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14.88 km · ~933 m ascent · ~4.5–6 h · loop · 2 summits

Home / Routes / Slight Side & Sca Fell

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

Severe steepnessLoop

Slight Side & Sca Fell

14.88 km
Distance
~4.5–6 h
Typical time
~933 m
Ascent
2
Summits
Download GPX →Walked by Lee, July 2026

Key facts

Distance 14.88 km
Ascent ~933 m
Descent ~930 m
Time ~4.5–6 h
Type Loop
The long southern approach to Scafell over Slight Side — two tops, 14.9 km and 933 m, hard for terrain, navigation and exposure and severe for steepness. About 4.5 hours, and the quieter way onto the mountain.
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass. How to use this guide.

Difficulty profile

LengthHard14.88 km — a long day out.
SteepnessSevereSteepest sustained pull about 38% around the 8.6 km mark.
TerrainHardGraded on the ground.
NavigationHardGraded on the ground.
ExposureHardGraded on the ground.

Five independent axes, not one score — all field-checked on the ground here, with nothing left as a desk estimate.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 2 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile, shaded by steepness
Elevation profile Rises from about 69 m to 963 m over 14.9 km, with the summits marked in order. The area beneath is shaded by sustained steepness over a 250 m window, in the same four bands as the route’s steepness rating: Easy under 15%, Moderate 15 to 25%, Hard 25 to 35%, Severe above 35%. 963 m 69 m 0 km 14.9 km 12

1 Slight Side2 Scafell

Easy 67%Moderate 15%Hard 16%Severe 2%

~933 m
Total ascent
963 m
High point
88 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 14.88 km with around 933 m of ascent, taking in 2 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Gates only
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Tough descent
  • Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A long, steep ~38% drop around the 8.4 km mark — hard on the knees.

On the line: 8 gates

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-25. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
1Slight Side4.8 km654 m2:03–2:44
2Scafell6.5 km875 m2:45–3:40
Finish14.9 km933 m4:32–6:02

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary. These use Naismith’s textbook constants (5 km/h, 600 m of ascent an hour). Measured against a pace fitted to 41 recorded Lakeland walks they run about 8% slow, and we have left them that way deliberately: a slow estimate strands nobody.

The walk, stage by stage

  1. 1

    Start → Slight Side (4.8 km, 654 m)

    Climb of about 654 m over 4.8 km (around 14% average).

    Starting from the remote Eskdale valley (typically the Brotherilkeld or Wha House parking areas), this route begins with a long, steady ascent out of the valley floor. The path climbs through the fern-choked intake walls before breaking out onto the sprawling, open moorland of the lower southern fells. The terrain here is a mix of tussocky grass and notorious bogs. As you gain elevation, the grassy slopes give way to a rugged, shattered spine of rock, culminating in the steep, boulder-strewn scramble to the prominent, spikey summit of Slight Side

    Waypoints

    Brotherilkeld / Wha House (approx. 70m): The valley-bottom starting area in upper Eskdale. Taw House / Intake Walls: The boundary between the valley farmland and the open, wild fell. Quagrigg Moss: The expansive, boggy plateau on the lower approach. Slight Side Summit (762m): A sharply defined, rocky pinnacle requiring a brief, hands-on scramble to reach the top

    Decision point

    The Ridge Spine: Once you clear the bogs, the rocky crest leading up to Slight Side becomes highly distinct. Aim directly for the rocky prominence on the skyline. Valley Handrail: The immense, flat trench of the River Esk remains far below you to your right (east), keeping you oriented as you climb north

    Easy to get wrong

    The Eskdale Bogs: The lower moorland sections (especially around Quagrigg Moss) are relentlessly wet. After heavy rain, this section is a sluggish, energy-sapping slog through deep peat and standing water. Summer Bracken: The lower slopes are infested with dense bracken from June to September, completely obscuring the path in places and hiding deep mud and ankle-rolling rocks. Boulder Scramble: The final 100 meters to the summit of Slight Side is a chaotic jumble of boulders that can be incredibly slick in wet weather

    If you need to get off

    Before hitting the rocky summit of Slight Side, simply turn 180 degrees and follow the grassy slopes back down to the intake walls and the Eskdale road

  2. 2

    Slight Side → Scafell (1.7 km, 222 m)

    Climb of about 222 m over 1.7 km (around 13% average).

