Scafell Pike & Lingmell

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Route: Seathwaite, Stockley Bridge, Grains, Ruddy Gill, Esk Hause, Calf Cove, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Lingmell Col, Lingmell, Corridor Route, Sty Head, Styhead Tarn, Greenhow Knott, Stockley Bridge, Seathwaite

Date: 27/01/2019
From: Seathwaite

Parking: Seathwaite
Start Point: Seathwaite
Region: Southern Fells

Route length: 10.1 miles (26.2 km)
Time taken: 07:30
Average speed: 1.7 mph
Ascent: 1190m
Descent: 1191m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Scafell Pike (978m), Lingmell (807m)

Additional summits: None

Other points of interest: Esk Hause, Corridor Route, Styhead Tarn

It's been slow coming but something resembling winter has finally taken hold of the Lake District. There was an equal element of both good and bad fortune in the lead up to this outing. The bad fortune being two days of warm, wet weather washing most of the snow away. The good fortune was that temperatures and snow fell the night prior to my arrival, almost returning the fells to 'full winter conditions' though avoiding any deep, tiresome drifts. Time to break out the metalwork.

In a bid to find some reliable winter conditions I aimed high - the highest, in fact, you can get in England, Scafell Pike. Aside from the snow, the challenge today would be the strong, northerly winds that were forecast to gust 50-60mph and have a chill around -20C. Wintry indeed. Other than that, it was set to be a decent day with the promise of some sunshine as the day wore on.

To begin, I chose the well-trodden route up Grains Gill; a path I've used several times in descent but never to climb. It's one of the longer routes to Scafell Pike but also one of the shallowest. The wind would also be on my back for most of the climb.

There were a handful of cars scattered around Seathwaite Farm when I arrived. I had expected it to be slightly busier, but I imagine the forecast wind may have deterred some. I was a little bit apprehensive but eager to get out so I kitted up and set off, forgetting how heavy a fully laden winter pack can be.

The view along Grains to the high fells beyond

Seathwaite Fell

Stockley Beck Bridge below Seathwaite Fell

Luckily, the Grains path is an easy climb. The incline is pretty gradual all the way to Stockley Beck Bridge and beyond. It only becomes slightly steeper once Grains Gill becomes Ruddy Gill - incidentally where the snow line was. There was a decent sprinkling with any icy bits being avoidable for now though I took out my axe just in case.

Looking back down Grains to Seathwaite

Allen Crags

Great End at the head of Grains

Looking down Grains Gill

Ruddy Gill and Great End

The path leads to the base of Great End, which looks immense with a coating of snow and ice. A few people were tentatively pocking around at the bottom of one of the gullys, seemingly intent on a quick winter climb. I took a left, climbing to the shelter at Esk Hause for a quick break and the opportunity to switch from a softshell to a hard shell and put my crampons on. It wouldn't be long before I'd be in the firing line of the wind so best be prepared while I was in a sheltered spot.

Ruddy Gill

Glaramara

Great End

Central Gully on Great End

Great Gable and Green Gable

The shelter at Esk Hause

I emerged onto the icy paths above Esk Hause, thankful that I had put my crampons on. While a lot of the ice could probably have been avoided, it was much easier to just plod up the ice, confident that the spikes should stick. Emerging at the top of the ridge thrust me into the arctic wind. I thought better of an ascent of Great End, instead, concentrating on the main task of reaching Scafell Pike.

Climbing into Calf Cove

Crinkle Crags

The view down to Esk Hause from Calf Cove

The strong, gusty wind made progress slow along the ridge, not aided by the tricky conditions underfoot - the jumbled boulders hidden by the thin blanket of snow. I tried my best to keep just below the ridgeline to stay out of the worst of the wind but in some places it was unavoidable. As I approached the col between Broad Crag and Scafell Pike I knew it was in for a tough few minutes.

Ill Crag

Great Gable

Bowfell

Cairns lead the way along the ridge

Scafell Pike

Kirk Fell and Great Gable

Scafell Pike

The wind was blowing strongly through the gap - persistently strong rather than gusting. A chap ahead of me decided better of it as he wasn't wearing any crampons. As blue skies threatened I decided to give it a go. While it was a challenge, the strong wind was actually more manageable as it wasn't gusting. A gusty wind can catch you by surprise and knock you off balance.

Eskdale over Little Narrowcove

Lingmell

Broad Crag

Crinkle Crags

Great Gable

The Great Napes on Great Gable

Eskdale from Scafell Pike

After clambering up the other side I quickly made it to the shelter of the summit platform before climbing into a substantial shelter located a short distance away. I was surprised to find it occupied by a group of guys from Liverpool who, despite the strong wind, had managed to get a rather impressive fire burning. In fact, the wind blowing beneath the wood was turbo-charging the fire and made the need for a down jacket superfluous.

The platform atop Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike's trig pillar

The area below Scafell Pike's summit

I left the guys to it and headlined back to the summit. The wind was blowing strongly as I crossed to the west side of the mountain, heading for the path which climbs from Wasdale Head. I descended the slabs, making my way out of the wind to Lingmell Col. From here, it's a short climb to the summit of Lingmell. With the sun starting to inch lower in the sky, I decided to press on, joining the top of the Corridor route at Lingmell Col.

Lingmell and Great Gable

Great Gable

Broad Crag from the col

Scafell Pike from Lingmell

Scafell. The deep gash is Deep Gill

The summit cairn on Lingmell

Looking to Wastwater and Illgill Head

Scafell Pike and Scafell seen over Lingmell Col

A short distance further is Pier's Gill which cuts an impressive swath across the mountainside. The Corridor Route is a superb way either on or off Scafell Pike. The path cuts across some impressive mountainside which the view over Wasdale to Great Gable is immense. It was lucky that the low sun was now shining across the flanks of Great Gable and the valley below.

Dropping Crag on Scafell Pike

Piers Gill

The Corridor Route across the head of Piers Gill

Wasdale and Great Gable from the Corridor Route

The Corridor Route is a delight at the best of times, let alone with a dusting of snow. It winds down between the rocks and knolls below Broad Crag and Great End to Skew Gill. A short, technically easy scramble is required shortly after Greta Gill but other than this, there are no difficulties.

The Corridor Route stretches ahead

Lingmell

Wasdale Head

The Corridor Route leading to Styhead Tarn

Great Gable

Eventually, rock outweighed snow and ice and I took my crampons off. The light was starting to slowly fade by the time I reached the stretcher box at Sty Head, the sun having disappeared behind the mountains. It wouldn't be long until it set completely. Bearing that in mind, I decided to follow the path on the east side of Sty Head, following the watercourse back to Stockley Beck Bridge.

Spout Head, The Band and Great End

The Sty Head stretcher box

Styhead Tarn

The light was fading fast by the time I reached the bridge but it was still bright enough not to need a headtorch. Now that I was back on the path from Grains it was a simple case of following it back to the farm and the car.

Styhead Tarn

Styhead Gill

Seathwaite from Greenhow Knott

Seathwaite

Grains Gill

It had been a rewarding day on the fells, despite the strong wind (though this is typical for winter) and it was nice to finally break out some of the winter gear. Hopefully, the snow will hang around for some more adventures this winter. We'll wait and see.