Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell: route map, distance and time
807 m · Cumbria
Lingmell is an 807m fell at Wasdale Head, the north-western shoulder of Scafell Pike, with one of the best views of Great Gable and Wast Water.
Climb beside Lingmell Gill and up Brown Tongue to Lingmell Col, then follow the path north-west to the top.
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue at a glance
| Distance | 4.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 728 m |
| Time up | 2h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Wasdale Head (National Trust car park) |
| Start grid reference | NY 186 087 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 209 081 |
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Wasdale Head Inn0.1 km
- Public toilets1.3 km
- Public toilets1.4 km
- Wasdale Head Campsite0.1 km
- Wasdale Campsite1.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 3h 40m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 14:08 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:06 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Lingmell summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 13 mph gusting 19 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 37 mph gusting 47 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 19 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Lingmell forecast
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -3°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Lingmell
Lingmell is an 807m fell at Wasdale Head, the north-western shoulder of Scafell Pike, with one of the best views of Great Gable and Wast Water. More about Lingmell, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Middleboot Knotts (703 m), 0.4 km east
- Round How (741 m), 0.9 km east
- Broad Crag (935 m), 1.1 km south-east
- Scafell Pike (978 m), 1.1 km south-east
- Symonds Knott (959 m), 1.4 km south
- Ill Crag (931 m), 1.6 km south-east
Challenges that include Lingmell
- 10 Peaks (England – Lake District) · 10
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
More walks from Wasdale Head
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable
- Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
- Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
- Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
- Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
- High Level Route up Pillar
- Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike
- Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
- Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
- Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
- Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
- Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 209 081), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue: questions and answers
How far is Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue is 4.4 km one way to the summit of Lingmell, with 728 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.8 km.
How long does Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue take?
About 2h 5m to the summit of Lingmell and 3h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 40m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.
Is Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue today?
By 14:08 at the latest. Sunset on Lingmell today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue takes about 3h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).