    This is a spectacular, high-mountain traverse across a lunar landscape. From Slight Side, the route dips gently into a shallow, rocky depression before beginning the sustained climb up the southern shoulder of Scafell. The terrain here is almost entirely shattered rock, scree, and boulders. There is no grassy respite. The route threads its way upward, finally emerging onto the vast, stony plateau of England’s second-highest peak

    Waypoints

    The Depression: The minor saddle connecting Slight Side to the main Scafell massif. Scafell Summit (964m): A sprawling, boulder-strewn plateau marked by a large stone cross-shelter and a trig pillar sitting near the edge of terrifying drops

    Decision point

    Cairns: A sporadic line of cairns marks the safest route through the boulder field, but they can easily be lost in the mist. Compass Bearings: If the clag is down, you must walk on a strict northerly bearing from Slight Side to hit the summit shelter safely

    Easy to get wrong

    Ankle-Breaking Terrain: The entire 1.7km stretch is a boulder hop. It demands constant concentration and is brutal on the joints. Clag Navigation: The Scafell plateau is massive, featureless, and lethal in low visibility. The northern and eastern edges are bordered by Scafell Crag—sheer, fatal drops that plunge hundreds of feet. Exposure: At over 900 meters, this exposed plateau takes the full, uninterrupted force of any weather fronts blowing in off the Irish Sea

    If you need to get off

    Trap Warning: Do NOT attempt to bail north or east from the Scafell plateau. The eastern edge drops vertically into Deep Gill, and the northern edge terminates at Broad Stand—a notorious accident blackspot that requires rock climbing gear to descend. Safe Route: If the weather turns violently, retrace your steps south back to Slight Side to use the Eskdale descent

  3. Scafell → Finish (8.4 km, 57 m)

    About 8.4 km with 57 m of ascent.

    To complete this epic circuit back to Eskdale, the route avoids the deadly Broad Stand by utilizing the Foxes Tarn descent. From the summit, you must navigate carefully south-east to find the top of the Foxes Tarn gully. The descent is a steep, wet scramble down a broken rock chute. Passing the tiny puddle of Foxes Tarn, the path drops aggressively down a scree slope beside Cam Spout waterfall, depositing you onto the Great Moss. The remainder of the hike is a massive, undulating 5-kilometre walk-out along the River Esk, threading through the remote Upper Eskdale valley to return to Brotherilkeld

    Waypoints

    Foxes Tarn Gully: The steep, wet, rocky chute providing the only non-climbing descent off the eastern side of Scafell. Foxes Tarn (680m): One of the smallest and highest tarns in the Lake District, often little more than a muddy puddle. Cam Spout: A dramatic waterfall marking the end of the steep descent. Great Moss: A vast, flat, and famously boggy basin at the head of the River Esk. Lingcove Bridge: An iconic packhorse bridge marking the return to established farm tracks. Brotherilkeld: The finish point

    Decision point

    The River Esk: Once you reach Cam Spout and the Great Moss, the River Esk becomes your infallible handrail for the rest of the day. Keep the river on your left, follow it south-west down the valley, and it will eventually lead you directly back to the road at Brotherilkeld

    Easy to get wrong

    Foxes Tarn Gully: This is a notorious bottleneck. It is steep, requires using your hands, and is almost always running with water. It is treacherous when icy and highly slick when wet. The Great Moss: True to its name, this is a colossal bog. Finding a dry path across it is impossible; expect your boots to be submerged. Endurance: 8.4 km of descent and valley walking on tired legs is a massive undertaking. The path alongside the River Esk is incredibly rocky and uneven, making it a grueling end to a big day

    If you need to get off

    Once you commit to the descent down the Foxes Tarn gully, you are locked into the Upper Eskdale exit. This is a highly remote valley with no phone signal and no quick way out. Pace yourself, stick to the river, and do not attempt to climb the valley walls (Hard Knott or the Scafell massif) once you are on the valley floor

Summits bagged (2)

  1. 1Slight Side762 mSouthern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge
  2. 2Scafell964 mSouthern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall, HuMP

In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.

