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964 m · Wainwright — Southern Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Scafell, a Lake District fell
Wainwright — Southern FellsAlso a Birkett

Scafell

Though 14m lower than its neighbour, Scafell at 964m (3,163ft) is in many respects the grander fell.

964 m
Height
~5.5–7 h
Typical time
+10
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

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964 mWainwright — Southern Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+10 bonus Birketts within 3 km Care needed in cloud

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Modelled guidance for the 964 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 12° to 11°C, gusts to 39 mph, 11.9 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
12° / 11°
💨 39 mph
🌧 11.9 mm (99%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
12° / 9°
💨 33 mph
🌧 11.9 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌧️
10° / 4°
💨 29 mph
🌧 2.9 mm (87%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
12° / 0°
💨 23 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (86%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
12° / 2°
💨 15 mph
🌧 4.5 mm (82%)
Sun 2 Aug
☁️
13° / 4°
💨 19 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (35%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
13° / 4°
💨 16 mph
🌧 0.2 mm (23%)

Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 964 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

About the walk

Key information

Scafell

Scafell, a Lake District fell
© Lee McCoy

Though 14m lower than its neighbour, Scafell at 964m (3,163ft) is in many respects the grander fell. Wainwright considered it finer than Scafell Pike in character and position — the tremendous crags of Scafell Crag dropping away to the east are among the most spectacular in England, home to some of the country's hardest rock climbs. For walkers, the ascent via Lord's Rake from Wasdale is a classic scramble, and the summit views across Mickledore to Scafell Pike and down into the wild upper Eskdale are magnificent. A serious, committed fell that rewards those who approach it with care.

Routes up Scafell

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Slight Side & Sca Fell
14.9 km · ~4.5 hr
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Southern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
HuMP
964 m
Height
3,163 ft
In feet
NY 2068 0648
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.

Nearest parking: Wasdale Head (NT car park), about 2.4 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Scafell (within 3 km)

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

1.5 km ENEPen762 m · Southern
1.6 km NEBroad Crag935 m · Southern
1.9 km ENEIll Crag931 m · Southern
2.2 km SSEHigh Scarth487 m · Southern
2.4 km ESEHigh Gait Crags572 m · Southern
2.5 km SEScar Lathing439 m · Southern
2.7 km SSWGreat How - Eskdale Fell522 m · Western
2.9 km EPike de Bield810 m · Southern
2.9 km SEThrostlehow Crag404 m · Southern
3.0 km SSESilverybield Crag395 m · Southern

Routes over Scafell

Slight Side & Sca FellLive
14.88 km · ~933 m ascent · loop · ~4.5–6 h
Summits: Slight SideScafell

