After climbing Snowdon last year and feeling liberated, we decided to take on the challenge of climbing Scafell pike.
We drove 5 hours to Windermere where we stopped off for a walk around the lake and dinner at Boardwalk Bar and Grill. I had the steak and it was cooked perfectly! It was a great start to our trip and much needed protein ready for the climb in the morning.
From Windermere we then drove an hour and a half to Wasdale. Because we detoured to Windermere instead of taking the main roads our sat nav took us the back roads which included very steep, very narrow roads, up and over the edge of not just one mountain, but two. It’s a good job we had an automatic 4x4 or this drive would have been incredibly challenging. At one point the car was on such a steep incline we actually couldn’t see over the bonnet. There were some great views but it’s not a route I would choose to drive again! Video here
We checked into our accommodation, Scafell Cottage on Windsor farm, Wasdale. This was one of the most incredible places I have ever stayed. The views over the Lake District were absolutely beautiful. You have to drive up a steep private road to get to the cottage but it’s so worth it for the views when you get there. The big open windows all along the front of the cottage means you get the best views from every part of the cottage. The set up of the cottage was perfect for us. There is a double bed, 2 single beds, a sofa, a tv, a kitchen and dining table all in one big open plan room and then a separate bathroom with toilet sink and shower. The beds were comfortable and it felt very homely. We checked in, got showered and went straight to bed as we had a very early start.
2.30am and our alarms are going off for us to get up and get ready. We got dressed, layered up, checked our bags and then headed to the car at 3am for a 15 minute drive to the Wasdale head national trust car park. It was £9 to park here for the day (the machine only accepts change). We got our back packs on, head torches on (it was pitch black) hiking pole at the ready and then we set off in the fresh morning air to climb!
The mountain incline is steep and rocky with a lot of steps to climb up. I downloaded the AllTrails app which was so easy to follow, with offline maps downloaded, tracking my GPS location and we followed this easily to the top and back. About 1/4 of the way up you come to the Lingmill Gill crossing at brown tongue where you have to cross the river by climbing over boulders (make sure you have waterproof shoes and a hiking pole helps). Once you have crossed the gill you come to a long section of staggered rocks which you have to step up (it’s a good 45 minutes of climbing stairs) which can quickly tire you. We packed energy gels which we took at the start of the climb and then Dextro energy tablets which we were taking every 20 minutes.
When we got to the last hour of the climb we began walking into a cloud. Luckily the wind speed was low and there was no rain so it just felt like walking into mist. You could not see more than a meter in front of you and it was damp and cold, but fine if layered up.
Midway through the cloud we came across our first hiker, a guy who was celebrating his 50th birthday climbing the mountain with his dog. He passed us and continued on and then we met another climber, Joe. He was climbing on his own with his iPhone torch and Google maps and so we got chatting to him and said he could stick with us. It was fun having another person to climb with and chatting made the time pass quicker.
As we started to come out of the cloud if felt like we had climbed to another planet. It was a surreal feeling with loose rocks under your feet meaning the rest of the climb to the top was a scramble. As the top of the mountain had been in the cloud and it was very cold up there the floor became extremely slippery so you had to be very careful where your footing went (we established it was safer walking on the smaller rocks than stepping on the big ones).
When we reached the top we were in awe of the views. We were so lucky to have come out of the cloud and been above the cloud for sunrise because as the sun rose through the clouds and the white clouds glowed orange it was breathtaking and like something I’d never seen before. I just remember saying ‘Wow it looks like the stairway to heaven!’ There was actually only 5 of us at the top for sunrise and so it was so peaceful up there.
It was freezing at the top of the mountain so we only stayed at the top for around 40 minutes to watch the sunrise, with a cup of tea and snacks, before carefully scrambling back down the slippery rocks, back through the cloud and out the other side where we got the beautiful views over the Lake District and Wast Water (the deepest lake in England).
On the climb down, it did get slippery back on the steps, and with my jelly legs not helping me, I did slip over… twice! Luckily my backpack broke most of the fall but I did end up with a bruised bum and leg!
The views were honestly so beautiful and make the hike down so enjoyable and worthwhile (who knew England was such a picturesque place). It definitely helped having comfier hiking boots this time and the climb down was not painful at all compared to snowdon. I chose the Nortiv8 hiking boots from Amazon and I would honestly recommend them to anyone. They are so spongy and comfortable and a bargain at around £45.
2hrs 15 minutes up, 2 hours down, 7.6 miles, 1300 calories burned, 3134 ft elevation and 18400 steps later and we done it! The sense of achievement when you reach the bottom is a feeling like nothing else!
And what better way to reward you’re accomplishment than a nice, well deserved full English breakfast and vanilla latte! We headed to the Sawmill Wasdale and this was one of the best fry ups I’ve had in a long time! The meat quality was top notch and everything tasted so fresh!
We got back to the cottage around 11am and went back to sleep for a few hours because we were knackered! When we woke up our original plan was to head back Wasdale head and go to find a waterfall nearby but we decided we was too tired and just wanted to relax. I looked out the window and decided to just stay on the farm, they had picnic benches to sit in the sun, I had packed some champagne for me and Guinness for lee so we went to sit and admire the view and watch the animals.
We got talking to the owner, David Rivera, and he was so friendly and welcoming. He said I was ok to go through the farm gates and go and meet the horses. His border collie followed me up and came with me through the gates. There was a mare and her foal who came straight up to me and I spent ages stroking and interacting with them. There were also highland cows laying on the grass and sheep with their lambs that I spent a while watching. It was so wholesome and the best afternoon without even having to leave the property and I’m so glad we decided to stay in.
That evening I booked dinner for us at the local pub - The strands inn. I had roast lamb for dinner and Lee had the pie - which we both said were really nice! It was such a friendly pub and we got talking to some locals who recommended a place for us to visit before we went home.
After this we headed back to the cottage. I bypassed the stables on my way back to go and see all of the horses and then went to our room for a well needed nights rest.
The morning came and it was finally time to say goodbye to the farm and begin our journey home. I’d honestly recommend this place to anyone and if you book directly with David you get the best rates (WhatsApp 07738 227097). We went back to The sawmill for breakfast as it was so nice the previous day before embarking on our journey home.
On our way home we had one last pitstop - Stanley Ghyll Force. This was a one hour hike covering 2.1 miles including bridge climbs over the river, climbing up natural steps consisting of rocks and tree branches and then walking onto a metal viewing platform which hangs over the Ghyll at 150m high! It was a good way to burn off another 300 calories and an enjoyable walk.
Once we got back to the car we then continued our long journey home. The Lake District will forever have a place in our hearts after it being the first trip we ever went on together and it was so nice to go back there and I’m sure it will not be the last time!
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