how to hike Scafell Pike, England's highest peak
Avid hikers eager for a challenging British hike need look no further than Scafell Pike in the Lake District. This guide details one of the U.K.’s most challenging but rewarding trails so that you know exactly what to expect.
Nestled in England’s Lake District is the country’s highest peak, Scafell Pike. Hiking it might seem daunting, but if you read on, you’ll be fully equipped to reach the summit.
As someone who has hit up some of the most beautiful and well-known hiking trails in the world {think the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand}, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been spoiled by mountains. Because of this, it’s been difficult to get into the hiking spirit here in the U.K. — until I hit England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike.
I was guilty of looking right past the beauty in my {temporary} British backyard. My birthday getaway to the Lake District and subsequent hike up Scafell Pike helped me realize that, while it’s not totally comparable, there is hiking to be had here and some gorgeous country to explore! I actually feel pretty bad that I hadn’t made it up farther north {apart from Scotland} sooner.
Hiking Scafell Pike felt really exciting. I usually fully prepare for a hike. For whatever reason, I just packed my gear and showed up willing to let nature “wow” me in whatever way it wanted to. If you’re feeling less loosey-goosey about planning than I was, I’ve created this complete guide to hiking Scafell so that you can hit the trail fully prepped!
getting to scafell pike ↴
To drive to the Lake District from London, it takes roughly 5 hours. We drove from just outside of London and it took us a little over 4 hours, mainly due to our own silliness with the campervan {we tried to take it the “scenic” way up a mountain pass…don’t do this}.
You can also get to the Lake District by bus and train, but, logistically, it’s much easier to rent a car or a campervan. Having your own car or campervan also means you have full freedom to switch up your plans as you like.
Trains stop throughout Lake District National Park, including Kendal, Windermere, and Oxenholme.
You can check bus and train routes here.
While I’m all for the eco benefits of bus and train routes, I will say that, for this trip, we really enjoyed the freedom that came with having our own vehicle. It made it a lot easier for us to hike and explore at our own will.
where to stay ↴
There are so many different accommodation options in the Lake District, as a top tourist area. Local bed and breakfasts, AirBnBs, hotels, and even pods. What we did combined our two needs into one: instead of renting a car and paying for accommodation {which is never cheap in the UK}, we hired a campervan through Quirky Campers. We picked our camper, Emma, up in Kendal and drove the rest of the way from Kendal to our campsite. It wasn’t budget accommodation by any means, but it worked out more affordable and more fun this way!
If you feel like trying your hand at campervan travel, make sure you research where to park up. Laws are different in the UK than other places {like New Zealand, for instance}, and you are going to want to book your campsite as soon as you know your travel dates. Due to COVID travel restrictions and mandates, campsites have lowered their capacity, so spots book up quicker and further in advance. We parked our campervan at Church Stile Farm + Holiday Park, but had first picked to camp at Wasdale Campsite. Wasdale was booked up to capacity, so we booked Church Stile, which ended up being perfect for us. We had electric hook up for the van and space to set up our awning and outdoor table. The shower and toilet facilities were exceptionally clean. COVID protocol meant they were cleaned even more regularly and had a one-way system in and out of the shower building.
hiking scafell pike ↴
There are two main paths for hiking up Scafell Pike. We picked Wasdale Head. This trail is six miles long roundtrip. It’s the easier of the two trails and its trailhead is right by the Lake Head car park.
The car park costs £7 for the day. It has a pay and display machine that takes coins or you can pay by card at the reception. The reception building is behind the toilets to the left. Make sure you bring a face mask or else you won’t be allowed to enter the reception to pay by card…and that puts you in quite a pickle.
From the car park, walk towards the footpath. Continue to walk over the small bridge, then take the path on your left. The path will lead you uphill, over another small bridge, and uphill some more before you get to a river crossing. From there, follow the giant stone path all the way up to the Scafell Pike peak and voila!
If you look online, you’ll get an estimate of 4-6 hours roundtrip for the hike. It took us 4:29 to complete the whole thing, and that included stops for photos, video content, and {a very soggy} lunch at the top. Had the weather been less wet with better visibility, we probably would have descended a lot quicker, but we were being quite careful. I think, if you are in any kind of moderate fitness, there really is no reason for it to take you more than 5 hours {from Wasdale Head}.
I can’t speak to the other trailhead option in terms of difficulty or hike duration, but I have heard it is more challenging overall.
essential packing for scafell ↴
camera
Putting this up top, but it should go without saying that you’ll want to document the scenery. Admittedly, we took few photos near the top, as it was incredibly wet, and we didn’t have our waterproof camera kit with us. I would feel the tinge of regret, but there was also zero visibility up top so I don’t mind so much.
waterproof daypack
This bag is going to protect all of your belongings while you hike, it’s worth investing in one that will stay dry and is comfortable to pack all the way to the summit and back. You’ll also need to make sure your daypack is the right size and fit for you. The longer the hike, the more you’ll need to carry in the pack, so comfort is key.
hiking boots
I know this seems strange coming from the girl who hiked the Inca Trail in Nikes, but it’s important. Scafell Pike wasn’t a terribly challenging hike, but it was really wet, especially near the top. With trainers, I would have been sliding all over the place and the descent would have been slick and scary.
I currently hike in Columbia boots, but I have also trekked in Danner boots, which are both worthy investments.
good socks
You want socks that will let your feet breathe while also keeping them warm and dry. Smartwool socks are my favourite, but I have also hiked in these and these.
activewear or hiking pants
I’m not a gear elitist, but please for the love of God and all that is sacred do not hike in jeans. You’re gonna chaf or be uncomfortable or rip your pants or get them wet and then freeze. Let your body move more freely. I hiked Scafell in my Rohnisch leggings, but I regularly hike in my Lululemon Align leggings. Both hug my bod in the right places and allow for maximum movement.
rain jacket
Protect yourself from getting cold and damp with a quality rain jacket you know will hold up— this is England, afterall. I hike in this North Face coat and swear my clothing underneath never gets damp. I’ve also hiked in Kathmandu gear similar to this.
other bits + pieces
sunglasses
sunblock- reapply this frequently so that you don’t sweat off all your sun protection
wool beanie + a baseball cap
extra socks- there is one water crossing early on and you won’t want wet feet
first-aid kit- this doesn’t have to be fancy! make sure you have some second skin in case of blisters, bandaids, antihistamine, etc. {the basics will do}
final quick tips for scafell hikers ↴
There’s no place to use the toilet on the trail after the car park, so be prepared to empty yourself at the start. Bring hand sanitizer and toilet roll in case you have to go along your hike.
You’ll have intermittent cell phone reception, so don’t depend on being online for navigation or anything else. This is especially important if you have decided to hike up one of the more challenging trail options.
Speaking of trails— follow it! Make sure you bring a good map or download one offline. The weather can change at any moment, so if your visibility goes, you’re going to want a clear way off the mountain.
Check the weather report before you hit the trail, but know that it’s likely to change by the hour.