Getting there & parking

Wha House, Eskdale (NT, free) — 0.0 km from the start (straight line)
Upper Eskdale - Slight Side, Harter Fell and the Scafell approaches.
Directions Something changed here?
Goat Crag, south-east (layby) — 0.8 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Green Crag, Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Hard Knott — the 'Alternative Hardknott Round (Green Crag, Harter Fell & Hard Knott)' route starts 204 m away. Free (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Goat Crag (layby) — 1.0 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Green Crag, Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Hard Knott — the 'Alternative Hardknott Round (Green Crag, Harter Fell & Hard Knott)' route starts 25 m away. Free (OSM-tagged). Grass surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Roadside parking for Horsehow Crags south (free) — 1.3 km from the start (straight line)
Approx 8 spaces. 1.1 km from Horsehow Crags. Added from the 5 Aug 2026 OSM candidate review.
Directions Something changed here?
Horsehow Crags (layby) — 1.8 km from the start (straight line)
Nearest fells: Horsehow Crags (0.8 km), Border End (1.2 km), Demming Crag (1.2 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Every option near this start, on the parking map →

💧 No mapped drinking water or shelter on this route — that doesn’t mean there is none, and never drink untreated from a beck. (Facilities data © OpenStreetMap contributors.)

Buses

The nearest bus stop we hold is the 516 at Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (at), 12.0 km of walking from this start — not realistically reachable without a car.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

When the sun reaches the tops

Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later. The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.

  • Slight Side — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in midsummer — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise.
  • Scafell — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.

Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.

Safety & conditions

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Short version: turn back at about 4.8 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.

Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

Places to stay near this start

We have not verified an independent place near this start — these are the chains and charities that serve it.

YHA Eskdale hostel

about 0.5 km from the start, in a straight line

Ranked first despite not being the nearest, and despite failing the independence test, because it is the only property in the whole 4.83 km radius whose page answers the questions a family driving to the Slight Side start actually has: a cot, a highchair, an outdoor play area, a shared drying room, free parking, breakfast from 07:30 with under-10s at £1, and a bar and restaurant on site in a valley with no shop. Two facts on that page are decisive and easy to miss: reception opens only 07:30-10:00 and 17:00-22:00 with check-in 'From 17:00 - 22:00', so a family arriving mid-afternoon will find nobody there; and the facilities list states 'No mobile coverage', so they will not be able to ring ahead from the car park either.

Worth knowing: “Pets - including dogs - are not permitted in our hostels when staying in a dorm or a private room. … Dogs can stay in our Landpods. There is a £10 charge per dog per night for our Landpod accommodation which is payable upon arrival. … When staying as part of a Camping & Cabins booking, dogs are permitted in the public areas within the hostel (except in kitchens). … Hire YHA Eskdale and bring up to four dogs! Add a dog to your booking at the checkout and bring your four-legged friend along with you. Dogs are not permitted in the bedrooms, on the furniture or in the kitchen, and must be kept on a lead in the grounds. … Highly trained assistance dogs are welcome at any YHA site free of charge.”

The hostel runs on its own renewable generation - biomass and solar - and its grounds hold a mapped nature trail, a wildlife pond and a replica Celtic roundhouse in 15 acres of private woodland.

  • Drying room “Restaurant Self-catering kitchen Shared drying room Shared lounge Sole use available Unlimited breakfast Water refill station WiFi”
  • Family rooms “What our private rooms offer Bed linen Central heating Cot available Heating Hot water Lock on doors Smoke alarm”
  • Evening meal “Hostel facilities Classroom(s) Contactless payments Cycle store Dining room Evening meals Extra-large garden/grounds Free parking on premises … Our snack menu is also available from 18:00 - 20:00. … Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.”
  • Packed lunch “Group catering With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA Eskdale (see sample menu ).”
  • Parking “Free parking on premises Games Garden/grounds Group meals Highchair Licensed bar Minibus parking on premises Mountain view No mobile coverage”
  • Children “Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over to stay at YHA. … Bookings are not available for groups of more than 15 guests under 18, unless accompanied by an adult aged 21 or over. … Under 12s are not permitted in dorm rooms. … Children under 3 can stay with us for free.”

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap.

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Dog-friendly walks