Walking BritainWasdale Walks and Walking Guide
Lake District, Cumbria
Fing circular walks from Wasdale which is one the finest valleys in the Lake District National Park. At the head of the valley are Scafell and Scafell Pike with Great Gable also prominent. Amenities in the valley are limited with a large campsite a popular place to stay. The Wasdale Head Inn is a source of food and drink. Public transport is non-existent so private transport is essential. Also included in this section are walks from Eskdale where routes to the Scafells also start.
All the walks listed below are free to download and print, with mapping and GPX files available for all routes. There are few easy walks for families and most routes require fellwalking skills. However walks to the tarns above Eskdale offer easier walking.
★ = GPS file available
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1176★ | Yewbarrow from Wasdale | moderate | 4.50 |
| 1246★ | Black Sail Pass & Beck Head from Wasdale Head | moderate | 5.50 |
| 1932★ | Slight Side from Whahouse Bridge | moderate | 5.60 |
| 2675★ | Eel Tarn and Stony Tarn from Eskdale | easy/mod | 6.00 |
| 2034★ | Scafell from Wasdale Head | hard | 6.50 |
| 1299★ | Green Crag from Eskdale | moderate | 6.50 |
| 1916★ | Harter Fell and Low Birker Tarn from Hardknott Pass | moderate | 6.50 |
| 1303★ | Buckbarrow, Seatallan & Middle Fell from Loweswater | moderate | 7.00 |
| 2229★ | Tarns of Eskdale | easy/mod | 7.50 |
| 2800★ | The Scafells via Piers Gill from Wasdale Head | mod/hard | 7.50 |
| 2900★ | Pillar (by the High Level Path) from Wasdale | mod/hard | 8.00 |
| 2718★ | The Scafells from Wasdale Head | mod/hard | 9.00 |
| 2361★ | Scafell & Slight Side from Eskdale | hard | 9.50 |
| 2362★ | Scafell Pike and Scafell from Eskdale | very hard | 11.00 |
| 2341★ | Circuit of Nether Beck and Over Beck from Wasdale | hard | 11.25 |
| 1126★ | Mosedale Horseshoe from Wasdale Head | hard | 11.50 |
| 2226★ | The Scafells from Eskdale | very hard | 12.00 |
| 1690★ | Netherbeck Horseshoe - Middle Fell, Steeple & Red Pike from Wasdale Head | mod/hard | 12.50 |
The walks listed above are the nearest 18 from Wasdale when measured in a straight line.
Recommended Reading
Walking the Lake District Fells - Langdale
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Great Langdale valley, Ambleside and Grasmere, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes and Helm Crag (the Lion and the Lamb). Includes suggestions for longer ridge routes.
More information
The Cumbria Way
A guidebook to the 73 mile Cumbria Way, an easy long-distance walk though the heart of the Lake District National Park, from Ulverston in the south to Carlisle in the north, with good transport links to either end. The route is largely low-level but this guide offers alternative mountain days to climb some of the famous fells en route.
More information
Further Information
Walk Location Map
Walking in Lake District
Walking in the Lake District National Park is amongst the best in the British Isles. The natural beauty has attracted many artists and writers through the centuries and today the same scenery provides the perfect backdrop to a wide variety of walks. The National Park is located wholly within Cumbria with Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick the main tourist towns. For many this is the finest area in England for walking with a wide variety of scenery. Even on the busiest weekends it is possible to get away from the crowds by carefully selecting one of the less-visited fells. More Information
Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details.
Messaging & Social Media
Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.
Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.