scafell rather than the route everyone else seemed to be taking to Scafell Pike - I wonder why ?

A gentle ascent at first with Wast Water to my right.

Views over to the magnificent Yewbarrow.

A brief look back towards Mosedale and my starting point at Wasdale Head.

It wasn't too long until I reached the relatively flat plateau where Burnmoor Tarn is the central feature.

I pressed on until I almost reached the Maiden Castle cairn, before turning sharp left and heading up Green How via a very feint path.

It was clear today, so navigation was straightforward. However, it always puzzles me how the second highest mountain in England doesn't really have a main path via this route. Many a time in the past I've ended up slogging up the fell through long grassy soft ground - hard going alright, but it's easier and still more pleasant than tackling Lords Rake in my opinion.

A clear view of the Scafell top - still going to take a while to get there mind.

Time for a breather and a look back over to Illgill Head. Plus a nice chat with a young girl who was doing a monster of a walk - Scafell was so quiet today, it was nice to see another walker.

Onwards and Upwards - as you get closer to the top, a clear path can be used

I wandered over to the top of the gulley that is Lords Rake - looks very steep and extremely loose underfoot - not for me, thank you very much.

Nobody was heading up whilst I was there, so I had Scafell all to myself.

I zoomed in and took a picture of Scafell Pike summit - As expected there were plenty of folk milling around over there.

Scafell summit is far better though - there's no rubbish up here.

Scafell summit

Now time to follow the thin path towards Slight Side. Something nice about heading down to another fell.

Heading up to the rocky, shapely and well defined summit of Slight Side.

After a brief chat with a fellow walker and a phone call from Mrs R. I headed down to the site of the memorial to the two Polish Pilots that crashed their Hurricanes here during the Second World War.

Now I've never really been able to find a good route back without retracing my steps via Scafell again.

But there is a reasonably visible route down at the moment, so I'll give it a go. Visibility is excellent and the terrain looks gentle enough.

So far so good, the path disappeared a while back, but the descent is gentle and soft underfoot - It's just that stream (Hardrigg Gill) will need crossing to get me heading towards the path I walked earlier in the day. Is that going to be tricky ?

As it was, there were plenty of places to get across, I'd say it gets easier the further down you are - but I managed it okay.

I would say that Scafell and Slight Side don't really lend themselves to a nice circular from Wasdale Head - Hence the lack of well trodden paths. I think these two are probably best conquered from Eskdale - and that may have to be an 'out and back'. I'll do that route next time and see for myself.

Looking back up Hardrigg Gill towards Scafell.

Burnmoor Tarn and it's lodge.

Heading back down to Brackenclose in the warm sunshine.

Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell provide a cracking view ahead.

As I head back to the Inn looking forward to a nice pint and a hot meal - I look over towards the dramatic summit of Scafell.