Wasdale Walking Weekend
Saturday 5th May 2012

Scafell Pike & Scafell (Saturday)
A wonderful route climbing the two highest mountains in England. The walk begins at The Wasdale Head Inn at the head of the valley, an area steeped in mountaineering history, the Fell & Rock Climbing Club was formed in the Inn and some of the earliest rock climbs were recorded on some of the huge crags surrounding the head of the valley.

From Wasdale Head we climb by either the Brown Tongue path or the shoulder of Lingmell to the summit of Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England.

From Scafell Pike we descend to Mickledore and then a little way down the Eskdale side of the ridge to pick up the path climbing alongside the waterfalls (and sometimes through the waterfalls when it's been particularly wet!) to Fox's Tarn and then onto the summit of Scafell, the second highest mountain in England, the quieter of the two summits with wonderful views all around.

From Scafell we descend the old path over Green How down to Brackenclose and the Wasdale Valley.

Pillar & The High Level Route (Sunday)
One of the Lake Districts best ridge walks, we begin from The Wasdale Head Inn at the head of the Wasdale Valley climbing to the top of Black Sail Pass, the main pass between Wasdale and Ennerdale.

A short distance along the ridge from Black Sail Pass we will find the start of the High Level Route, one of the best routes in the Lake District. The small path contours around the side of the fell in and out of several combes until it reaches the Robinson Cairn, here we will have our first views of Pillar Rock.

The High level Route continues, climbing up to the left to climb above Pillar Rock where a short scramble will lead to the summit of Pillar.

The views from Pillar are magnificent, be it over Wasdale to the Scafells, down Ennerdale to the Irish Sea or across the Solway coast to Scotland!

From Pillar we will continue on the ridge to the summit of Scoat Fell where a short detour will bring us onto the sharp rocky summit of Steeple a high spire above the Ennerdale Valley.

After returning over Scoat Fell we will then descend along the Red Pike ridge to Stirrup Crag where a short scramble will bring us out onto the summit ridge of Yewbarrow, although the lowest of our summits today the views on a good day over Wastwater from the summit ridge are as good as anything we will see all day!

A short steep descent will bring us down from the end of the Yewbarrow ridge as we descend back to the Wasdale Valley and back to Wasdale Head.

Wasdale Screes (Monday)
From the car park in Mitredale we will follow the track to the north east, following the valley past Low Place and Bakerstead too follow the stream as it emerges from the trees into the narrow valley.

We will continue to climb gently alongside thee stream until the had of the valley is reached, a crag filled amphitheatre and a wonderful secluded place hidden from almost all above.

We will climb out of the amphitheatre to meet a good path above, traversing above Burnmoor Tarn and crossing too a good path climbing the north eastern slopes of Illgill Head. The easy slopes continue to the summit of Illgill Head.

The views from the summit are spectacular, but a short walk to the west of the summit will bring us an even better view, dropping steeply over the screes down to Wastwater.

The ridge continues to the south west, crossing a broad col, as we climb towards the summit of Whin Rigg the views too our right will be pointed out, steep cliffs above Wastwater filled with gullies.

As we descend the ridge to the south west of Whin Rigg we will drop down onto Irton Fell before turning off the ridge into the woods to the south and following the forest path back to Mitredale.

In addition to the above two days walking we will also be climbing Great Gable from Wasdale Head on Friday 31st August 2012, this can also be boooked as an extended 3 day weekend:

Great Gable (Optional extra day, Friday)
From the Wasdale Head Inn we will follow the bridleway to Sty Head Pass, the main pass between Wasdale and Borrowdale where we will climb directly to the summit of Great Gable.

A short detour from the summit will bring us to the Westmorland Cairn, the best viewpoint over the Wasdale Valley and Wastwater with on a good day the Irish Sea and the Isle Of Man beyond, a good place for some sandwiches!

After returning to the summit we will descend North West to Beck Head where we will follow the path climbing over Kirk Fell, taking in both summits before descending south on a good but steep path back to Wasdale Head.

This weekend will be based in the Wasdale Valley, waling each day from the Wasdale Head Inn, there is plenty of accommodation available in the area, including the Wasdale Youth Hostel and several campsites.

Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Equipment Required.