Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike stands as England's highest mountain at 978 meters (3,209 feet) in the heart of the Lake District National Park. Several ascent routes wind through steep scree fields and across bare rock steps to the summit plateau, where a stone circle marks the highest point.

The first recorded ascent took place in 1802 by poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge during his travels through the Lakes region. After World War I, the summit passed to the National Trust as a war memorial and remains freely accessible to visitors today.

The name dates back to Viking settlers who combined Norse words for bare mountains with a term for steep rock faces. Walkers today mark the summit with stone piles, a tradition passed down through generations of climbers.

The climb takes around three hours from Wasdale Head and follows stony paths that can become difficult to trace in fog. Sturdy walking boots and waterproof clothing are necessary because of sudden weather changes even during summer months.

Broad Crag Tarn sits at 820 meters (2,690 feet) elevation below the summit and ranks as England's highest standing body of water. The small basin fills with meltwater and rain and holds water year-round despite the exposed location.

Location: Cumbria

Elevation above the sea: 978 m

Made from material: igneous rock

Part of: Southern Fells

Website: https://scafellpike.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 54.45426,-3.21168

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00