Thirty years ago after driving to Wasdale Head I clambered up a hill called Great Gable, it was my first ever mountain. Later it was Yewbarrow then Pillar & Steeple, all done from Wasdale. Eventually I discovered there were other valleys in the Lake District yet Wasdale will always be my favourite.

Recently after walking from Seathwaite, me & my mate Alan were on top of Lingmell before continuing on up to Scafell Pike, Great End & Seathwaite Fell. Lingering on Lingmell we gazed down at Wasdale Head (as you do) reminiscing about the good old days and realising it had been 12 years since we last stood down there.

One of us came up with a route idea for a circular walk from Seathwaite up to Scafell Pike including a pint at the Wasdale Head Inn for posterity. This Sunday the weather was perfect for such a walk so we set off from Hexham parked up near the farm and set off.

Looking back down Grain’s Gill, Skiddaw in the distance

We’d chosen the Grains Gill route from Seathwaite up to Esk Hause to make a proper circular walk. My first time up that one and very impressed with the path & the gradient.

Great & Green Gables from the Sprinkling Tarn to Esk Hause path below Great End

We made good progress and as we gained height and the views opened up we realised this was going to be one of those great hillwalking days. For once the light was clear with distant views, hardly a cloud in sight, no rain, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, no midges…..but tons of people. Well you cant have everything.

Panorama from the col south of Great End looking west over Lingmell, Pillar, Kirk Fell & Gable

From the slopes of Scafell Pike, Lingmell, Pillar, Grasmoor (I think)

Having left the car at 10am we reached the summit nearly 3hrs later after slowing due to the distracting views. I’ve been up there in all sorts of weather so this was a time to linger.

From Scafell Pike summit cairn to Great Gable, Skiddaw, Styhead Tarn, Derwent Water, Keswick, Blencathra, Great End plus many many more

I’ve also been up there twice alone, but unsurprisingly not today. Things were a little chaotic at times but hey at least all these people were outside enjoying the great outdoors. Oddly these 3 kids & 3 adults were later seen heading up Lords Rake. No fear there then.

A moments solitude on Scafell Pike summit – or maybe not

We had forgotten how extensive the views can be up here with the Isle of Man & the Galloway hills the clearest I’d ever seen. Blackpool Tower and Northumberland’s Cheviot & Hedgehope (83 miles away) were all confirmed with binocs. Here’s another panorama view, have I mentioned the word ‘view’ much yet?

An extreme panorama shot from Scafell right through to Fairfield

After 50 minutes on top it was time to reluctantly get moving and also time to reverse my first ever Scafell Pike ascent from Wasdale up to Mickledore.

Mickledore, last time I was here, I had hair

Everything had been going extremely well it was 2.20pm and the plan was to get down to Wasdale for 3.30pm, 45 mins in the pub, 2hrs back to Seathwaite, plus a spare 30mins, therefore reaching the car by 6.45pm, with sunset at 6.30pm. Hold on, what was that descent time again! Ok we’d underestimated that one and after picking our way through the eroded crumbly top of Mickledore that car park down there wasn’t getting any closer.

From the top of Mickledore looking down to Wasdale, Yewbarrow above

We really had to pick up the pace descending then eventually found a sign pointing to ‘Wasdale Head’ taking us around the foot of Lingmell. I actually thought Alan was taking the piss when he read the sign out. Didnt know this path, but it saved some time AND kept height giving more of those ‘views’.

Wasdale – The Return

Wasdale Head now ahead and there’s a pint with my name on down there. This isn’t posed by the way, this is just how I walk when I smell beer.

Wasdale Head Inn ahead, I need beer and I need it now!

And finally we stepped into Wasdale again and the pub beckoned. Oh and views too!

Wasdale Head Inn with Pillar beyond. This was nice, very nice

3.40pm. It had been 12 years and I spoilt the moment by walking into the side phone box thinking this was the pub entrance. No one saw me so think I got away with it. Last time the pub was heaving, this time empty with everyone outdoors. Decent choice of beer, we chose the Loweswater Gold 2012, a good year and a cheeky pint.

Mountains, walks, Wasdale Head, beer, happiness

If Cumbrian Ales want to use this pic to endorse their very refreshing tasty Loweswater Gold then my rates are fairly reasonable. Or they could take one themseves. Drat!!

Marginal utility of happiness just increased exponentially

Wasdale Head is a particularly wonderful place, particularly for a pint, with ‘views’ everywhere. The one’s below were across the cute iccle bridge to Kirk Fell& Gable. We were highly tempted to have more beer but it was 4.15pm & very reluctanly time to start walking. Incidentally last time here was my ridiculous mountain bike ride around Great Gable, Gatesgarth, Black Sail & back down to Wasdale, tiredest I’d ever felt, (blog to follow 1 day). We set off up towards Sty Head, me remembering how hard it’d been pushing a bike up.

Kirk Fell

Kirk Fell and Great Gable

On the way to Styhead, arguing over who chose this route! Thankful we only had one pint

  Arriving at a deserted Styhead Tarn at 5.40pm. Only downhill ahead at last now.

Styhead Tarn, full of little fish rising for flies

Bet this hasn’t been photographed before? Well maybe a little.

Styhead Tarn (again)

Looking down to Seathwaite at 6.20pm

We got back to the car for 7pm just before darkness and very satisfied with the day, a real Lakeland classic,

• Distance  =  12 miles (19.3 km)
• Ascent  =  4,500 ft (1,372 m)
• Time  =  8 hrs
• Start  =  10.00am, finish = 7.00pm
• Start/Finish  =  Seathwaite, park at roadside as near to farm as possible
• Date  =  October 7th 2012
• Thanks for reading

Later over a pint we theorised about next time adding Great Gable on the way back, these things always seem so much easier in the pub over beer.

Click on the map below for an interactive route map via Social Hiking…

Click on the map for Scafell Pike & Pint Route Map