Scafell Pike Guided Walk

Scafell Pike on any day is a treat.  But in perfect summer conditions and blue sky nothing comes close to England’s highest mountain…

Sunday – Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike on any day is a treat.  But in perfect summer conditions and blue sky nothing comes close to England’s highest mountain.  I met Carlos (Brazil), Suzanna (Spain), Katarzyna (Poland) and Andrea (Germany) at Nab Cottage, all in the Lakes, for a bit on English practise.  Looking to let their hair down and get away from the class room they decided to come on an Adventure Peaks guided walk.

I picked them up in the Adventure Peaks bus and we made our way to Borrowdale.  They were blown away by the views of Thirlmere, St Johns in the Vale, Derwent Water and the valley.  We parked up at Seathwaite and were on the trail by 10.30am, hiking along Grains Gill and Ruddy Gill, via Stockley Bridge.  The guys were great and we talked about all manner of world subjects, politics and language on our way up the valley, stopping below Great End for a quick drink and snack.   I talked the guys through the views, over to Great Gable, windy gap, Aaron Slack, Green Gable, Sprinkling tarn and the Northern summits to the Langdale Valley and Rossett Pike.  They loved it and were energized to keep going.

We made quick time in the heat to Esk Hause and marched, quick time, to Broad Crag, hoping over the boulder stones.  From here the guys caught their first glimpse of the famous Scafell Pike summit marker.  Once we had picked our way over the rocky top of Broad Crag we made it down the final dip before the short but steep ascent of the mountain.

Celebrations on the summit, big smiles and gingerbread!  We stopped to take in the view, refuel with food and water and plan our descent.  Carlos was amazed at seeing the ocean!

We began our steady walk back to seathwaite, along the Corridor Route, stopping to take some pictures along the way of the impressive Greta Gill and Skew Gill.  The guys made brilliant time to Styhead tarn and we were back at Stockley Bridge but 4.30pm! An awesome effort and huge smiles!  England’s highest peak – bagged – or what ever that is in Portuguese, German, Spanish or Polish! Happy days.