Seathwaite via the Corridor Route up Scafell Pike: route map, distance and time

978 m · Lake District

Scafell Pike is England's highest mountain, a bouldery summit above Wasdale and Borrowdale climbed by paths from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite and Great Langdale.

You climb to Styhead Tarn and follow the Corridor Route across the flank of Great End and Lingmell, with a short rocky step near Piers Gill.

Seathwaite via the Corridor Route at a glance

Distance	7.8 km one way, to the top
Ascent	908 m
Time up	3h 5m by Naismith's rule
There and back	4h 40m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Seathwaite, Borrowdale
Start grid reference	NY 234 121
Summit grid reference	NY 215 072

Seathwaite via the Corridor Route 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

Start grid ref NY 234 121 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 30m	3h 50m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	3h 5m	4h 40m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 45m	5h 45m

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 12:28 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 12:26 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Scafell Pike summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 39 mph gusting 49 mph, 51% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 8% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Scafell Pike forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Scafell Pike?

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 -5°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 Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike is England's highest mountain, a bouldery summit above Wasdale and Borrowdale climbed by paths from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite and Great Langdale. More about Scafell Pike, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Broad Crag (935 m), 0.5 km north-east
Ill Crag (931 m), 0.8 km east
Symonds Knott (959 m), 0.9 km south-west
Round How (741 m), 0.9 km north
Middleboot Knotts (703 m), 0.9 km north
Scafell (964 m), 1.1 km south-west

Challenges that include Scafell Pike

More walks from Seathwaite, Borrowdale

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Seathwaite via Grains Gill and Esk Hause up Allen Crags
Seathwaite via Sourmilk Gill and Gillercomb up Base Brown
Seathwaite via Grains Gill up Esk Pike
Glaramara and Allen Crags round up Glaramara
Seathwaite via Grains Gill and Esk Hause up Great End
Seathwaite via Styhead Tarn up Great Gable
Seathwaite via Stockley Bridge up Seathwaite Fell

Other routes up Scafell Pike

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue	5.2 km one way	930 m	2h 35m	Moderate
Great Langdale via Esk Hause	9.3 km one way	—	—	Hard
Seatoller via Stockley Bridge, Grains Gill and Esk Hause	9.9 km one way	950 m	3h 35m	Hard
Seatoller via Stockley Bridge and the Corridor Route	10.0 km one way	920 m	3h 30m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 234 121, the summit at NY 215 072), 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.

Seathwaite via the Corridor Route: questions and answers

How far is the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route?

The Seathwaite via the Corridor Route is 7.8 km one way to the summit of Scafell Pike, with 908 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 15.6 km.

How long does the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route take?

About 3h 5m to the summit of Scafell Pike and 4h 40m 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 5h 45m for the round trip.

Where do you park for the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route?

The Seathwaite via the Corridor Route starts from Seathwaite, Borrowdale. The grid reference is NY 234 121.

Is the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route 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 the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route today?

By 12:28 at the latest. Sunset on Scafell Pike today is 18:08, The Seathwaite via the Corridor Route takes about 4h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for the Seathwaite via the Corridor Route?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).