Stage 1: Seatoller to Styhead

You can walk straight up the road from Seatoller, but it is much nicer to take the footpath that starts off up the drive to Thorneythwaite Farm, a few hundred meters downstream from Seatoller car park. The footpath heads along the valley to Seathwaite, where you turn right briefly before heading left past a campsite and across the stream. At this point, take the path that follows the stream upstream: it soon diverges and carries you gently up the hill to your right. As the path bends round, after a little under 1 km, you go through a gate. From here, the path involves a little bit of scrambling alongside the beautiful Taylorgill Force waterfall. Continue up the valley after the force until you reach Styhead Tarn.

Stage 2: Styhead Tarn to Great End

The grassy verges of Styhead Tarn make for an excellent wild camping spot, or a perfect picnic spot, should you be at that stage of your day. South of the Tarn is Great End, which we will now go straight up (there isn’t much of a path but the route is easily findable). Head along the public bridleway along the northern flank of Great End for a few hundred meters, before turning left off the path to get up onto the ridge. Keep to the ridge as the far (west) side gets very craggy. At this point, route-finding ability is important as you make your way up the nose to the summit, avoiding the craggiest parts (and keeping to the right of the worst craggy sections near the summit). The GPX file at this point is only representative, don’t necessarily follow it.

Stage 3: Great End to Scafell Pike

The section from Great End to Scafell Pike is one of the highest walks in England, and really feels it (especially in bad weather). In the summer you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding fells as you make your way south-westwards towards Broad Crag, guided over the boulders by regular cairns. Once at Broad Crag, the path dips steeply before climbing sharply up to the summit of Scafell Pike. At this point, you’ll. dry much be following the crowds.

Stage 4: Home on the Corridor Route

Once you’ve summit end the Pike and enjoyed the views, you have a decision: Lord’s Rake and Sca Fell or home for tea. A description of the Lord’s Rake extension is coming soon. If you choose to head home for tea, leave the summit to the north-west, past Dropping Crag. The path crosses two small streams in quick succession and begins to level out along the Corridor Route. The Route itself is well-trodden and easy to follow, with excellent views to the north and west, up to Great Gable and Ennerdale. It swiftly takes you back to Styhead, from where the return to the cars is the same as before. For some variety, you can cross the footbridge below Styhead Turn and instead take the path on the right of Styhead Gill, which leads down into the valley by a slightly different route. Descending the Taylor Gill Force scramble can be unpleasant so this option, which skips that, is appealing.