“This is it: the Mecca of all weary pilgrims in Lakeland; the place of many ceremonies and celebrations, of bonfires and birthday parties; the ultimate; the supreme; the one object above all others; the highest ground in England; the top of Scafell Pike”
A Wainwright
The Borrowdale 10 Challenge is a unique challenge created by The Lake District Walker.
The Challenge is designed to put your endurance and mental strength to the test as we climb ten of Borrowdale’s greatest, tallest and most spectacular mountains, including England’s Highest, Scafell Pike.
“glorious views, that to the north being of unsurpassed beauty”
A Wainwright
This challenge would be regarded as being slightly harder than the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, on par with the National 3 Peaks Challenge, but easier than the 24 Peaks Challenge or the Welsh 3000’s. The Borrowdale 10 Challenge is ideal for charity fundraising, team building or as a training challenge before tackling the National 3 Peaks, 24 Peaks Challenge or the Welsh 3000’s.
The challenge starts in the popular location of Seathwaite. The challenge starts with a steep climb up the fellside next to Sourmilk Gill. After warming up on these steep steps we make our way to our first summit, Base Brown.
Now at over 600m we follow the grassy ridge to the south and climb gently to our second summit, Green Gable. After a short descent into Windy Gap we are back on a bouldery ascent. We will pick our way through the boulders and onto the flat, but fine summit of Great Gable. With the first leg of the challenge complete we will take a few minutes to admire the views over Wastwater, and over to the next leg of the walk.
We descend steeply off of the summit of Great Gable to Styhead Pass, where if anyone is finding it hard or has picked up an injury they can easily descend back to the start point. From Styhead Pass we will join the Corridor Route, a path that climbs steadily up the fellside to Lingmell Col. As we reach Lingmell Col we will branch off and summit Lingmell, another amazing viewpoint. We will return back to Lingmell Col and before climbing steeply up to the summit of Scafell Pike, the highest peak of the challenge, and in England. Once again we will take a moment to enjoy the views and admire what we have already achieved.
Now essentially heading back towards the start point we descend off of the summit into Broad Crag Col before again climbing to the boulder strewn summit of Broad Crag. A short walk from this summit will also bag us Ill Crag. From Ill Crag we will descend a short way to Calf Cove before once again climbing gradually up to the summit of Great End. Great End has fantastic views over the Borrowdale Valley, with Derwent Water and Skiddaw in the distance.
Great End marks the end of the second leg of the Challenge and we follow the track down into Esk Hause. This is once again a great opportunity for anyone who is feeling tired or injured to take the easier route back down to Seathwaite. With eight peaks bagged, we have two more remaining.
A short ascent from Esk Hause brings us number nine, which is the Allen Crags. From this summit we will follow the wide grassy ridge to the north, weaving past tarns and rocky outcrops up to our final summit, Glaramara. With all the peaks completed we now have to descend back to Seathwaite to complete the challenge.
Continuing north we will descend down Thorneythwaite Fell to the valley bottom. A gentle walk along a public footpath brings us back to Seathwaite, and completes the Challenge.
This challenge is designed to be strenuous, but it acts as a great training challenge for harder events such as the 24 Peaks Challenge. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your groups suitability to this challenge.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: The Turning Circle, Seathwaite
Postcode: CA12 5XJ
Grid Reference: NY 235 121
Directions
From Keswick: Leave on the Borrowdale Road (from the mini roundabout near the co-op).
Follow this road for approx 8 miles, passing through Rosthwaite until just before reaching the village of Seatoller a narrow lane leads off to the left on the bend, signposted to Seathwaite, camp site and Sty Head. This road can be busy and has passing points (unmarked), blind bends and walkers in the road, also a few sheep for good measure, please drive carefully.
Follow this lane, parking as close to the end near the farm as possible, we will meet at the turning circle before the farm entrance gate.
Bus Services
The nearest bus stop to Seathwaite is Seatoller, around 20 minutes walk away from the meet point
- The 78 bus runs regularly between Keswick and Seatoller
- The 77/77a also runs from Keswick to Seatoller and then on to Buttermere, this however is a seasonal service from Easter to October
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
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