Walks from Wasdale
The walks you can reach from Wasdale — 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 Wasdale guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
1 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 11 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.
Walking routes near Wasdale
- Scafell Pike from Wasdale, by Lingmell Col 0 km away8 km~915 m~3.1 hHard🏞️ EasyThe 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’.
- Great Gable & Kirk Fell 0 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.
- Extended Mosedale Horseshoe 1.1 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.
- Very Long Day Out 1.5 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.
- Wastwater Shore (the Screes view) 1.6 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.
- Middle Fell, Haycock Seatallan and Buckbarrow 4.3 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.
Fells within about 5 km
- Yewbarrow 1.4 km away629 m~4 hDecent · 57Dry, firm underfootYewbarrow 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.
- Scafell 2.6 km away964 m~5.5 hMarginal · 39Summit likely clagged inThough 14m lower than its neighbour, Scafell at 964m (3,163ft) is in many respects the grander fell.
- Lingmell 2.7 km away807 m~4.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inLingmell at 807m (2,648ft) stands sentinel above Wasdale Head, a broad grassy dome that Wainwright described as providing one of the finest close-up views of Scafell Pike — the great crags of Pikes Crag and the Corridor Route are seen to dramatic effect from its summit.
- Illgill Head 2.9 km away609 m~4 hMarginal · 53DryIllgill 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 3.2 km away582 m~3 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inMiddle 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.
- Kirk Fell 3.3 km away802 m~5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inKirk Fell at 802m (2,631ft) is the often overlooked giant between Great Gable and Pillar, its steep, grassy northern face rising directly from Black Sail Pass in a great dome.
- Scafell Pike 3.3 km away978 m~5.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 39Summit likely clagged inEngland's highest mountain, Scafell Pike stands at 978m (3,209ft) and is the supreme objective for every Lakeland walker.
- Red Pike (Wasdale) 3.6 km away826 m~5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inRed 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 3.6 km away762 m~5.5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSlight 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.
- Great Gable 4 km away899 m~5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGreat Gable at 899m (2,949ft) is perhaps the most beloved mountain in Lakeland — its profile appears on the badge of the Lake District National Park, and its summit is the site of an annual Remembrance Sunday service by the Fell and Rock Climbing Club.
- Boat How 4.1 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.
- Seatallan 4.4 km away693 m~5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSeatallan at 692m (2,270ft) is an isolated, solitary summit above Wasdale, its rounded bulk quite separate from any other fell group.
- Great End 4.5 km away910 m~5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGreat End at 910m (2,985ft) is the northern fortress of the Scafell massif, its great crags plunging dramatically into upper Borrowdale and forming one of the most imposing cliff faces in Lakeland.
- Green Gable 4.5 km away800 m~4.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGreen Gable at 801m (2,628ft) is the satellite summit of Great Gable to the north, connected by the dramatic Windy Gap.
- Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) 4.6 km away841 m~6 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inScoat Fell at 841m (2,759ft) is the broad, high ridge connecting Pillar to Red Pike (Wasdale) and Haycock, a summit of wide views but modest individual character.
- Pillar 4.8 km away892 m~5.5 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inPillar at 892m (2,927ft) is one of the great mountains of Lakeland, its tremendous eastern face — dominated by the famous Pillar Rock — home to some of the longest rock climbs in England.
- Buckbarrow 4.9 km away423 m~2 hMarginal · 40Summit 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.
- Steeple 4.9 km away819 m~6 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSteeple at 819m (2,687ft) is a pointed, dramatic summit on the ridge between Scoat Fell and Red Pike (Wasdale), its crags dropping steeply into Mirk Cove above Ennerdale.
- Haycock 5 km away797 m~6 hMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHaycock at 797m (2,615ft) is the westernmost of the high Pillar ridge summits, an isolated fell above the remote Ennerdale forest with distinctive views west to the sea and the Cumbrian coast.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Wasdale — ‘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.