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

The View from Scafell

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys
Computed 360-degree skyline from Scafell36 labelled tops shown (28 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWHelvellyn · 16 kmSkiddaw · 23 kmPillar · 7 kmFairfield · 16 kmBlencathra · 24 kmDollywaggon Pike · 15 kmGreat Dodd · 20 kmGrasmoor · 14 kmCrag Hill · 14 kmHigh Street · 24 kmIll Bell · 23 kmClough Head · 20 kmLonscale Fell · 22 kmScafell Pike · 1 kmGreat Gable · 4 kmCrinkle Crags · 4 kmScoat Fell · 7 kmBlack Crag · 7 kmShelter Crags · 4 kmHigh Stile · 9 kmSwirl How · 9 kmThe Old Man of Coniston · 11 kmHaycock · 8 kmStonesty Pike · 5 kmSlight Side · 2 kmHigh Crag · 8 kmBuck Pike · 11 kmLittle Stand · 5 kmSeatallan · 7 kmScar Crags · 14 kmWhite Maiden · 12 kmIllgill Head · 4 kmBlack Combe · 22 kmMiddle Fell · 6 kmSwinklebank Crag · 29 kmLank Rigg · 13 kmNethermost Pike · 16 kmSkiddaw Lesser Man · 22 kmHart Crag · 17 kmRed Screes · 19 kmUllock Pike · 23 kmBowfell · 4 kmCrinkle Crags South Top · 5 kmCrinkle Crags · 4 kmKirk Fell · 4 kmGrisedale Pike · 16 kmKirk Fell East Top · 4 kmGavel Pike · 18 kmGreat How · 9 kmGrey Friar · 8 kmCaw Fell · 9 kmLittle Carrs · 8 kmMungrisdale Common · 25 kmWalna Scar · 11 kmYewbarrow North Top · 4 kmHigh Seat · 14 kmWhite Pike · 12 kmThe Calf · 47 km · clear daysBurn Moor · 15 kmWhin Rigg · 6 kmWild Boar Fell · 56 km · clear daysGreen Crag · 8 kmWoodend Height · 12 kmHesk Fell · 12 kmPikes · 12 kmBinsey · 29 kmBirker Fell · 9 kmWhite Pike · 12 kmGlade How · 7 kmHorsehow Crags · 6 kmGreat Worm Crag · 10 kmFox Haw · 13 kmStickle Pike · 14 kmDent · 18 kmBoat How · 4 kmGreat Bank · 8 kmPonsonby Fell · 12 kmWater Crag · 10 kmCold Fell · 15 kmMuncaster Fell · 12 kmSnowdon · 163 km · a handful of days a yearSlieve Donard · 178 km · a handful of days a yearMerrick · 111 km · a rare clear dayAran Fawddwy · 187 km · a handful of days a yearBroad Law · 117 km · a rare clear daySnaefell · 83 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Carsphairn · 110 km · a rare clear dayThe Cheviot · 134 km · a handful of days a yearWindlestraw Law · 138 km · a handful of days a yearTinto · 130 km · a handful of days a yearSlieve Croob · 179 km · a handful of days a yearYr Eifl · 182 km · a handful of days a yearPendle Hill · 88 km · a rare clear dayMoel y Gamelin · 160 km · a handful of days a yearDivis · 182 km · a handful of days a yearCairn Table · 127 km · a handful of days a yearBeneraird · 129 km · a handful of days a yearPen-y-ghent · 71 km · a rare clear dayGreat Whernside · 86 km · a rare clear dayAgnew's Hill · 180 km · a handful of days a yearHail Storm Hill · 107 km · a rare clear dayBogrie Hill · 90 km · a rare clear dayWinter Hill · 102 km · a rare clear dayPeel Fell · 102 km · a rare clear dayRogan's Seat · 71 km · a rare clear dayGreatmoor Hill · 98 km · a rare clear dayBillinge Hill · 110 km · a rare clear dayMull Hill · 109 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Scafell, by direction
  • North: Crag Hill (14 km), Grasmoor (14 km), Hopegill Head (16 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (22 km), Jenkin Hill (22 km), Skiddaw Little Man (22 km), Carl Side (22 km), Long Side (22 km), Skiddaw South Top (23 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (23 km), Skiddaw (23 km)
  • North-east: High Crag (15 km), Dollywaggon Pike (15 km), Nethermost Pike (16 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (16 km), Helvellyn (16 km), St Sunday Crag (18 km), Great Dodd (20 km), Clough Head (20 km), Knowe Crags (23 km), Gategill Fell Top (24 km), Blencathra (24 km), Doddick Fell (24 km)
  • East: Fairfield (16 km), Cofa Pike (16 km), Hart Crag (17 km), Dove Crag (17 km), Red Screes (19 km), Stony Cove Pike (21 km), Thornthwaite Crag (23 km), Froswick (23 km), Ill Bell (23 km), High Street (24 km), Mardale Ill Bell (24 km), Rampsgill Head (24 km), Kidsty Pike (25 km), High Raise (25 km), Harter Fell (25 km), Kentmere Pike (26 km)
  • North-west: Pillar (7 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Snowdon (163 km, Wales), Slieve Donard (178 km, Ireland), Carnedd Llewelyn (151 km, Wales), Merrick (111 km, Scotland), Aran Fawddwy (187 km, Wales), Broad Law (117 km, Scotland), Snaefell (83 km, Isle of Man), Moel Siabod (160 km, Wales).

Computed from terrain in perfect clarity, not photographed · distances are straight-line.

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

What you can see from Scafell

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
104Wainwrights in view+13 marginal
163 kmFurthest sightlineSnowdon (Yr Wyddfa) · possible under favourable refraction
2Sea in viewIrish Sea, Morecambe Bay

