Wasdale-Brown Tongue

Approach

From Wasdale Head

Route Description

This is one of the less popular routes (amongst mountaineers) up Scafell Pike, often described as the dullest, but also the shortest at around 3miles. But it’s a route that I personally like because of the deviation away from the classic Brown Tongue route and up Hollow Stones instead. This deviation gives good views of Pulpit Rock and a great feeling of being on a true mountain on reaching Mickledore, with the Broad Stand Route up Scafell being on your right, the dramatic vista of Eskdale in front of you, and the route up to the summit of Scafell Pike to your left.
This is a fairly simple route to follow for most of the way, up to Mickledore at least. Park your car at the parking area before the Wasdale Hotel and walk back along the road until you reach the left turn up Lingmell Beck and towards the large campsite. Follow the trail until an obvious fork and take the right hand one heading towards Scafell Crag and away from Lingmell Col. Scramble up the loose scree to Mickledore and turn left up the rocky path to the summit.
A serious word of caution: I’ve lost count how many people I’ve had to help down off this mountain, not because they were injured but because they were hopelessly lost. The summit area is a confusing mass of boulders and less than obvious tracks and it is easy to become disoriented, especially in mist and cloud. So, take a compass, always take bearings, and have a clear plan of your route down!
The table below gives some important route data for this route and can be programmed into a gps. Note that distances and bearings are “as the crow flies” and not following pathways.

Essential Gear

No climbing gear, but good hiking boots and waterproofs are essential together with map and compass, as well as the brains to know how to use them!

Miscellaneous Info

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Images

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