
But it's a fine route, and, as Guinnessman's recent report shows ( http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=49469&p=268886&hilit=pillar#p268886 ), should afford some of the best views in the Lake District; and I haven't seen it described or even outlined anywhere else.
So this is a mini-report to highlight a great and reasonably challenging round.
Coming up Wasdale, it looked reasonable if MWIS was correct in forecasting that it should clear on the tops towards midday.









Then a long period in cloud, taking in Great Scoat Fell and the Pillar. The path is reasonable straightforward. Navigation on Scoat Fell requires real concentration in clag, because the change in direction on the top is quite small: you need to trust the compass implicitly.
The ascent of the Pillar is clag-bound also, but, notwithstanding all the dramatic pictures, pretty straightforward - not even a scamble really. But again a bit of care wayfinding is necessary on the top to be sure of heading in the right direction. Then down towards Looking Stead.


I'm now hopeful that the cloud will clear, as promised, and I'll get to see the famous views....

The best ascent of Great Gable is to keep to the left and go up Beck Head first: straight up GG - which I did once - was an energy sapping scramble up a loose large rock scree face.




After this I give up on pics because the cloud closes in.
The only additional point to make for the benefit of those who might want to do this route is that, although the path over to Broad Crag is clear up to around the watershed, it's unmarked after that, and you need to be very precise with the compass to find your way, otherwise you can go very wrong and end up with a very long walk back to Wasdale Head.
Scafell Pike is very straightforward from the confluence of the paths, although care is needed again with the compass. I went a good way wrong the first time, thinking I knew where I was going.
To ascend Scafell, I avoided Lord's Rake because of falling rock stories, and took the route up the stream that flows from Foxes Tarn. It's a little bit of a scramble, but quite straightforward if there isn't too much flow in the stream. And then the descent off the back of Scafell down to Wasdale Head is simple: just take a WSW bearing and go.
Finally, don't forget to complete with a visit to a place of cultural, architectural and historical interest...