Scrambling & Scafell Pike Weekend
Enjoy the May bank holiday weekend with our Scrambling & Scafell Pike Weekend. Book either the Saturday or Sunday, or both days to make it an adventure weekend.
Saturday’s Jack’s Rake grade 1 scrambling route in the Great Langdale Valley is the ideal introduction to scrambling in the Lake District. If you love adventure and like a challenge, this is the day for you.
On Sunday ascend the highest summit in England, Scafell Pike, from the Great Langdale Valley. “This is a splendid walk, depending for its appeal on a wide variety of scene, and on the elusiveness of the Pike, which is completely screened by other fells at the outset and remains concealed until the final stages.” A.Wainwright.
Highlights
- Jack’s Rake grade 1 scramble
- Good introduction to scrambling in the Lake District
- Mountain views from the Langdale Pikes
- Sunday Scafell Pike guided mountain walk
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NOT INCLUDED |
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Accommodation for this tour is not included. For accommodation information and all essential tour information please click on the ‘Trip Notes’ tab.
Additional information
Min Age | 18 |
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Saturday – Activity Day
Grade 1 Scramble / Grade 4 Walk – Jack’s Rake 7 miles (11.2km), with 2500 ft (762m) of ascent
Meeting Time: 9.30am in Elterwater village (for complimentary transport to the start). Or alternatively meet at 10am at the start of the scramble in the Great Landale valley if you wish to make your own travel arrangements (please see ‘Meeting Point’ in the Trip Notes section).
The day will finish back at the start and an opportunity to enjoy a drink in the local Lakeland Inn before transport takes the group back to Elterwater.
Sunday - Activity Day & Departure Day
Grade 4 – Scafell Pike 11 miles (17.6km), with 3400 ft (1037m) of ascent
Meeting Time: 9am in Elterwater village (for complimentary transport to the walk). Or alternatively meet at 9.20am at the start of the walk in the Great Landale valley if you wish to make your own travel arrangements (please see ‘Meeting Point’ in the Trip Notes section).
A full days mountain walk of many contrasts starting from an easy level walk from the Old Dungeon Ghyll in the Great Langdale valley to a gradual climb on the old pony route of Rossett Gill before descending to Angle Tarn, a remote but beautiful mountain lake enveloped by the surrounding fells. The route finally reaches Esk Hause and from here a steady gradient leads upwards, encountering some rough ground across a plateau and two more descents before the final steep stony ascent to Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain.
After a good time at the top to enjoy your packed lunch amongst the majestic views and also revel in the achievement of reaching the summit, we return on the same route we approached but seeing the landscape from a different perspective.
The conditions underfoot are uneven and rocky in places, but we’ll take our time to navigate safely across the broken ground.
The duration of the day’s walk can be up to 7+hours depending on the day, and will finish back at the Old Dungeon Ghyll and an opportunity to enjoy a drink in the local Lakeland Inn to mark a great days mountain walk.
Essential Info
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included as part of this tour. If you require help with booking accommodation you may find the following links useful:
Elterwater Hostel good quality accommodation within close driving distance to the walk and also suitably located for the Sunday multi activity day.
Booking.com search for accommodation in and around Elterwater, Cumbria.
Alternative accommodation in Ambleside, Grasmere and Coniston will require transport to reach Saturday’s meeting point in Elterwater. Sunday’s activities will be based in Coniston (own transport is required for this day). If you need assistance with transport, please do not hesitate to contact Country Adventures.
Food & Drink
For the activity day(s) please bring with you a packed lunch and refreshments.
Transport
For Saturday’s Jack’s Rake Scramble and Sunday’s Scafell Pike walk, complimentary transport from Elterwater village to the start of the scramble is available. Alternatively, you are welcome to make your own travel arrangements to the start in the Langdale Valley.
Fitness Levels
Our walks/ scrambling adventure days are by no means designed to be endurance tests where everyone sets off at a blistering pace. Far from it, it’s about a fine day in the hills in good company enjoying the best of fell walking and scrambling with exceptional views but it is important to state that for everyone’s enjoyment, scrambling does require a minimum level of fitness and stamina. Hill / Mountain scrambling experience is not essential as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness. For the higher level graded walks (i.e. Challenging Grade) it is advisable that you are someone who enjoys regular cardio exercise or have experience of mountain walking and have the stamina/ leg strength in order to be better prepared for longer sections of uphill & downhill walking associated with higher mountain treks.
Walking Grades Explained
Grade 1 (Leisurely) Normally 5-8 miles, may include gentle ascents and descents of up to a total 1100ft of ascent and similar descent over a day’s walk. Easier scenic walking at lower altitudes along paths and tracks.
Grade 2 (Moderate) Normally 6-10 miles on paths and tracks, between 800ft – 1700ft of total ascent and similar descent. Longer walks, on hills and moorland.
Grade 3 (Moderate Mountain) Normally ranging from 6-10 miles, between 1700ft – 2600ft of ascent, similar descent. Longer walks, over higher ground with possibly steeper ups and downs on paths and tracks.
Grade 4 (Challenging) Normally ranging from 8-13 miles, between 1500ft – 3000+ft of ascent, similar descent, over undulating mountain terrain, walking at higher levels with steep ups and downs. Suitable for people with a good level of fitness.
Kit List
What you need to bring with you for the walks
- Good, comfortable walking boots with a cleated sole and good ankle support are essential.
- Waterproof jacket and over-trousers.
- Warm, dry walking clothing. Unsuitable clothing includes Jeans or cotton tracksuit bottoms and cotton t-shirts (cotton is a poor insulating fabric and when wet it takes a long time to dry, which can lead to a rapid loss of body heat as well as being uncomfortable).
- A number of thin layers are better than one thick/ heavy jumper. We suggest a fleece for extra warmth especially when we stop on the hills for lunch.
- Hat and gloves (even in summer – any wind chill on the mountain tops will lead to cooler temperatures).
- Sunglasses, sun cream.
- Hot or cold drinks (i.e. a minimum of 2 litres of water).
- Plenty of food and drink for lunch and snacks.
- A rucksack large enough to carry it all in (20-30 litres), ideally with a waterproof liner.
- Any medication you need.
- Thermos flask. We recommend bringing warm drinks with you, as even on sunny days it can occasionally feel cooler, especially on the summits of the higher-level mountain walks.
- Specialist equipment for Scrambling is provided.
We want you to enjoy your time with Country Adventures and have the best possible adventure experience. Please be aware that if any participants are not properly equipped for the walk (i.e. with walking boots and waterproofs), at the guide’s discretion we reserve the right to not allow them on the walk for reasons of safety for both the individual and the group. If you need clarification any of the equipment requirements, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Tour Schedule & Activity Meeting Times
Please ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting point at the required time. The transport for our day walks will leave promptly at the stated time and due to the nature of scheduled tours, we are unable to provide refunds if unfortunately, you miss the departure time.
Meeting Point
Saturday Scramble (complimentary transport) – 9am in Elterwater village
Sunday Walk (complimentary transport) – 9am in Elterwater village
Full travel details for each activity day will be provided with your booking confirmation.
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