Walks by Wastwater
The walks you can reach around Wastwater — the routes that start within about 5 km, and the Wainwright and Outlying fells within the same radius, ranked nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Wastwater guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
Walking routes near Wastwater
- Wastwater Shore (the Screes view) 1.3 km away8.8 km~77 m~1.9 hA level walk along the Wastwater shore for the view across to the Screes — 8.8 km with 77 m of climbing and no summits at all. Easy on every axis but length; about 1.9 hours.
- Very Long Day Out 1.4 km away26.8 km~1743 m~8.3 hThe Wasdale head round at its longest — 26.8 km and 1,743 m over twelve tops, from Yewbarrow out to Steeple, Haycock and Caw Fell and back over Seatallan and Middle Fell. One stage climbs 546 m in 2.1 km, averaging 26%, and the whole day is rated severe for both length and steepness: about 8.3 hours of steady walking.
- Middle Fell, Haycock Seatallan and Buckbarrow 1.7 km away17.8 km~1253 m~5.6 hSeven Wasdale tops in a 17.8 km round with 1,253 m of climbing and one stage averaging 24%. Hard for length, navigation and exposure, severe for steepness — about 5.6 hours on ground that stays rough throughout.
- Great Gable & Kirk Fell 2.7 km away14.1 km~1146 m~4.7 hTwo of Wasdale's hardest tops in one round — 14.1 km and 1,146 m, rated hard on every axis the site measures: length, terrain, navigation and exposure, with steepness severe. About 4.7 hours, and none of them easy.
- Scafell Pike from Wasdale, by Lingmell Col 2.8 km away8 km~915 m~3.1 hHard🏞️ Easy & familyThe most-walked way up the highest mountain in England, and the shortest — 8 km and 915 m straight out of Wasdale Head. It is a hard, stony climb up Brown Tongue into Hollow Stones, then a boulder-strewn haul to the roof of the country. Do not mistake ‘popular’ for ‘easy’.
- Extended Mosedale Horseshoe 3.8 km away16.6 km~1303 m~5.5 hPillar, Scoat Fell, Steeple and Red Pike around the head of Mosedale, with Yewbarrow to finish — 1,303 m of ascent packed into 16.6 km, rated severe for steepness and hard for exposure. About 5.5 hours steady. It also goes by bus: the Wasdale Explorer works for this round if you turn for home at Yewbarrow by 16:58.
- Whin Rigg, Illgill Head & the Wastwater Screes 3.8 km away16.9 km~682 m~4.5 hHard🏞️ Easy & familyThe high, airy walk along the top of the Wastwater Screes — England’s most dramatic lakeshore, seen from directly above. A long Wasdale round over Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, the ground falling away in a single sweep to the deepest lake in the country. Big, wild and exposed, and best saved for a clear, dry day.
Fells within about 5 km
- Illgill Head 1.1 km away609 m~4 hSave it · 18Too windy for the topsIllgill Head at 609m (1,998ft) is the highest point of the famous Wastwater Screes — one of the most dramatic and photographed features in the Lake District.
- Middle Fell 1.8 km away582 m~3 hSave it · 16Too windy for the topsMiddle Fell at 582m (1,909ft) is a small, craggy summit above Wasdale overlooking Wastwater, its top giving fine views of the lake and the Wastwater Screes.
- Whin Rigg (Wasdale) 2.4 km away537 m~4 hSave it · 24Summit likely clagged inWhin Rigg at 535m (1,755ft) is the southern end of the Wastwater Screes ridge, its summit giving outstanding views of Wastwater and south to the Cumbrian coast.
- Buckbarrow 2.6 km away423 m~2 hSave it · 19Summit likely clagged inBuckbarrow at 423m (1,388ft) is a craggy little summit above Wastwater, its western crags giving a dramatic profile from the road below and excellent views of the lake from the summit.
- Boat How 2.8 km away337 mBoat How at 337m (1,106ft) is a small, rocky summit above Eskdale, its craggy top giving views across lower Eskdale and towards the sea.
- Yewbarrow 3 km away629 m~4 hSave it · 20Too windy for the topsYewbarrow at 628m (2,058ft) is a magnificent, narrow ridge above Wasdale Head, its twin rocky summits and dramatic profile making it one of the most distinctive fells in the Western Fells.
- Seatallan 3.4 km away693 m~5 hSave it · 16Too windy for the topsSeatallan at 692m (2,270ft) is an isolated, solitary summit above Wasdale, its rounded bulk quite separate from any other fell group.
- Scafell 4.6 km away964 m~5.5 hSave it · 20Too windy for the topsThough 14m lower than its neighbour, Scafell at 964m (3,163ft) is in many respects the grander fell.
- Red Pike (Wasdale) 4.9 km away826 m~5 hSave it · 20Too windy for the topsRed Pike (Wasdale) at 826m (2,710ft) is the pointed summit above Overbeck and the Wasdale valley, its russet-red scree slopes visible from Wastwater below giving the fell its name.
- Slight Side 4.9 km away762 m~5.5 hSave it · 20Too windy for the topsSlight Side at 762m (2,500ft) forms the south-western shoulder of Scafell, a long, grassy ridge that extends the fell's bulk towards the Eskdale valley.
0 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 12 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Wastwater — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.