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Far horizons
  • Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) WalesSSW · 163 km clear
  • Carnedd Llewelyn WalesSSW · 148 km clear
  • Merrick ScotlandNW · 112 km clear
  • Snaefell Isle of ManWSW · 83 km clear
  • Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesESE · 63 km clear
  • Criffel ScotlandNNW · 62 km clear
  • Whernside Yorkshire DalesESE · 58 km clear
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesENE · 57 km clear
  • Cross Fell North PenninesENE · 55 km clear
  • Irish Sea open waterWSW · 39 km in view
  • Morecambe Bay bay/estuarySSE · 34 km in view
All 104 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Scafell Pike, Slight Side, Esk Pike, Bowfell, Great Gable, Yewbarrow, Illgill Head, Kirk Fell, Green Gable, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Hard Knott, Base Brown, Middle Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Whin Rigg (Wasdale), Pillar, Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell), Harter Fell (Eskdale), Seatallan, Buckbarrow, Thunacar Knott, Haycock, Fleetwith Pike, Pavey Ark, High Raise (High White Stones), High Crag (Buttermere), Grey Friar, Green Crag, Sergeant Man, Great Carrs, Caw Fell, Swirl How, Dale Head, High Stile, Wetherlam, Red Pike (Buttermere), High Spy, Brim Fell, Dow Crag, Robinson, Castle Crag, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Grange Fell (Brund Fell), Maiden Moor, Whiteless Pike, Lank Rigg, Wandope, Sail, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), High Seat, Loughrigg Fell, Grasmoor, Scar Crags, Stone Arthur, Causey Pike, Seat Sandal, Heron Pike (Rydal), Bleaberry Fell, Dollywaggon Pike, Great Rigg, Hopegill Head, Helvellyn, Fairfield, Grisedale Pike, Blake Fell, Walla Crag, Low Pike, Hart Crag, High Pike (Scandale), Dove Crag, St Sunday Crag, Red Screes, Middle Dodd, Great Dodd, Latrigg, Baystones (Wansfell), Lord's Seat, Clough Head, Dodd (Skiddaw), Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor), Skiddaw Little Man, Carl Side, Lonscale Fell, Sour Howes, Long Side, Ullock Pike, Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell, Yoke, Sallows, Skiddaw, The Knott (High Street), Blencathra - Hallsfell Top, Rampsgill Head, Kidsty Pike, High Raise (High Street), Kentmere Pike, Great Calva, Wether Hill, Branstree, Knott, Binsey, High Pike (Caldbeck)

How Scafell’s view compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

Sightlines from a bare-earth terrain model (forests and buildings not included), corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Best parking to hike Scafell

Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).

Wasdale Head (NT car park) — 2.4 km from summit (straight line)
National Trust, pay & display (free for members). The classic base for Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Yewbarrow. Fills very early.
Directions
🍺 Wasdale Head Inn
Overbeck Bridge, Wastwater (NT, free) — 3.9 km from summit (straight line)
Small free NT car park at the foot of Yewbarrow on the lakeshore road.
Directions

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Tip: pan and zoom the interactive map at the top of this page to spot other potential parking near your route.

Buses to Scafell from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

No regular bus serves the start points for this fell — this is one for the car (or a long approach from the nearest served valley). The nearest hubs are Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

Hazard & Incident Information for Scafell

Hazard: Extreme

Despite sitting right next to Scafell Pike, Scafell is a far more serious objective — there is no easy walking link between the two. The notorious Broad Stand has killed many walkers who tried to use it as a shortcut, and the alternative line, Lord's Rake, is loose and stonefall-prone. The great crags of Scafell Crag are climbing terrain.

  • Broad Stand: The rock step linking Mickledore to Scafell looks like an obvious shortcut from Scafell Pike but is a serious, polished rock climb. It has killed numerous unroped walkers — do not attempt it.
  • Lord's Rake and the West Wall Traverse: The walkers' alternative, but steep, loose and prone to stonefall; conditions vary year to year and it has been considered dangerous at times. Treat with respect and avoid in wet or icy conditions.
  • Scafell Crag: One of the great rock-climbing cliffs in England, dropping from near the summit. Keep away from the edges in poor visibility.
Who should attempt this fell: Do not treat Scafell as an easy add-on to Scafell Pike — the direct link (Broad Stand) is a climb, not a scramble. Approach instead via Foxes Tarn or the path from Green How / Wasdale, treat Lord's Rake with care, and turn back rather than improvise a route.

Most common causes: Attempting Broad Stand unroped · Slips and stonefall in Lord's Rake · Navigation errors between the two Scafells

Local Mountain Rescue: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team · Reviewed 13 Jun 2026

Safety: Hazard guidance compiled from published Mountain Rescue reports and well-documented accident history - editorial background, not a live feed of callouts. Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Report incorrect information

Navigating Scafell in cloud

Care needed

A rough, rocky summit ringed by crags, with no single obvious way off in poor visibility. Take care in poor visibility — carry map and compass, and know how to use them.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Scafell compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.

Other fells near Scafell

Maps & guidebooks for Scafell

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