I’ve made no secret of the fact that the Lake District is one of my favorite places in the whole country. A lot of people don’t think about mountains when they think of England. They think of rolling green fields, small rural villages, and London. But the Lake District (or just the Lakes) has to be one of the most spectacular destinations in England. On a spontaneous weekend trip in May, I set off to hike up Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England!

At 978 meters, Scafell Pike just narrowly edges ahead of Sca Fell (964 meters) in height. Located in Wasdale in the Lakes, Scafell Pike is one of the main Three Peaks in Britain. The highest peak in Wales is Snowdon (1085 meters), and the highest mountain in Scotland is Ben Nevis (1345 meters). Doing all three of the Three Peaks in a day is a really common charity event (I don’t know why!!!), and Scafell Pike was the first of the Three Peaks that I climbed!

There are a lot of different routes up to Scafell Pike. But the main one (and the one I took) starts from the Wasdale Head Car Park. The views driving along Wastwater to the parking lot are absolutely incredible!

Scafell Pike is a legitimate mountain and a tough hike. People have died doing it, and it shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. In nice weather you can generally just follow the crowds on the path up, but I do recommend bringing an OS map (as I do on all hikes). Bring proper gear, including sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jacket and pants, plenty of layers, a hat and gloves, lots of water, snacks, and everything you would normally take with you on a serious walk.

The weather can change rapidly in the Lake District, and even faster when you’re high up on a mountain. Due to how rocky parts of it can be, I wouldn’t attempt this in winter (in snow) myself—you would need proper winter gear, most likely including crampons. Be especially careful on the hike if there’s low visibility.

I was incredibly lucky and had the most beautiful, sunny, and warm weather on my hike up Scafell Pike. The views were phenomenal—sometimes, there are no views at all! I had a fantastic walk and it was well worth it.

The main path is easy to follow, and if you’re hiking on a nice day, you’ll probably just follow the other people up. From the parking lot, it goes through a bit of woods, before opening out. The path follows a stream uphill for quite a ways.

You’ll eventually cross the stream at a fairly easy crossing point. But in bad weather, be especially careful crossing here!

The higher you climb, the more amazing the views are down below. Wastwater in particular looks simply amazing.

There’s another shorter but steeper path that you can take to go up to the summit. I really recommend following the main path if it’s a nice day, as the views of the mountains and valley ahead are well worth it.

The weather gods blessed me, and I was so grateful for that! Not everyone who climbs Scafell Pike gets these views. Some of the best views are just a few hundred meters from the summit, when you reach a crest and can look out over the valley and mountains.

Once you start the really rocky path after this point, you’ll know you’re close. It can feel like a bit of a scramble at times, and make sure to watch your footing.

If you get great weather and visibility like I did, you’ll be rewarded at the top of Scafell Pike with some pretty stunning views! If you hike up and don’t have great visibility…well, at least you made it! There is a small World War I memorial at the top (the highest war memorial in England!), but no other real structures or shelters.

I chose to head back down the same way I came up. It took a bit longer than I expected, mainly because some of the rocky bits are so steep and were a bit hard on my knees.

All in all, I did the entire walk in roughly 5 ½ hours, including about 20-30 minutes at the summit. Parking at the National Trust Wasdale Head parking lot was £5, but if you’re a National Trust member, I think it’s free. The lot does fill up fast though, so try to get there earlier in the morning. They do have toilets (porta-potties) on site.

Scafell Pike is a fantastic walk, especially in good weather! I loved doing this hike, and it was one of the major highlights of this trip to the Lake District.

Have you ever been up Scafell Pike? What was your experience like?

Check out my other posts on the Lake District!

30 Incredible Places to Visit in the Lake District

Hiking The Old Man Of Coniston In The Lake District

Hiking Up Helvellyn In The Lake District

The Lake District: Keswick And Beyond

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To England’s Lake District

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