Walkhighlands

A beautiful summer’s day in the high Lakes fells.

Faithful to Wainwright’s advice, I took the less-trodden (much less so – no-one at all to be seen…) route to Sty Head, to the right of Taylorgill Force. And, even though marshy and indefinite at the start and end, it’s probably worth it for the in-between – a really good half-scramble up a rocky path with fantastic views of the falls; you can save Stockley Bridge for the way down. Back on the busy paths, an easy climb up past Styhead and Sprinking Tarns, past the sunbathers, takes you to Esk Hause – good views throughout of the Scafell range and even better ones to Great Gable and the Western Fells.








Veering off the highway to Scafell Pike, albeit only slightly, leads you to an oasis of silence on Great End, looking down from this abrupt cliff to the heights north. This would be an almost perfect walk from Seathwaite on its own, but – ‘Hewitt’-bagging - it wasn’t too far to take in Ill Crag (a rougher climb than expected, but a lovely perch above Eskdale) and Broad Crag (in contrast, and forewarned by the idea that this was the ‘roughest summit in Lakeland’, quite a nice bit of firm and flat boulder-hopping) too. Scafell Pike looks very close from both peaks, but nothing in the view makes it look a very tempting there-and-back detour – a vast spread of big stones with a very steep and loose-looking approach, up which most seemed to be struggling at a snail’s pace to a summit ant’s nest. First impressions a few years’ back in a horrible storm weren’t great, but the sunny version didn’t look much better – still determined to find a way to enjoy our highest peak some time this year though!













The way back to Seathwaite, down one of the main (3 Peaks) paths to Scafell Pike, probably doesn’t need much description, but – busy as it was – it’s a good gradual path down Grains Gill looking ahead to Borrowdale and Derwent Water; if less craggy and dramatic, certainly an easier and more attractive walk than that to Wasdale.

Nice to see someone getting a view from the Great End summit. My visit was in perpetual clag - You're clicking off those Hewitts Poppies fair play - Any thoughts on the Wainwrights too?

Hi Stig,

Great End was a stunning viewpoint, one of the best - all the Scafells high ground suddenly falls away in front of you - definitely worth a 'no-clag' return!

Cheers re Hewitts. A long way to go on the Wainwrights but they'll probably come first actually - might give some North Pennine hills a go but I'm not expecting very much of them, and more days in the Lakes and Wales will probably come before those...

Pretty much all my unwalked Hewitts are in the Pennines, I've got a handful in the Lakes which I somehow missed when doing my Wainwright round in 2012 - but I'd love to complete the remainder - I could do with a fortnight to really get amongst them though.

Many thanks for sharing this wonderful day out. I've done a similar walk a year ago but took in Scafell and Scafell Pike and had the same great views you had. Its a wonderful area with great mountains albeit a bit crowded.