Ullscarf Hiking Guide & Routes

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723 mWainwright — Central Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+9 bonus Birketts within 3 km

📖 Key Information

Ullscarf at 726m (2,382ft) is the quietest and most remote of the Central Fells, a broad, heathery plateau above the headwaters of Wyth Burn that Wainwright described as giving an unfrequented and peaceful summit with outstanding views in all directions. Its isolated position between Thirlmere, Borrowdale and Langdale means it sees relatively few visitors despite its height. The views north to Skiddaw and east to the Helvellyn range are particularly fine. Approached most naturally from Thirlmere or from the Greenup Edge path from Borrowdale — a good choice for those seeking solitude on the Central Fells.

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

🎯 Bonus Birketts 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.

0.8 km NNWColdbarrow Fell - High Saddle675 m · Central

1.2 km NNWLow Saddle656 m · Central

1.2 km NNEStanding Crag611 m · Central

1.3 km SWLining Crag542 m · Central

2.1 km EWythburn Fell508 m · Central

2.2 km NNEBell Crags (Long Moss) (Blea Tarn Fell)559 m · Central

2.3 km SSWLow White Stones731 m · Central

2.7 km NWatendlath Fell (Long Moss)515 m · Central

2.8 km NNEBrown Rigg462 m · Central

⚠️ Hazard & Incident Information

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🦶 My hikes over Ullscarf (Strava)

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🅿️ Potential parking

Steel End, Thirlmere (paid) — 2.9 km from summit (straight line)

South end of Thirlmere for the Wythburn valley and Armboth fells.

Directions ↗

Stonethwaite (roadside, limited) — 3.3 km from summit (straight line)

Small roadside area near the hamlet — Eagle Crag, Sergeant's Crag, Langstrath approaches.

Directions ↗

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

🚌 Buses from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 555

Kendal – Staveley – Windermere – Ambleside – Rydal – Grasmere – Thirlmere (Wythburn & Swirls) – Keswick

Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside

Year-round, roughly hourly. The backbone bus of the A591 — ideal for Helvellyn (Wythburn/Swirls), Fairfield, the Central fells and anything around Grasmere/Rydal. From Penrith, take the X4/X5 to Keswick and change.

Stagecoach 78 “Borrowdale Rambler”

Keswick – Lodore – Grange – Rosthwaite – Seatoller

Catch it from: Keswick (connect via 555 or X4/X5)

Year-round, frequent in season. Serves all the Borrowdale starts — Glaramara, the Scafells and Great Gable via Seathwaite (alight Seatoller, 20 min walk up the lane).

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

🌦️ 7-day summit forecast

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⛰️ Ullscarf